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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

เมื่อพระผู้เป็นเจ้าผู้ทรงพละอนันต์เสด็จลงสู่สระของพญานาค เหล่านาคในนั้นก็แตกตื่นอย่างยิ่ง และพ่นลมหายใจอาบพิษทำให้น้ำยิ่งปนเปื้อน พลังแห่งการเสด็จลงทำให้สระเอ่อล้นรอบด้าน คลื่นพิษอันน่าสะพรึงกลัวท่วมแผ่นดินไกลถึงร้อยช่วงคันธนู แต่สำหรับพระองค์ผู้ทรงฤทธานุภาพอนันต์ ย่อมไม่ใช่เรื่องน่าอัศจรรย์

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.