Shloka 53
कालियदमना: यमुनाशुद्धिः, करुणा-निग्रहः, स्तुति-तत्त्वम्
कोपः स्वल्पो ऽपि ते नास्ति स्थितिपालनम् एव ते कारणं कालियस्यास्य दमने श्रूयताम् अतः
kopaḥ svalpo 'pi te nāsti sthitipālanam eva te kāraṇaṃ kāliyasyāsya damane śrūyatām ataḥ
In You there is not even the slightest trace of anger; the cause of Your deed is only the guarding of dharma’s order. Therefore, hear now the reason for the chastening of this Kāliya.
Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya in the Krishna-cycle)
Avatara: Krishna
Purpose: He intervenes to protect the world and its moral order, subduing harmful forces without personal anger.
Leela: Loka-rakshana
Dharma Restored: Protection of beings and restoration of safe, righteous order (sthitipālana).
Concept: The Lord’s corrective action arises from protective governance (sthitipālana), not from anger or partiality.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Discipline others—especially the harmful—without hatred, grounding action in protection and responsibility.
Vishishtadvaita: Shows īśvara’s compassion and sovereignty: punitive līlā is still grace aimed at restoring dharma within His cosmic administration.
Vishnu Form: Krishna
Bhakti Type: Dasya
FAQs
This verse frames the subduing of Kāliya not as personal wrath but as compassionate correction undertaken to protect cosmic stability (sthiti-pālana).
Parāśara presents it as purposive governance: the Lord acts to preserve dharma and the world’s order, and then explains the specific cause for Kāliya’s chastening.
Krishna is shown as the sovereign preserver whose interventions restore harmony; even when He disciplines, it expresses supreme, orderly providence rather than human-like anger.