Shloka 15

कालियदमना: यमुनाशुद्धिः, करुणा-निग्रहः, स्तुति-तत्त्वम्

Devanagari script

आताम्रनयनः कोपाद् विषज्वालाकुलैः फणैः वृतो महाविषैश् चान्यैर् उरगैर् अनिलाशिभिः

Transliteration

ātāmranayanaḥ kopād viṣajvālākulaiḥ phaṇaiḥ vṛto mahāviṣaiś cānyair uragair anilāśibhiḥ

Translation

His eyes turned copper-red with wrath. Surrounded by hoods blazing with venom, he was also encircled by other mighty, highly poisonous serpents, as though fed by the wind and sustained by breath.

Word by Word

• आताम्रनयनः: with copper-reddened eyes
• आताम्रनयनः: Karta-visheshana (Qualifier of implied subject 'नागराजः')
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + ताम्र + नयन (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (आताम्रे नयने यस्य)

• कोपात्: from anger
• कोपात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन

• विषज्वालाकुलैः: filled with poisonous flames
• विषज्वालाकुलैः: Karana-visheshana (Qualifier of 'फणैः')
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विष + ज्वाला + आकुल (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्; तत्पुरुषः (विषज्वालाभिः आकुलाः)

• फणैः: with hoods (snake-hoods)
• फणैः: Karana (Instrument/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• वृतः: surrounded
• वृतः: Karta-visheshana (Predicate adjective: surrounded)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृत (प्रातिपदिक; √वृ ‘to cover/surround’ क्त)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; भावे/कर्मणि प्रयोगः

• महाविषैः: with great venomous (ones)
• महाविषैः: Karana-visheshana (Qualifier of 'उरगैः')
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + विष (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्; कर्मधारयः (महद् विषम्)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चयबोधक conjunction)

• अन्यैः: other
• अन्यैः: Karana-visheshana (Qualifier of 'उरगैः')
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• उरगैः: by/with serpents
• उरगैः: Karana (Accompaniment/Instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उरग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• अनिलाशिभिः: air-eating (fasting), living on wind
• अनिलाशिभिः: Karana-visheshana (Qualifier of 'उरगैः')
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनिल + आशिन् (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्; तत्पुरुषः (अनिलम् अश्नन्ति)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Kṛṣṇa confronts Kāliya and his retinue of venomous serpents, preparing to subdue their destructive power for the safety of Vraja.

Leela: Yuddha

Dharma Restored: Restraint of violent, toxic forces that threaten the innocent and the dharmic community.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Characters & Entities

• Serpents (Nāgas/Uragas)

FAQs

What is the significance of serpent (Nāga/Uraga) imagery in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse uses serpents with venom-flaming hoods to convey concentrated destructive power under passion; Nāga imagery often marks primal energies that must be governed within cosmic order.

How does Sage Parāśara frame anger and its consequences in this narrative context?

By describing wrath as physically transforming (reddened eyes) and attracting/manifesting dangerous forces (venomous serpents), the narration underscores how inner agitation externalizes into destabilizing power.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even when the verse foregrounds fearsome beings, the broader Purāṇic frame positions Vishnu as the supreme regulator of such forces—upholding dharma and restoring balance when destructive energies surge.