rule


  

 

Canto 10

Bhajahû Re Mana

 



Chapter 16: Krishna Chastises the Serpent Kâliya

(1) S'rî S'uka said: 'The Black Lord [Krishna], the Almighty One, seeing the black waters contaminated by the black snake, wanted to purge the river of the serpent living there.'

(2) The king said: 'How did the Supreme Lord subdue the serpent in that dangerous water and how could it reside there for so many ages, oh learned one? Please explain. (3) Oh brahmin, who can get enough of sharing the nectar of the magnanimous pastimes of Him, the Supreme Unlimited Lord, who as a cowherd boy acted to His own bidding?'

(4) S'rî S'uka said: 'In the Kâlindî there was a certain pool where Kâliya [as the serpent was called] resided and its water boiled because of the fire of his poison. Birds flying over it would fall [dead] into its waters. (5) All plant and animal life on the shore died because it came into contact with the poisonous vapor that by the wind was carried from the waves. (6) Krishna had descended to subdue the wicked. Seeing how severely the river was contaminated by the terribly effective, powerful poison, He climbed in a Kadamba tree, slapped His arms, tightened His belt and jumped into the poisoned water. (7) The water of the serpent's lake in turmoil from the poison that the snake was vomiting, because of the force of the fall of the Essential Person, started to overflow on all sides so that its fearsome waves washed over the shore for a hundred bow lengths. What an immeasurable strength that was! (8) My best one, when the snake heard the sound that Krishna produced while He, playing like a big elephant, with His mighty arms was engaged in whirling the waters around, he rushed forward, unable to tolerate the violation of his territory. (9) And while He, so attractive in His yellow garments and as delicate as a glowing white cloud, with the S'rîvatsa, His smiling beautiful face and with His feet, which resembled the inside of a lotus, thus fearlessly was playing, He was angrily bitten in the chest by him and enveloped in his coils. (10) Seeing Him in the grip of the snake's coils being immobilized, His dear friends, the tenders of the animals, were greatly disturbed. With their intelligence bewildered, in pain and full of remorse and fear, they fell to the ground, for they had dedicated everything, themselves, their relations, their wealth, their wives and objects of desire to Krishna. (11) The cows, the bulls and the she-calves, with their eyes fixed on Krishna, cried out loudly in great distress while they fearfully lamented in shock.

(12) Thereupon most fearsome, ominous disturbances arose in Vraja. Three kinds of signs, to be observed in the sky, upon the earth and in the living beings, heralded imminent danger. (13-15) The cowherds, headed by Nanda, who saw these signs, were beset with fear. They knew that Krishna herding the cows had left without Balarâma. Not knowing His prowess, they were overwhelmed by pain, grief and fear. Because of those bad omens they thought that something bad had happened and could only think of Him, who was their very life breath. The children, the elderly and the ladies, my best one, all felt as wretched as a cow missing her calf, and anxiously set out to look for Krishna. (16) Balarâma, the Sweet Supreme Lord, seeing them that distressed, gently smiled and did not speak a word, knowing well the power of His younger brother. (17) Searching for their dear most Krishna, they followed the trail marked by the footprints of the Lord. They led to the bank of the Yamunâ. (18) Quickly they followed the marks of the lotus, the barleycorn, the elephant goad, the thunderbolt and the flag, of the Master of the cowherd community, my best one, which they here and there, dispersed between other footprints, saw on the cow path. (19) When they at a distance saw Krishna motionless within the lake enveloped by the coils of the snake body, and the cowherd boys lying unconscious in the flooded water with all the animals crying around them, they in their distress were delivered to the greatest despair. (20) Now that their sweetheart was seized by the serpent, the gopîs who in their hearts were so attached to Him, the Supreme, Unlimited Personality, while remembering His loving smiles, glances and words, were tormented by the greatest agony. Being deprived of their darling, they experienced the three worlds as being completely empty [see also S'ikshâshthaka verse 7]. (21) Holding back Krishna's mother, they, with their eyes fixed upon her son, equally pained shed a flow of tears. Standing there like corpses they stared at Krishna's face, and one by one recounted the stories about the Darling of Vraja. (22) Nanda and his men seeing Krishna, their life and soul, were by the All-powerful Lord Balarâma, who knew well the might of Krishna, withheld to enter the lake. (23) When He, the only one they had, for some time was caught in that position and saw how His cowherd folk on His behalf was standing there in utter despair together with the women and children, He put an end to His imitation of the mortal way [the illusion of His mortality] and rose up from the coils of the serpent. (24) By expanding His body the serpent was forced to let Him go because of the pain. Kâliya thereupon furiously raised his hoods high, breathed heavily through his nostrils that were like two vessels of boiling poison, and stared the Lord in the face with eyes like firebrands. (25) Kâliya, moving his double-pointed tongue to and fro between his two lips and with his terrible look full of poisonous fire eagerly spying for an opportunity to strike, was by Him playfully approached from all sides by moving around him like He was the king of the birds [Garuda]. (26) Thus turning around him He exhausted him and forced him to bend down his highly raised shoulders. Krishna thereupon climbed on top of the broad heads and then, as the Original One, the First Spiritual Master of All the Arts, started to dance. His lotus feet in touch [with the snake] therewith turned red from [the light of] the many jewels on the heads. (27) That very moment His servants arrived together with their wives: the heavenly singers and perfected souls, the sages and the venerable souls. Taking notice of Him being engaged in His dancing, they all were greatly pleased [and expressed their joy] with playing two-sided clay drums, smaller drums and large drums, and with songs, flowers and other forms of praise. (28) Whichever of Kâliya's one hundred-and-one heads would not bow down, my best one, were immediately trampled down by Krishna. The Lord, who with His kicking feet punishes the evil ones, made the serpent, that still moved but the life of which ran at its end, spit horrible [poisonous] blood from its mouth and nostrils, while it experienced the greatest anguish. (29) Poison oozed from his eyes, and whichever vomiting head that he breathing heavily in his anger would rise, Krishna, while dancing, with His foot forced down into submission. Every time that happened, He with flowers was worshiped for being the Original Person. (30) Profusely vomiting blood, with his numerous hoods broken and with his body defeated by His amazing dancing, oh ruler of man, Kâliya remembered the oldest person, Lord Nârâyana, the spiritual master of all moving and nonmoving entities. Within his mind he turned to Him for shelter. (31) Seeing that the serpent got tired of the heavy weight of the heels of Lord Krishna, in whose abdomen the entire universe is found, and that his umbrella-like hoods were shattered by His trampling, his wives in distress approached the Original Lord with their clothing, ornaments and locks of hair in disarray. (32) Innerly totally upset approaching for shelter, they laid their bodies and children on the ground before Him, the Lord and Refuge of All Creatures. They bowed down, saintly joined their hands and solicited the liberation of their sinful husband.



(33) The wives of the serpent said: 'The punishment for this person who acted against the rules is deserved. With an equal vision towards sons and foes, You descended in this world to subdue the wicked ones and punish for the sake of a positive result. (34) This punishment of  falsehood administered by You, is actually a form of mercy, because by dispelling the contamination, as You did with his appearance as a serpent, You, even being angry, are of grace in accepting the embodied souls. (35) Of what kind of properly performed [voluntary] penance has he been in his former lives, with which he, free from pride and thinking of others, religiously or otherwise being of compassion with everybody, has satisfied You, the Good Self of all living beings? (36) We do not know what [of his actions] led to this result, oh Lord. To be qualified to touch the dust of Your lotus feet, is something for which the Goddess of Fortune, the best of all women, has performed austerities, has given up all desires by keeping to her vow for a long time. (37) They who attained the dust of Your lotus feet, neither desire heaven, nor rulership over all, neither want to be the topmost creator, nor the master of the world, and neither wish the perfections of yoga, nor freedom from rebirth [see also S'ikshâshthaka verse 4]. (38) Even though he, the king of the serpents, being born in the mode of ignorance, oh Lord, was under the sway of anger, he has achieved that what is so difficult for others to achieve. For those who, filled with desires, are covered by a physical body and wander through the cycles of material existence [through different lives], all opulence will manifest itself before their eyes because of that [dust]. (39) We offer You, the Supreme Lord, the Original Person and the Greater Soul, You, the Shelter of All that Exists, the Supreme Primordial Cause and the Supreme One in the Beyond, our obeisances. (40) For You, the Ocean of Spiritual Knowledge and Wisdom, for You, the Absolute Truth of an unlimited potency, for You who are free from the modes and free from all changes of form, for You, the Prime Mover, there is our reverence. (41) We pray for You as the Time, for You as the Certainty with the Time and for You as the Witness of all Time measures. Our prayers are there for You in the Form of the Universe, for You as the One Supervising it All, for You as its Supreme Creator, and for You who are the Original Cause of the Universe. (42-43) Our obeisances for You who are the Soul and refuge for the intelligence, the spirit, the life breath and the senses, for You who constitute the subtle basis for the perception and the material elements, for You from whom [turned away] one falsely identifies with the three modes so that one's self-awareness is covered. We pray to You, the Unlimited One, the Transcendental One who are the center to the multitude, You who are the omniscient one and He who accepts the different doctrines [philosophies or dars'anas], and constitutes the power of the expression of ideas and words. (44) Again and again we prove our respects for the foundation of all authoritative proof, for the author of the revealed scriptures, and for the source of the Vedic texts that both restrict [nivritti] and incite [pravritti]. (45) We bow before Lord Krishna and Lord Râma [Sankarshana], the sons of Vasudeva, as also before Pradyumna and Aniruddha [Krishna's son and grandson, see 4.24: 35-36]. Our obeisances to the Master of the Sâtvatas [the devotees of Krishna, Satvata]. (46) Our salutations are there for Him who manifests the various qualities, He who disguises Himself by the modes but who also because of the functioning of the modes can be acknowledged, He, who by His devotees is known as the [independent] witness of those basic qualities. (47) Oh Controller of the Senses, let there be our reverence for You who are so inscrutable in Your unmanifest state and so perfect in the state of all Your manifest forms, for You who acts so silently with the silent ones. (48) We worship Him, the Knower of the Higher and Lower Destinations, the Regulator of All Things, You who stand apart from the universe and [yet] are the universe itself, You who are the Overseer of That and the Root Cause of this all. (49) You are the Almighty Lord of the Creation, Maintenance and Destruction of this universe who, beginningless and without acting with the modes, with the potency of Time endeavors [to promote the balance] in relation to the modes. While impeccably playing Your game, You by Your glance awaken the distinctive dormant characteristics of each of these [modes]. (50) The souls of peace, the restless souls and those born in slowness are Your material embodiments [of the modes] in the three worlds. Wishing to maintain the dharma You [therewith being embodied Yourself] are present in this world in order to protect the saintly and the peace-loving souls dear to You. (51) The master for once should tolerate the offense that was committed by his own subject. You oh Peace Personified, should forgive it this foolish one [our husband] who failed to understand You. (52) Oh Supreme Lord have mercy, the serpent is breathing his last. Since we women are pitied by the saints, our husband should be granted his life. (53) Please tell us, Your maidservants, what we should do. By the faithful execution of Your command one will surely be released from all fear.'



(54) S'rî S'uka said: 'He, the Supreme Lord, thus extensively praised by the wives of the stupefied snake, thereupon released him whose heads were defeated by His trampling feet. (55) Slowly he regained his senses and vital force. Breathing with difficulty and being miserable, Kâliya spoke submissively to Krishna. (56) Kâliya said: 'We [snakes] so vicious and ignorant by birth, are of a constant anger. For normal living beings it is difficult to give up the propensities by which they hold on to that what is untrue [their physicality], oh Lord! (57) Oh Creator, oh Lord of the Time and the Seasons, You are the one who generated this universe filled with the appearances of the natural modes that are endowed with different personal propensities in varieties of talents and physical capabilities, wombs and seeds, and different mentalities and forms. (58) And we present here in this world, oh Supreme Lord, who because of the serpent species are bound to anger, how can we in our bewilderment of our own accord get rid of Your insuperable Mâyâ? (59) Let there from Your good self, as the cause in this matter, as the Knower of this All, as the Master of this Universe, for us be the arrangement You think fit, whether it concerns Your mercy or Your punishment.'

(60) S'rî S'uka said: 'The Supreme Lord, in the role of a human being thus hearing the words then said: 'You, oh serpent, must not stay here any longer. Go directly to the ocean with your folk, your children and women. May the wealth of the river be enjoyed by the human beings and the cows. (61) Any mortal being who remembers this command of Mine to you and recites it at the beginning and the end of the day, will not be afraid of you. (62) He who at the place of this pastime of Mine bathes and gratifies the gods and others with the water, will be freed from all sins, when he remembers Me and is of worship and fasts. (63) Afraid of Garuda you abandoned the island Ramanaka and took shelter of this pool, but now that you are marked by My feet he will not devour you.'
 
(64) The honorable sage said: 'Freed by Krishna, the Supreme Personality whose actions are so wonderful, oh King, the serpent together with his wives worshiped Him with pleasure and reverence. (65-67) Worshiping and satisfying the Lord of the Universe with the finest clothing, strings of flowers and most valuable jewels, as also with ornaments, heavenly scents, ointments and with a wreath of lotuses, he was by Him who carries Garuda in His flag permitted to leave, contented as He was by the circumambulating and reverence accomplished by him and his wives, children and friends. Immediately after his departure to the island in the ocean, the nectarean water of the Yamunâ became free from poison by the grace of the Supreme Lord who for His pastimes had assumed a human form.'

 

next           

 
 

 Third revised edition, loaded July 25, 2020.

 

 

 

 

 

Previous Aadhar edition and Vedabase links:

Text 1

S'rî S'uka said: 'The Black Lord [Krishna], the Almighty One, seeing the black waters contaminated by the black snake, wanted to purge the river of the serpent living there.'
S'rî S'uka said: 'The Black Lord [Krishna], the Almighty One, seeing the black waters contaminated by the black snake wanted the purification of the river and put an end to that serpent.' (Vedabase)

 

Text 2

The king said: 'How did the Supreme Lord subdue the serpent in that dangerous water and how could it reside there for so many ages, oh learned one? Please explain.

The king said: 'How did the Supreme Lord subdue the serpent in the deep waters and how could it reside there for so many ages o learned one, please explain. (Vedabase)

    

Text 3

Oh brahmin, who can get enough of sharing the nectar of the magnanimous pastimes of Him, the Supreme Unlimited Lord, who as a cowherd boy acted to His own bidding?'

O brahmin, who can be sated partaking of the nectar of the magnanimous pastimes of Him, the Supreme Unlimited Lord, who as a cowherd boy acted on His own authority.' (Vedabase)

 

Text 4

S'rî S'uka said: 'In the Kâlindî there was a certain pool where Kâliya [as the serpent was called] resided and its water boiled because of the fire of his poison. Birds flying over it would fall [dead] into its waters.

S'rî S'uka said: 'To the Kâlindi of Kâliya [the name of the serpent] there was a certain lake that boiled from the fire of his poison; birds flying over it would fall into its waters. (Vedabase)

 

Text 5

All plant and animal life on the shore died because it came into contact with the poisonous vapor that by the wind was carried from the waves.

In contact with the poisonous vapor, which from the waves was carried by the wind, died all plant and animal life on the shore. (Vedabase)

 

Text 6

Krishna had descended to subdue the wicked. Seeing how severely the river was contaminated by the terribly effective, powerful poison, He climbed in a Kadamba tree, slapped His arms, tightened His belt and jumped into the poisoned water.

Seeing how the river was contaminated by his terribly effective, powerful poison, climbed Krishna, who had descended to subdue the wicked, up a Kadamba tree, slapped His arms, tightened His belt and jumped into the poisoned water. (Vedabase)

   

Text 7

The water of the serpent's lake in turmoil from the poison that the snake was vomiting, because of the force of the fall of the Essential Person, started to overflow on all sides so that its fearsome waves washed over the shore for a hundred bow lengths. What an immeasurable strength that was!

By the force of the fall of the Essential Person overflowed the water of the serpent's lake, in turmoil because of the poison the snake was vomiting, on al sides so that its fearsome waves came to flow over a hundred bow lengths; what an immeasurable strenght indeed! (Vedabase)

 

Text 8

My best one, when the snake heard the sound that Krishna produced while He, playing like a big elephant, with His mighty arms was engaged in whirling the waters around, he rushed forward, unable to tolerate the violation of his territory.

My best, hearing the sound that He produced as He was playing with His mighty arms like a mighty elephant that swirls around the waters, rushed he [the snake] forward unable to tolerate the trespassing of his abode. (Vedabase)

  

Text 9

And while He, so attractive in His yellow garments and as delicate as a glowing white cloud, with the S'rîvatsa, His smiling beautiful face and with His feet, which resembled the inside of a lotus, thus fearlessly was playing, He was angrily bitten in the chest by him and enveloped in his coils.

As He fearlessly was playing, so attractive in His yellow garments and as delicate as a glowing white cloud, with the S'rîvatsa, His smiling beautiful face and with His feet which resembled the inside of a lotus, was He by him angrily bitten in the chest and enveloped in his coils. (Vedabase)

 

Text 10

Seeing Him in the grip of the snake's coils being immobilized, His dear friends, the tenders of the animals, were greatly disturbed. With their intelligence bewildered, in pain and full of remorse and fear, they fell to the ground, for they had dedicated everything, themselves, their relations, their wealth, their wives and objects of desire to Krishna.

Seeing Him, immobilized in the grip of the snake its coils, were His dear friends, the tenders of the animals [and all who happened to be present further], greatly disturbed and fell they, bewildered in their intelligence, in pain and full of remorse and fear to the ground, for they had offered themselves, their relations, their wealth, wives and objects of desire all to Krishna. (Vedabase)

 

Text 11

The cows, the bulls and the she-calves, with their eyes fixed on Krishna, cried out loudly in great distress while they fearfully lamented in shock.

The cows, the bulls, the she-calves, cried out loudly in great distress, having their eyes fixed on Krishna, afraid lamenting in shock.' (Vedabase)

   

Text 12

Thereupon most fearsome, ominous disturbances arose in Vraja. Three kinds of signs, to be observed in the sky, upon the earth and in the living beings, heralded imminent danger.

Most fearsome, ominous disturbances then arose in Vraja in three kinds: signs could be seen in the sky, upon the earth and in the living beings that all announced imminent danger. (Vedabase)

 

Text 13-15

The cowherds, headed by Nanda, who saw these signs, were beset with fear. They knew that Krishna herding the cows had left without Balarâma. Not knowing His prowess, they were overwhelmed by pain, grief and fear. Because of those bad omens they thought that something bad had happened and could only think of Him, who was their very life breath. The children, the elderly and the ladies, my best one, all felt as wretched as a cow missing her calf, and anxiously set out to look for Krishna.

Seeing these signs were the cowherds who were headed by Nanda, agitated by fear knowing that Krishna had gone herding the cows without Balarâma. They, not knowing His prowess, could, from those bad omens overwhelmed by pain, grief and fear, think of nothing but Him, He who was their very breath of life. All of them, the children, the elderly and the ladies, my best, feeling as wretched as a cow missing her calf, anxiously set out to look for Krishna. (Vedabase)

 

Text 16

Balarâma, the Sweet Supreme Lord, seeing them that distressed, gently smiled and did not speak a word, knowing well the power of His younger brother.

Balarâma the Sweet Supreme Lord seeing them that distressed gently smiled and didn't speak a word, knowing well the power of His younger brother. (Vedabase)

  

Text 17

Searching for their dear most Krishna, they followed the trail marked by the footprints of the Lord. They led to the bank of the Yamunâ.

They in search for their dearmost Krishna followed the trail marked by the symbols of the Lord His footprints leading to the bank of the Yamunâ. (Vedabase)

 

Text 18

Quickly they followed the marks of the lotus, the barleycorn, the elephant goad, the thunderbolt and the flag, of the Master of the cowherd community, my best one, which they here and there, dispersed between other footprints, saw on the cow path.

Here and there, dispersed between other footmarks on the cow path, seeing the lotus, barleycorn, elephant goad, thunderbolt and flag adorned footprints of the master of their community, hurried they along, my best. (Vedabase)

 

Text 19

When they at a distance saw Krishna motionless within the lake enveloped by the coils of the snake body, and the cowherd boys lying unconscious in the flooded water with all the animals crying around them, they in their distress were delivered to the greatest despair.

Seeing Krishna motionless within the lake enveloped in the coils of the snake body, the cowherd boys laying unconscious with the flooded waters and the animals all around them crying out loud, were they in their distress delivered to the greatest despair. (Vedabase)

 

  Text 20

Now that their sweetheart was seized by the serpent, the gopîs who in their hearts were so attached to Him, the Supreme, Unlimited Personality, while remembering His loving smiles, glances and words, were tormented by the greatest agony. Being deprived of their darling, they experienced the three worlds as being completely empty [see also S'ikshâshthaka verse 7].

The gopîs with their minds so attached to Him, the Supreme, Unlimited Personality, remembering His loving smiles, glances and words, were now that their most dear was seized by the serpent, tormented by the greatest agony and experienced, deprived of their darling, all the three worlds as being empty [see also S'rî S'rî S'ikshâshthaka verse seven]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 21

Holding back Krishna's mother, they, with their eyes fixed upon her son, equally pained shed a flow of tears. Standing there like corpses they stared at Krishna's face, and one by one recounted the stories about the Darling of Vraja.

They, together with the equally pained mother of Krishna fixing their vision upon her son, held firm retaining their flood of emotions while each of them brought up stories about the Darling of Vraja as they were standing there nailed to the ground staring at Krishna's face. (Vedabase)


Text 22

Nanda and his men seeing Krishna, their life and soul, were by the All-powerful Lord Balarâma, who knew well the might of Krishna, withheld to enter the lake.

Nanda and his men seeing Krishna, their life and soul, were by the All-powerful Lord Balarâma who knew well the might of Krishna, withheld to enter the lake. (Vedabase)

 

Text 23

When He, the only one they had, for some time was caught in that position and saw how His cowherd folk on His behalf was standing there in utter despair together with the women and children, He put an end to His imitation of the mortal way [the illusion of His mortality] and rose up from the coils of the serpent.

When He, the only one they had, for some time being caught in that position, saw how His cowherd folk was standing there together with the women and children in utter despair on His behalf, put He an end to the illusion of His mortality and rose He up from the coils of the serpent. (Vedabase)


Text 24

By expanding His body the serpent was forced to let Him go because of the pain. Kâliya thereupon furiously raised his hoods high, breathed heavily through his nostrils that were like two vessels of boiling poison, and stared the Lord in the face with eyes like firebrands.

Expanding Himself was He given up by the serpent that had to suffer because of His transcendental body; he raised his hoods high in anger, breathed heavily through his nostrils that were like two vessels of boiling poison and looked the Lord in the face, standing still with his firebrand eyes fixed. (Vedabase)

 

Text 25

Kâliya, moving his double-pointed tongue to and fro between his two lips and with his terrible look full of poisonous fire eagerly spying for an opportunity to strike, was by Him playfully approached from all sides by moving around him like He was the king of the birds [Garuda].

He with his double-pointed tongue to and fro between his two lips and his look indeed so terrible full of poisonous fire eagerly spying for an opportunity to strike, was by Him playfully encircled as He moved around him like the king of the birds [Garuda]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 26

Thus turning around him He exhausted him and forced him to bend down his highly raised shoulders. Krishna thereupon climbed on top of the broad heads and then, as the Original One, the First Spiritual Master of All the Arts, started to dance. His lotus feet in touch [with the snake] therewith turned red from [the light of] the many jewels on the heads.

This way moving around him wore He him out and made He him bend down his high raised shoulders; climbing on top of the broad heads, began He as the Original One, the First Spiritual Master of All the Arts, to dance, with His lotus feet in touch [with the snake] reddened by the many jewels on the heads. (Vedabase)

 

Text 27

That very moment His servants arrived together with their wives: the heavenly singers and perfected souls, the sages and the venerable souls. Taking notice of Him being engaged in His dancing, they all were greatly pleased [and expressed their joy] with playing two-sided clay drums, smaller drums and large drums, and with songs, flowers and other forms of praise.

Taking notice of Him engaged in His dancing arrived that very moment His servants: the heavenly singers and perfected souls, the sages and the venerable ones with their wives who all were greatly pleased to join Him with two-sided clay drums, tabours and large drums, songs, flowers and other forms of praise. (Vedabase)

 

Text 28

Whichever of Kâliya's one hundred-and-one heads would not bow down, my best one, were immediately trampled down by Krishna. The Lord, who with His kicking feet punishes the evil ones, made the serpent, that still moved but the life of which ran at its end, spit horrible [poisonous] blood from its mouth and nostrils, while it experienced the greatest anguish.

Whichever of the one hundred-and-one heads he had that wouldn't bow down, my best, were right away kicked asunder; the Lord who with His feet coming down punishes the evil ones, made the serpent, still moving but with his life running out, spit horrible [poisonous] blood from his mouth and nostrils so that he experienced the greatest anguish. (Vedabase)

 

Text 29

Poison oozed from his eyes, and whichever vomiting head that he breathing heavily in his anger would rise, Krishna, while dancing, with His foot forced down into submission. Every time that happened, He with flowers was worshiped for being the Original Person.

Poison oozed from his eyes and whichever vomiting head that would rise breathing heavily in anger, was, dancing, with His foot forced down in submission by Him, and for every instance that happened was He with flowers worshiped for being the Original Person. (Vedabase)

 

Text 30

Profusely vomiting blood, with his numerous hoods broken and with his body defeated by His amazing dancing, oh ruler of man, Kâliya remembered the oldest person, Lord Nârâyana, the spiritual master of all moving and nonmoving entities. Within his mind he turned to Him for shelter.

Profusely vomiting blood with his numerous hoods broken and his body defeated by His peculiar dancing, o ruler of man, remembered he the oldest person, Lord Nârâyana, the spiritual master of all moving and nonmoving entities and turned he within his mind to Him for shelter. (Vedabase)

 

Text 31

Seeing that the serpent got tired of the heavy weight of the heels of Lord Krishna, in whose abdomen the entire universe is found, and that his umbrella-like hoods were shattered by His trampling, his wives in distress approached the Original Lord with their clothing, ornaments and locks of hair in disarray.

Seeing that the serpent got tired of the heavy weight of the heels of Lord Krishna in whose abdomen the entire universe is found and that his umbrellalike hoods were shattered by His trampling, approached his wives, distressed and with their clothing, ornaments and locks of hair in disarray, the Original Lord. (Vedabase)

 

Text 32

Innerly totally upset approaching for shelter, they laid their bodies and children on the ground before Him, the Lord and Refuge of All Creatures. They bowed down, saintly joined their hands and solicited the liberation of their sinful husband.

They, totally upset within, approaching for shelter, laid their bodies and children on the ground before Him, the Lord and Refuge of All Creatures, and bowed down saintly folding their hands together to solicit the liberation of their sinful husband. (Vedabase)

 

Text 33

The wives of the serpent said: 'The punishment for this person who acted against the rules is deserved. With an equal vision towards sons and foes, You descended in this world to subdue the wicked ones and punish for the sake of a positive result.

The wives of the serpent said: 'Fair is factually the punishment for this person who acted in offense; You descended in this world to subdue, with an equal vision to sons and foes, the wicked and administer punishment with the purpose of a positive result. (Vedabase)

 

Text 34

This punishment of  falsehood administered by You, is actually a form of mercy, because by dispelling the contamination, as You did with his appearance as a serpent, You, even being angry, are of grace in accepting the embodied souls.

This chastising of the untrue You inflicted upon us is actually a form of mercy because dispelling their contamination, as You did with his appearance as a serpent, You even being angry are of grace in accepting the ones embodied. (Vedabase)

 

Text 35

Of what kind of properly performed [voluntary] penance has he been in his former lives, with which he, free from pride and thinking of others, religiously or otherwise being of compassion with everybody, has satisfied You, the Good Self of all living beings?

Of what austerity properly performed has he in his former lives been, free from pride and thinking of others, religious or else of compassion with all people, from which You, the Good Self of all living beings, are satisfied? (Vedabase)


Text 36

We do not know what [of his actions] led to this result, oh Lord. To be qualified to touch the dust of Your lotus feet, is something for which the Goddess of Fortune, the best of all women, has performed austerities, has given up all desires by keeping to her vow for a long time.

We don't know what of him led to this result o Lord of ours; to be qualified to touch the dust of Your lotus feet is something for which the goddess of fortune, the best of all women, has performed austerities, has given up all desires for a long time keeping to her vow. (Vedabase)

 

Text 37

They who attained the dust of Your lotus feet, neither desire heaven, nor rulership over all, neither want to be the topmost creator, nor the master of the world, and neither wish the perfections of yoga, nor freedom from rebirth [see also S'ikshâshthaka verse 4].

Heaven nor rulership over all, not to be the topmost creator nor the master of the world, not the perfections of yoga or freedom from rebirth do they desire who have attained the dust of the feet [see also S'rî S'rî S'ikshâshthaka verse 4]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 38

Even though he, the king of the serpents, being born in the mode of ignorance, oh Lord, was under the sway of anger, he has achieved that what is so difficult for others to achieve. For those who, filled with desires, are covered by a physical body and wander through the cycles of material existence [through different lives], all opulence will manifest itself before their eyes because of that [dust].

He, born from ignorance under the sway of anger, has achieved that what is so difficult for others to achieve; by it [the dust] manifests for the ones, who encapsulated wander within the cycles of material existence, all opulence itself. (Vedabase)

 

Text 39

We offer You, the Supreme Lord, the Original Person and the Greater Soul, You, the Shelter of All that Exists, the Supreme Primordial Cause and the Supreme One in the Beyond, our obeisances.

For You, the Supreme Lord of the Original Person, the Greater Soul, the Shelter of All that Exists and the Supreme Primordial Cause, for the Supreme One of the Beyond, our obeisances. (Vedabase)

 

Text 40

For You, the Ocean of Spiritual Knowledge and Wisdom, for You, the Absolute Truth of an unlimited potency, for You who are free from the modes and free from all changes of form, for You, the Prime Mover, there is our reverence.

For the Ocean of Spiritual Knowledge and Wisdom, for the Absolute Truth of an unlimited potency, for Him free from as well the modes as from all change of form, for You the Prime Mover, our reverence. (Vedabase)

 

Text 41

We pray for You as the Time, for You as the Certainty with the Time and for You as the Witness of all Time measures. Our prayers are there for You in the Form of the Universe, for You as the One Supervising it All, for You as its Supreme Creator, and for You who are the Original Cause of the Universe.

For the Time, for the Secure of Time, for the Witness to the divisions of Time, for Him in the Form of the Universe, for the One Watching It Over, for its Creator; for the Final Cause of the Universe [our reverential homage]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 42-43

Our obeisances for You who are the Soul and refuge for the intelligence, the spirit, the life breath and the senses, for You who constitute the subtle basis for the perception and the material elements, for You from whom [turned away] one falsely identifies with the three modes so that one's self-awareness is covered. We pray to You, the Unlimited One, the Transcendental One who are the center to the multitude, You who are the omniscient one and He who accepts the different doctrines [philosophies or dars'anas], and constitutes the power of the expression of ideas and words.

Of the created of the senses, the life-air, the mind, the intelligence and the consciousness You are the ground of perception, that Ultimate Soul that by the modes of nature causes the misconception of falsely identifying one's true self with its cover. Our obeisances for the Unlimited Lord supremely subtle, fixed in the center, the Omniscient One sanctioning the diverse philosophies, the One Potency of expressing ideas and words. (Vedabase)


Text 44

Again and again we prove our respects for the foundation of all authoritative proof, for the author of the revealed scriptures, and for the source of the Vedic texts that both restrict [nivritti] and incite [pravritti].

Our respects again and again for the basis of all authoritative proof, for the author of the revealed scriptures, for the source of the passages inciting and restricting. (Vedabase)

 

Text 45

We bow before Lord Krishna and Lord Râma [Sankarshana], the sons of Vasudeva, as also before Pradyumna and Aniruddha [Krishna's son and grandson, see 4.24: 35-36]. Our obeisances to the Master of the Sâtvatas [the devotees of Krishna, Satvata]. 

We bow before Lord Krishna and Lord Râma [Sankarshana], the sons of Vasudeva, and to Pradyumna and Aniruddha [see 4.24: 35-36]; our obeisances to the Master of the Sâtvatas. (Vedabase)

 

Text 46

Our salutations are there for Him who manifests the various qualities, He who disguises Himself by the modes but who also because of the functioning of the modes can be acknowledged, He, who by His devotees is known as the [independent] witness of those basic qualities.

Our salutations to Him who, manifesting the various qualities, disguises Himself by the modes and [yet] by the functioning of the modes can be ascertained; He who by His devotees is known as the separate witness to the modes. (Vedabase)

 

Text 47

Oh Controller of the Senses, let there be our reverence for You who are so inscrutable in Your unmanifest state and so perfect in the state of all Your manifest forms, for You who acts so silently with the silent ones.

O Controller of the Senses, let there be unto You, so inscrutable in Your pastimes displayed for the realization of all creation, our obeisances; unto You, acting so silently to the silent. (Vedabase)

 

Text 48

We worship Him, the Knower of the Higher and Lower Destinations, the Regulator of All Things, You who stand apart from the universe and [yet] are the universe itself, You who are the Overseer of That and the Root Cause of this all.

Unto Him the Knower of the Destinations Higher and Lower, the Regulator of All things, unto You, standing apart from the universe and yet being the universe itself, for the Overseer of That and Root Cause of this all, our worship. (Vedabase)

 

Text 49

You are the Almighty Lord of the Creation, Maintenance and Destruction of this universe who, beginningless and without acting with the modes, with the potency of Time endeavors [to promote the balance] in relation to the modes. While impeccably playing Your game, You by Your glance awaken the distinctive dormant characteristics of each of these [modes].

You indeed are the Almighty Lord of Creation, Maintenance and Destruction of this universe who, beginningless with the potency of Time by the modes art the employer uninvolved; awakening by Your glance the distinctive dormant characteristics of each of them [modes] You play Your game impeccable. (Vedabase)


Text 50

The souls of peace, the restless souls and those born in slowness are Your material embodiments [of the modes] in the three worlds. Wishing to maintain the dharma You [therewith being embodied Yourself] are present in this world in order to protect the saintly and the peace-loving souls dear to You.

The peaceful, the restless and those born in slowness are of it [of the Time] Your material manifestations in the three worlds; [but] for the peace-loving ones and the saintly out here whom You hold dear, are You there, in Your desire to maintain the dharma to protect them. (Vedabase)

 

Text 51

The master for once should tolerate the offense that was committed by his own subject. You, oh Peace Personified, should forgive it this foolish one [our husband] who failed to understand You.

For once should by the master the offense committed by his own subject be tolerated; You o Peace Personified, should forgive it this foolish one [our husband] who failed to understand You. (Vedabase)

 

Text 52

Oh Supreme Lord have mercy, the serpent is breathing his last. Since we women are pitied by the saints, our husband should be granted his life.

O Supreme Lord have mercy, the serpent is breathing his last; we women are pitied by the saintly, the husband [thus] should be restored to life. (Vedabase)

 

Text 53

Please tell us, Your maidservants, what we should do. By the faithful execution of Your command one will surely be released from all fear.'

Please tell us, Your maidservants, what should be done; by Your command faithfully executed will one for sure be freed from all fear.' (Vedabase)

 

Text 54

S'rî S'uka said: 'He, the Supreme Lord, thus extensively praised by the wives of the stupefied snake, thereupon released him whose heads were defeated by His trampling feet.

S'rî S'uka said: 'He, the Supreme Lord, thus extensively praised by the wives of the snake, released him whose heads were defeated by His trampling feet. (Vedabase)

 

Text 55

Slowly he regained his senses and vital force. Breathing with difficulty and being miserable, Kâliya spoke submissively to Krishna.

Slowly with difficulty regaining his senses and life-air spoke Kâliya, breathing loudly, wretched and submissive to Krishna. (Vedabase)

 

Text 56

Kâliya said: 'We [snakes] so vicious and ignorant by birth, are of a constant anger. For normal living beings it is difficult to give up the propensities by which they hold on to that what is untrue [their physicality], oh Lord!

Kâliya said: 'We so vicious and ignorant by birth are with a constant anger of a nature that is difficult to give up for normal folk who thereof take to the untrue, o master! (Vedabase)

 

Text 57

Oh Creator, oh Lord of the Time and the Seasons, You are the one who generated this universe filled with the appearances of the natural modes that are endowed with different personal propensities in varieties of talents and physical capabilities, wombs and seeds, and different mentalities and forms.

This universe created by You, o Sustainer of the modes and the variety of creation, is there, of the womb and seed, in forms and mentalities, personal natures, different talents and physical strengths. (Vedabase)

 

Text 58

And we present here in this world, oh Supreme Lord, who because of the serpent species are bound to anger, how can we in our bewilderment of our own accord get rid of Your insuperable Mâyâ?

And we out here o Supreme Lord, are from the nature of the serpent species absorbed in anger; how can we on our own accord give up now Your deluding matter which is so impossible to forsake being bewildered? (Vedabase)

 

Text 59

Let there from Your good self, as the cause in this matter, as the Knower of this All, as the Master of this Universe, for us be the arrangement You think fit, whether it concerns Your mercy or Your punishment.'

Let there be the certain of that what You, of Your good self as the cause therein, the Knower of All, the Controller of the Universe, will arrange for us, be it of favor or of punishment.' (Vedabase)

 

Text 60

S'rî S'uka said: 'The Supreme Lord, in the role of a human being thus hearing the words then said: 'You, oh serpent, must not stay here any longer. Go directly to the ocean with your folk, your children and women. May the wealth of the river be enjoyed by the human beings and the cows.

S'rî S'uka said: 'Thus hearing the words then spoke the Supreme Lord, in the role of a human being: 'You, serpent, must not stay here any longer; go directly to the ocean with your folk, your children and women; let the wealth of the river be enjoyed by the human beings and the cows. (Vedabase)

 

Text 61

Any mortal being who remembers this command of Mine to you and recites it at the beginning and the end of the day, will not be afraid of you.

Any mortal being who remembers this command of Mine for you and recites it at the beginning and the end of the day will not get afraid of you. (Vedabase)

 

Text 62

He who at the place of this pastime of Mine bathes and gratifies the gods and others with the water, will be freed from all sins, when he remembers Me and is of worship and fasts.

He who at the place of this pastime of Mine bathes and with the water gratifies the gods and all, will, observing a fast with his worship, be freed from all sins. (Vedabase)

 

Text 63

Afraid of Garuda you abandoned the island Ramanaka and took shelter of this pool, but now that you are marked by My feet he will not devour you.'

Afraid of Garuda you abandoned the island Ramanaka and took shelter of this pool; but now that you are marked by My feet will he not devour you.' (Vedabase)

 

Text 64

The honorable sage said: 'Freed by Krishna, the Supreme Personality whose actions are so wonderful oh King, the serpent together with his wives worshiped Him with pleasure and reverence.

The honorable sage said: 'Freed by Krishna, the Supreme Personality whose actions are so wonderful o King, worshiped the serpent together with his wives Him with pleasure and reverence. (Vedabase)

 

Text 65-67

Worshiping and satisfying the Lord of the Universe with the finest clothing, strings of flowers and most valuable jewels, as also with ornaments, heavenly scents, ointments and with a wreath of lotuses, he was by Him who carries Garuda in His flag permitted to leave, contented as He was by the circumambulating and reverence accomplished by him and his wives, children and friends. Immediately after his departure to the island in the ocean, the nectarean water of the Yamunâ became free from poison by the grace of the Supreme Lord who for His pastimes had assumed a human form.'

With the finest clothing, strings of flowers and jewels most valuable as also with ornaments, heavenly scents and ointments and with a wreath of lotuses worshiping and satisfying the Lord of the Universe, was he by Him who has Garuda in His flag permitted to leave, contented as He was being circumambulated and respected by him and his wives, children and friends. As he went to the island in the ocean became that very instant the nectarean water of the Yamunâ by the grace of the Supreme Lord, who for His pastimes had assumed a human form, free from poison. (Vedabase)

 

 

 

 

Creative Commons
                License
The text and audio are offered under the conditions of the
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.
The first painting is titled: 'Kâlîya Damana' by Khitindra Nâth Mazumdar.
Source: 'Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists', Ballantine Press, Oct. 1913.
The second painting is titled: 'Krishna Quelling the Serpent King Kaliya',
Folio from a Bhagavata Purana (Ancient Stories of the Lord), 1718. Source:
LACMA.
The third painting is titled: 'Krishna conquers the serpent Kaliya'.
Page from a dispersed Bhagavata Purana. Source:
Brooklyn Museum.
Production: Filognostic Association of The Order of Time.

 

 

Feed-back | Links | Downloads | MusicPictures | What's New | Search | Donations