Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 12
Garuḍa, Saubhari’s Curse, Kāliya’s Refuge, and Kṛṣṇa Saves Vraja from Forest Fire
तत् कालिय: परं वेद नान्य: कश्चन लेलिह: । अवात्सीद् गरुडाद् भीत: कृष्णेन च विवासित: ॥ १२ ॥
tat kāliyaḥ paraṁ veda nānyaḥ kaścana lelihaḥ avātsīd garuḍād bhītaḥ kṛṣṇena ca vivāsitaḥ
பாம்புகளில் இந்த நிகழ்வை முழுமையாக அறிந்தவன் காலியன் ஒருவனே; கருடனின் பயத்தால் அவன் யமுனையின் அந்த ஏரியில் குடியிருந்தான்; பின்னர் ஸ்ரீகிருஷ்ணர் அவனை அங்கிருந்து விரட்டினார்।
FAQs
This verse explains that Kāliya alone knew the true reason: he was terrified of Garuḍa and, having been driven away by Kṛṣṇa, he took shelter by residing there.
Garuḍa is the natural enemy of serpents; Kāliya’s fear of Garuḍa highlights how even powerful beings become helpless without divine shelter, setting the stage for Kṛṣṇa’s intervention.
It teaches that fear and displacement can drive harmful choices; the remedy is to seek purification and right shelter—turning toward the Lord’s guidance rather than spreading poison into one’s environment.