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Shloka 7

Kāliya-damana: Kṛṣṇa Subdues the Serpent and Purifies the Yamunā

सर्पह्रद: पुरुषसारनिपातवेग- सङ्‌क्षोभितोरगविषोच्छ्वसिताम्बुराशि: । पर्यक्‍प्लुतो विषकषायबिभीषणोर्मि- र्धावन् धनु:शतमनन्तबलस्य किं तत् ॥ ७ ॥

sarpa-hradaḥ puruṣa-sāra-nipāta-vega- saṅkṣobhitoraga-viṣocchvasitāmbu-rāśiḥ paryak pluto viṣa-kaṣāya-bibhīṣaṇormir dhāvan dhanuḥ-śatam ananta-balasya kiṁ tat

Ketika Bhagavān Yang Mahakuasa, berdaya tak terbatas, turun ke danau para ular, para naga di sana menjadi sangat gelisah dan dengan napas beracun mereka makin mencemari air. Daya masuk Sang Tuhan membuat danau meluap ke segala arah; gelombang mengerikan bercampur racun membanjiri daratan hingga seratus panjang busur. Namun bagi Tuhan yang berkekuatan tanpa batas, hal ini bukanlah keajaiban.

sarpa-hradaḥthe serpent-lake
sarpa-hradaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootsarpa (प्रातिपदिक) + hrada (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (sarpaṇām hradaḥ)
puruṣa-sāra-nipāta-vega-saṅkṣobhitaḥagitated by the force of the plunge of the best of men
puruṣa-sāra-nipāta-vega-saṅkṣobhitaḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of sarpa-hradaḥ)
TypeAdjective
Rootsaṅkṣobhita (कृदन्त; √kṣubh क्षुभ्, past passive participle) with puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + sāra (प्रातिपदिक) + nipāta (प्रातिपदिक) + vega (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) agreeing with hradaḥ; समासः बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (puruṣa-sāra-nipāta-vega = 'force of the plunge of the best of men')
uraga-viṣa-ucchvasita-ambu-rāśiḥa mass of water exhaled with serpent-poison
uraga-viṣa-ucchvasita-ambu-rāśiḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of sarpa-hradaḥ)
TypeNoun
Rooturaga (प्रातिपदिक) + viṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + ucchvasita (कृदन्त; √śvas श्वस्, PPP) + ambu (प्रातिपदिक) + rāśi (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (rāśiḥ of water 'breathed out' with serpent-poison)
paryakall around
paryak:
Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial modifier)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootparyak (अव्यय/indeclinable form; adverbial)
FormAvyaya; adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) meaning 'all around/entirely'
plutaḥoverflowing / flooded
plutaḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootpluta (कृदन्त; √plu प्लु, PPP)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) agreeing with hradaḥ
viṣa-kaṣāya-bibhīṣaṇa-ūrmiḥwith terrifying waves darkened by poison
viṣa-kaṣāya-bibhīṣaṇa-ūrmiḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of hradaḥ via apposition)
TypeNoun
Rootviṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + kaṣāya (प्रातिपदिक) + bibhīṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ūrmi (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; तत्पुरुषः (ūrmiḥ characterized by terrifying poison-darkness)
dhāvanrushing / running
dhāvan:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Root√dhāv धाव् (कृदन्त; शतृ/Present active participle)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ) agreeing with hradaḥ
dhanuḥ-śatama hundred bow-lengths
dhanuḥ-śatam:
Adhikaraṇa/Parimāṇa (परिमाण/Measure-extent)
TypeNoun
Rootdhanuḥ (प्रातिपदिक) + śata (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; माप्य-तत्पुरुषः (śata of bows) used as measure of extent
ananta-balasyaof the one of infinite strength (Balarāma)
ananta-balasya:
Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध/Possessive relation)
TypeNoun
Rootananta (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; कर्मधारयः ('whose strength is endless')
kimwhat?
kim:
Prashna (प्रश्न/Interrogative)
TypeNoun
Rootkim (प्रातिपदिक; interrogative pronoun)
FormNeuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular; प्रश्नवाचक सर्वनाम
tatthat
tat:
Prashna-viṣaya (प्रश्नविषय/That referred thing)
TypeNoun
Roottad (प्रातिपदिक; demonstrative pronoun)
FormNeuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular; निर्देशवाचक सर्वनाम
Ś
Śrī Kṛṣṇa
K
Kāliya
A
Ananta (Lord Balarāma/Śeṣa as epithet of the Lord)

FAQs

This verse describes the serpent lake erupting with poison-colored, terrifying waves, yet declares such danger insignificant before the Lord’s infinite strength—showing Kṛṣṇa’s complete mastery over deadly forces.

Because the waters were saturated by the snakes’ poisonous breath; when Kṛṣṇa entered, the lake churned and overflowed with venom-hued waves, emphasizing the peril He neutralizes in His līlā.

When overwhelmed by ‘poisonous’ situations—fear, toxic influence, or crisis—remembering the Lord’s ananta-bala inspires faith and steadiness: dangers may surge, but they are not ultimate for one who takes shelter of Kṛṣṇa.