Shloka 19
Kāliya-damana: Kṛṣṇa Subdues the Serpent and Purifies the Yamunā
अन्तर्ह्रदे भुजगभोगपरीतमारात् कृष्णं निरीहमुपलभ्य जलाशयान्ते । गोपांश्च मूढधिषणान् परित: पशूंश्च सङ्क्रन्दत: परमकश्मलमापुरार्ता: ॥ १९ ॥
antar hrade bhujaga-bhoga-parītam ārāt kṛṣṇaṁ nirīham upalabhya jalāśayānte gopāṁś ca mūḍha-dhiṣaṇān paritaḥ paśūṁś ca saṅkrandataḥ parama-kaśmalam āpur ārtāḥ
യമുനാതീരത്തേക്ക് പാഞ്ഞെത്തുമ്പോൾ അവർ ദൂരത്തിൽ നിന്നുതന്നെ കണ്ടു—തടാകത്തിനുള്ളിൽ കറുത്ത സർപ്പത്തിന്റെ ഭോഗവളയങ്ങളിൽ കൃഷ്ണൻ അനങ്ങാതെ കിടക്കുന്നു; ഗോപബാലകർ ബോധംകെട്ടു വീണിരിക്കുന്നു; ചുറ്റും മൃഗങ്ങൾ കരുണയായി നിലവിളിക്കുന്നു. ഇതുകണ്ട് വൃന്ദാവനവാസികൾ അത്യന്തം വ്യാകുലതയും ആശയക്കുഴപ്പവും അനുഭവിച്ചു।
In their grief and panic, the residents of Vṛndāvana tried to find out whether Kāliya had forcibly dragged young Kṛṣṇa from the shore into the water, or whether Kṛṣṇa had Himself jumped from the shore and fallen into the clutches of the snake. They could not understand anything about the situation, and Kṛṣṇa’s cowherd boyfriends, being unconscious, were unable to tell them anything. The cows and calves were crying out for Kṛṣṇa, and thus the whole situation was overwhelming and created a state of shock and panic among the residents of Vṛndāvana.
FAQs
This verse describes how the cowherd men and the cattle, seeing Kṛṣṇa encircled by Kāliya’s hoods, cried out in distress and fell into extreme despair, their intelligence overwhelmed by fear.
Because, in the intensity of love and fear, they assessed the situation materially—thinking Kṛṣṇa to be helpless—forgetting His supreme power, and thus became overwhelmed by grief.
When circumstances appear hopeless, this verse reminds a devotee that panic can cloud judgment; steadiness in remembrance of the Lord helps one respond with faith rather than despair.