Shloka 23
Kāliya-damana: Kṛṣṇa Subdues the Serpent and Purifies the Yamunā
इत्थं स्वगोकुलमनन्यगतिं निरीक्ष्य सस्त्रीकुमारमतिदु:खितमात्महेतो: । आज्ञाय मर्त्यपदवीमनुवर्तमान: स्थित्वा मुहूर्तमुदतिष्ठदुरङ्गबन्धात् ॥ २३ ॥
ittham sva-gokulam ananya-gatiṁ nirīkṣya sa-strī-kumāram ati-duḥkhitam ātma-hetoḥ ājñāya martya-padavīm anuvartamānaḥ sthitvā muhūrtam udatiṣṭhad uraṅga-bandhāt
Ainsi, voyant les habitants de son Gokula —femmes, enfants et autres— accablés d’une peine extrême par amour pour Lui, leur unique refuge, le Seigneur demeura un instant dans les replis du serpent, comme un simple mortel. Puis Il se dressa aussitôt, se libérant des liens de Kāliya.
FAQs
This verse describes the Vraja people as ananya-gati—seeing Kṛṣṇa as their sole shelter—showing the Bhagavatam ideal of exclusive dependence on the Lord in times of crisis.
Śukadeva explains that Kṛṣṇa saw the unbearable grief of the Vraja residents and, understanding the limitations of mortal fear and sorrow, paused briefly and then rose from Kāliya’s bondage.
It teaches sensitivity to others’ distress: even when one is spiritually strong, one should acknowledge the fears of ordinary people and respond with timely reassurance and responsible action.