Shloka 32

कालियदमना: यमुनाशुद्धिः, करुणा-निग्रहः, स्तुति-तत्त्वम्

Devanagari script

भोगेनावेष्टितस्यापि सर्पराजेन पश्यत स्मितशोभिमुखं गोप्यः कृष्णस्यास्मद्विलोकने

Transliteration

bhogenāveṣṭitasyāpi sarparājena paśyata smitaśobhimukhaṃ gopyaḥ kṛṣṇasyāsmadvilokane

Translation

Even as the serpent-king coiled him in mighty folds, the gopīs beheld Kṛṣṇa’s face—radiant with a gentle smile—turned toward them in recognition, as if to soothe them with a single glance.

Word by Word

• भोगेन: by the coil (of the serpent)
• भोगेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/3rd case), एकवचन; Instrumental singular (by/with the coil)

• आवेष्टितस्य: of (him) who was wrapped
• आवेष्टितस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-√वेष्ट् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन; Past passive participle used adjectivally: 'of the one who is wrapped'

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थ (also/even)

• सर्पराजेन: by the serpent-king
• सर्पराजेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्पराज (प्रातिपदिक: सर्प + राजन्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-भाव: 'सर्पाणां राजा'), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• पश्यत: see (you all)!
• पश्यत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पश् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थ/imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचन; Imperative 2nd person plural: 'see!'

• स्मितशोभिमुखम्: (him) whose face is radiant with a smile
• स्मितशोभिमुखम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्मित + शोभि + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; Accusative singular qualifying (कृष्णम्/तस्य मुखम्)

• गोप्यः: the gopīs
• गोप्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोपी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; Nominative plural

• कृष्णस्य: of Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन; Genitive singular

• अस्मत्: our/of us
• अस्मत्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th case), बहुवचन; Genitive plural 'of us/our' (sandhi in compound)

• विलोकने: in (our) seeing/at the sight
• विलोकने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विलोकन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; Locative singular

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To protect Vraja and manifest divine līlā that re-establishes dharma through the Lord’s accessible, grace-filled presence among devotees.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Safety of Vraja and the subjugation of violent, adhārmic nāga-pride

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Madhurya

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Kaliya (serpent-king)

FAQs

What is the significance of Krishna smiling while encircled by the serpent-king in the Vishnu Purana?

The smile signals divine sovereignty: Krishna remains unshaken even in apparent danger, assuring devotees that the Supreme protects and ultimately overcomes adharma.

How does Sage Parāśara explain devotion (bhakti) through the gopīs in this scene?

By emphasizing what the gopīs notice—Krishna’s reassuring, smiling face—Parāśara highlights devotion as intimate recognition of the Lord’s presence and control beyond outward circumstances.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context of Krishna’s lila?

Krishna’s calm glance and smile portray Vishnu’s avatara as the Supreme Reality acting within the world: transcendent in power, yet personally accessible to devotees.