Shloka 61

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

Devanagari script

य एतत् संस्मरेन्मर्त्यस्तुभ्यं मदनुशासनम् । कीर्तयन्नुभयो: सन्ध्योर्न युष्मद् भयमाप्नुयात् ॥ ६१ ॥

Transliteration

ya etat saṁsmaren martyas tubhyaṁ mad-anuśāsanam kīrtayann ubhayoḥ sandhyor na yuṣmad bhayam āpnuyāt

Translation

ఏ మానవుడైనా నీకు నేను ఇచ్చిన ఈ ఆజ్ఞను—వృందావనాన్ని విడిచి సముద్రానికి వెళ్లుము—శ్రద్ధతో స్మరించి, ఉదయం మరియు సాయంత్రం ఈ కథను కీర్తిస్తాడో, అతడు మీ భయాన్ని ఎప్పటికీ పొందడు।

Synonyms

• yaḥ: whoever
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject of saṁsmaret)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative pronoun (यद्), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• etat: this
• etat: Karma (कर्म/Object of saṁsmaret)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• saṁsmaret: should remember
• saṁsmaret: Kriyā (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛ (धातु) with sam- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: Liṅ (लिङ्, Optative/vidhi), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa, Singular

• martyaḥ: a mortal
• martyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: martya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; apposition to yaḥ

• tubhyam: to you
• tubhyam: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• mat-anuśāsanam: my instruction
• mat-anuśāsanam: Karma (कर्म/Object of kīrtayan understood)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mad (प्रातिपदिक) + anuśāsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa: ‘my instruction/command’

• kīrtayan: praising/reciting
• kīrtayan: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kīrt (धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agrees with yaḥ/martyaḥ

• ubhayoḥ: of both
• ubhayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ubhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Dual (द्विवचन)

• sandhyoḥ: of the two twilights (morning & evening)
• sandhyoḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Time locus)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sandhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Dual; with ubhayoḥ: ‘at both twilights’

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; negation

• yuṣmat: of you (your)
• yuṣmat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; used attributively with bhayam

• bhayam: fear
• bhayam: Karma (कर्म/Object of āpnuyāt)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• āpnuyāt: would attain/experience
• āpnuyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: āp (धातु)
• Form: Liṅ (लिङ्, Optative), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa, Singular

Characters & Entities

• Kāliya
• Śrī Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about protection from snake fear?

In Canto 10, Chapter 16, Kṛṣṇa states that one who remembers and recites His instruction to Kāliya at dawn and dusk will not be overcome by fear caused by serpents.

Why did Krishna say this to Kaliya in Bhagavatam 10.16?

After subduing Kāliya and ordering him to leave the Yamunā, Kṛṣṇa gives an instruction that also becomes a remembrance-practice for humans, linking His līlā and His words with protection and devotion.

How can I apply this verse in modern life as a devotee?

Make a simple daily practice of sandhyā-time remembrance—recite this verse (or Kṛṣṇa’s order within the Kāliya episode) at dawn and dusk to cultivate steady smaraṇa and reduce fear through devotion-centered discipline.