Shloka 2

Kālin̄dī’s Austerity; True Tapas and Prāyaścitta; Kṛṣṇa’s Grace and Marriage

Devanagari script

कालिन्दीसंज्ञका वीन्द्र यमुना यानुजा स्मृता / कृष्णपत्नीत्वकामेन चचार तप उत्तमम्

Transliteration

kālindīsaṃjñakā vīndra yamunā yānujā smṛtā / kṛṣṇapatnītvakāmena cacāra tapa uttamam

Translation

โอ้วีन्द्र! นางมีนามว่า “กาลินที”; นางนั้นเองคือยมุนา ผู้เป็นน้องสาวของยมะ ด้วยความปรารถนาจะเป็นพระชายาของพระกฤษณะ นางได้บำเพ็ญตบะอันประเสริฐ

Word by Word

• कालिन्दी-संज्ञका: having the name ‘Kālindī’
• कालिन्दी-संज्ञका: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कालिन्दी (प्रातिपदिक) + संज्ञक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन); विशेषण—‘यमुना’ इति विशेष्यस्य

• वीन्द्र: O lord of birds (Garuda)
• वीन्द्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Sambodhana (सम्बोधन), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• यमुना: Yamunā
• यमुना: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यमुना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन)

• या: who
• या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; सम्बन्धसूचक-सर्वनाम

• अनुजा: younger sister
• अनुजा: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; ‘अनुज’ (younger sibling) feminine

• स्मृता: is remembered/called
• स्मृता: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) → स्मृत (कृदन्त)
• Form: Kṛdanta—Past Passive Participle (क्त/ktá); Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; कर्मणि-प्रयोगे ‘is called/remembered’

• कृष्ण-पत्नीत्व-कामेन: by the desire to be Krishna’s wife
• कृष्ण-पत्नीत्व-कामेन: Hetu (हेतु) / Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + पत्नी (प्रातिपदिक) + त्व (तद्धित-प्रत्यय) + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Ekavacana; हेतु/साधन-भावः—‘कृष्णस्य पत्नीभावस्य कामेन’

• चचार: practised/performed
• चचार: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ (लङ्) imperfect/past; Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; Parasmaipada

• तपः: austerity, penance
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana

• उत्तमम्: excellent, supreme
• उत्तमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; विशेषण—‘तपः’ इति विशेष्यस्य

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tapas guided by a pure aim—seeking Krishna as spouse—transforms longing into disciplined devotion.

Vedantic Theme: Desire sublimated into sādhana; īśvara-prāpti through niyama and single-pointedness (ekāgratā).

Application: Convert strong personal desires into structured practice (vows, discipline, prayer, study) oriented toward higher ideals rather than impulsive gratification.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: river/tirtha

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.21.1 (Kalindi’s origin from Surya)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Kalindi
• Yamuna
• Yama
• Krishna

FAQs

Who is Kāलिन्दī (Kalindi) in this Garuda Purana verse?

Kalindi is another name of Yamunā, identified here as Yama’s younger sister and described as performing tapas with the wish to become Krishna’s wife.

Why does the verse call Yamunā the younger sister of Yama (Yānujā)?

The verse preserves a traditional relationship in Purāṇic genealogy, linking Yamunā to Yama to emphasize her divine status and place within the cosmic order.

What is a practical takeaway from this verse for spiritual life today?

It highlights focused intention and disciplined practice (tapas) as a means to pursue a sacred goal, encouraging steadiness in devotional vows and ethical self-discipline.