Shloka 8

कालियदमना: यमुनाशुद्धिः, करुणा-निग्रहः, स्तुति-तत्त्वम्

Devanagari script

तद् अस्य नागराजस्य कर्तव्यो निग्रहो मया चिरम् अत्र सुखं येन चरेयुर् व्रजवासिनः

Transliteration

tad asya nāgarājasya kartavyo nigraho mayā ciram atra sukhaṃ yena careyur vrajavāsinaḥ

Translation

Therefore I must restrain this serpent-king, so that for a long time the people of Vraja may dwell and move about here in peace and happiness.

Word by Word

• तत्: therefore/that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (here: ‘therefore/that’)

• अस्य: of this (one)
• अस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• नागराजस्य: of the serpent-king
• नागराजस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग + राजन् (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (नागानां राजा)

• कर्तव्यः: to be done/ought to be performed
• कर्तव्यः: Vidhi (विधि)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कर्तव्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भाव्य/कर्तव्यतार्थक कृदन्त (gerundive/तव्यत्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

• निग्रहः: restraint/punishment
• निग्रहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नि + ग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• मया: by me
• मया: Kartr (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; अस्मद्-प्रयोग

• चिरम्: for a long time
• चिरम्: Kala-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चिरम् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Desha-adhikarana (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• सुखम्: happily/comfort
• सुखम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (accusative of manner)

• येन: by which/so that
• येन: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम

• चरेयुः: may they move/live
• चरेयुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• व्रजवासिनः: the inhabitants of Vraja
• व्रजवासिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रज + वासिन् (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (व्रजे वासिनः)

Speaker

Sri Krishna (as narrated by Sage Parāśara to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Krishna’s intention and resolve to punish/curb Kāliya for Vraja’s welfare.

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: compassionate

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Krishna resolves to restrain Kāliya so the inhabitants of Vraja may live safely and happily for a long time.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Local dharma of protection (rakṣā) and social well-being of the pastoral community.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord’s protective action is undertaken for the long-term peace (śānti) and happiness (sukha) of those who dwell under his care.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Cultivate trust in divine guardianship and take responsible action to remove harms that disturb communal well-being.

Vishishtadvaita: Bhagavān’s grace operates within the world to secure the welfare of his dependents (śeṣa-bhūta jīvas), showing immanence without denying transcendence.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Vatsalya

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Nāgarāja (serpent-king) Kāliya
• Vrajavāsins (residents of Vraja)

FAQs

What is the significance of subduing the serpent-king in the Vishnu Purana?

It portrays the Lord’s role as the upholder of dharma—restraining destructive forces so society (here, Vraja) can live in peace.

How does Sage Parāśara frame Krishna’s action in this episode?

As purposeful divine intervention: Krishna acts to remove a persistent threat, ensuring long-term welfare for the Vrajavāsins.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Krishna’s resolve to protect devotees and restore order reflects Vishnu’s Supreme sovereignty—compassionate governance over creation through līlā.