Shloka 6
कालियदमना: यमुनाशुद्धिः, करुणा-निग्रहः, स्तुति-तत्त्वम्
अस्मिन् वसति दुष्टात्मा कालियो ऽसौ विषायुधः यो मया निर्जितस् त्यक्त्वा दुष्टो नष्टः पयोनिधिम्
asmin vasati duṣṭātmā kāliyo 'sau viṣāyudhaḥ yo mayā nirjitas tyaktvā duṣṭo naṣṭaḥ payonidhim
In this very place dwells Kāliya, wicked of soul, whose weapon is poison. Once conquered by me, that evil one abandoned his former haunt and fled away to the ocean.
A serpent (Nāga) inhabitant/guardian of the Yamunā region, speaking within Sage Parāśara’s narration to Maitreya
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Krishna’s deeds in Vraja and the causes for his protective acts.
Teaching: Historical
Quality: authoritative
Avatara: Krishna
Purpose: Krishna acts to subdue the poisonous serpent Kāliya and thereby protect the Vraja community from mortal danger.
Leela: Loka-rakshana
Dharma Restored: Protection of innocents and restoration of safe, life-sustaining waters for pastoral society.
Vishnu Form: Krishna
Bhakti Type: Vatsalya
FAQs
It marks poison as his defining power—an image of destructive adharma—so the narrative can highlight the Lord’s mastery over death-dealing forces and His role as restorer of order.
As the consequence of being subdued: once defeated, the serpent abandons his prior domain and retreats to the ocean, showing that even hostile beings are displaced by divine authority.
The verse underscores Vishnu’s sovereignty: the Supreme can restrain poison and re-establish dharma, not merely by power but by rightful cosmic governance.