Shloka 46

कालियदमना: यमुनाशुद्धिः, करुणा-निग्रहः, स्तुति-तत्त्वम्

Devanagari script

मूर्च्छाम् उपाययौ भ्रान्त्या नागः कृष्णस्य रेचकैः दण्डपातनिपातेन ववाम रुधिरं बहु

Transliteration

mūrcchām upāyayau bhrāntyā nāgaḥ kṛṣṇasya recakaiḥ daṇḍapātanipātena vavāma rudhiraṃ bahu

Translation

Terhuyung-huyung dalam igauan, ular itu didorong menuju pingsan oleh gerakan Kresna yang kuat; dan, dihantam oleh jatuhnya pukulan seperti tongkat, ia memuntahkan banyak darah.

Word by Word

• मूर्च्छाम्: fainting, swoon
• मूर्च्छाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्च्छा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• उपाययौ: came to, fell into
• उपाययौ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + आ + या (उप+आ+√या धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; 'came to/reached'

• भ्रान्त्या: through dizziness
• भ्रान्त्या: Karana (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; हेतौ/करणे (by/through dizziness)

• नागः: the serpent
• नागः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• कृष्णस्य: of Krishna
• कृष्णस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• रेचकैः: by (his) exhalations
• रेचकैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रेचक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; करण (here: exhalations/forceful breaths)

• दण्डपातनिपातेन: with a heavy, staff-like fall
• दण्डपातनिपातेन: Karana (Instrument/Mode/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्डपात + निपात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (दण्डपातस्य निपातः = fall like a staff/violent collapse); पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण

• ववाम: vomited
• ववाम: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वम् (√वम् धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• रुधिरम्: blood
• रुधिरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुधिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• बहु: much, a lot of
• बहु: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (to रुधिरम्)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To overpower and neutralize Kāliya’s deadly force, compelling the serpent toward surrender and ending the poison’s menace.

Leela: Yuddha

Dharma Restored: Removal of terror and harm from the Yamunā ecosystem and Vraja’s daily life.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Toxic power that endangers others is not tolerated in dharmic order; it is curtailed by a higher authority for the protection of the many.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Use strength responsibly—intervene firmly when harm spreads (in family, community, or self), while aiming ultimately at reform rather than cruelty.

Vishishtadvaita: The Lord’s saving action is compassionate governance: he disciplines the offender while safeguarding the world that is his body (śarīra) in Viśiṣṭādvaita.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Kaliya (Nāga/serpent)

FAQs

What is the significance of Kāliya’s suffering in the Vishnu Purana?

It dramatizes the defeat of toxic, oppressive adharma: the serpent’s arrogance collapses under Kṛṣṇa’s irresistible power, showing divine protection restoring order.

How does Sage Parāśara explain Kṛṣṇa’s power in this episode?

Through vivid bodily imagery—Kṛṣṇa’s breath and blows—Parāśara presents the avatāra as supremely efficacious: even a mighty nāga is rendered helpless, confirming the Lord’s mastery in līlā.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu (as Kṛṣṇa) here?

Kṛṣṇa’s effortless domination over the serpent underscores Vishnu’s status as the Supreme Reality whose will governs beings and nature, safeguarding dharma while remaining the compassionate protector.