Shloka 19
कालियदमना: यमुनाशुद्धिः, करुणा-निग्रहः, स्तुति-तत्त्वम्
एष मोहं गतः कृष्णो मग्नौ वै कालिये ह्रदे भक्ष्यते सर्पराजेन तद् आगच्छत पश्यत
eṣa mohaṃ gataḥ kṛṣṇo magnau vai kāliye hrade bhakṣyate sarparājena tad āgacchata paśyata
“Look! Kṛṣṇa has fallen into delusion—he has sunk into Kāliya’s lake. The king of serpents will devour him. Come quickly—see!”
The cowherds of Vraja (Gopas) crying out to one another (as narrated by Sage Parāśara to Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: The alarmed proclamation that Krishna has sunk into Kāliya’s lake
Teaching: Historical
Quality: urgent, crowd-voice immediacy
Avatara: Krishna
Purpose: By appearing vulnerable, Krishna intensifies the devotees’ urgency and then overturns the threat, revealing his supremacy over venom and death.
Leela: Loka-rakshana
Dharma Restored: Protection of Krishna’s devotees and the moral order that no evil can ultimately consume Bhagavān’s presence among the faithful
Concept: The devotee’s perception of danger becomes a call to immediate remembrance and gathering around Krishna, transforming fear into seeking refuge.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: When fear arises, convert it into swift turning toward the Divine and toward supportive community rather than paralysis.
Vishishtadvaita: The Lord’s līlā allows finite beings to relate to him personally; their dependence is real even when his sovereignty is unthreatened.
Vishnu Form: Krishna
FAQs
This verse captures the devotees’ immediate fear that Krishna has been overcome, setting up the revelation that the Lord’s līlā only appears perilous—His supremacy remains untouched as He subdues adharma symbolized by Kāliya.
Through the cowherds’ cries, the narrative shows human perception and emotion in contrast to divine reality: the onlookers assume defeat, while the unfolding story demonstrates Vishnu’s protection and mastery.
Even when Krishna seems “bewildered” or endangered, the Purana frames Him as the Supreme Reality whose actions are purposeful līlā—meant to remove evil and reassure devotees of divine sovereignty.