Kaliya

[Swami B.V. Vishnu Daivata]

evaM sa devavaravanditapAdapadmo
gopAlakeshhu viharan bhuvi shhashhThamabdam |
prApto gavAmakhilapo.api sa pAlako.abhUt
vR^indAvanAntaragasAndralatAvitAne || 13 .33||

In this way, he whose feet are lauded by best gods has attained an age of six on earth, while passing time with other cowherds. Though he is the supreme protector of universe, he has now become a protector of cows in the thickets of bowers in bRindavana. [13-33]

jyeshhThaM vihAya sa kadAchidachintyashaktiH
gogopagogaNayuto yamunAjaleshhu |
reme bhavishhyadanuvIxya hi gopaduHkhaM
tadbAdhanAya nijamagrameshhu so.adhAt || 13 .34||

At one time, kR^iShNa is playing with cows and cowherds on the bank of yamuna river, and he wanted to play with a deadly serpent named kaaliiya, inhabiting the river. But, kR^iShNa thought that his friends would be annoyed to see him in a bout with that serpent. Thus, he deliberately kept his brother balaraama away from him, so that balaraama remaining on riverbank will pacify the annoyed cowherds, duly explaining the capabilities of kR^iShNa. [13-34]

sa brahmaNo vara balAt uragaM tu avadhyaM
sarvaiH avArya vishha vIryam R^ite suparNAt |
vij~nAya tat vishha vidUshhita vAri pAna
aasannAn pashUn api vayasya janAn sa AvIt || 13 .35||

That serpent kaaliiya is haughty because of his deadly poison and a boon from brahma. None excepting garuDa can eliminate him. kR^iShNa spotting that serpent saved cows and other cowherd friends who succumbed to that serpent’s poison, when they went to drink poison contaminated water in the river. [13-35]

tat dR^ishhTi divya sudhayA sahasA abhivR^ishhTAH
sarve api jIvitam avApuH atha uchcha shAkham |
kR^ishhNaH kadambam adhiruhya tataH ati tuN^gAt
AsphoTya gADharashano nyapatat vishhode || 13 .36||

When the shower of nectar, called the blissful glances of kR^iShNa, has showered, the cows and cowherds who earlier drank the poisoned water of the river, and fell dead, have come to life. kR^iShNa got up on a tree, tightened waistband, took a chestful of breath, and jumped into the lake, called kaalindi, where serpent kaaliiya is inhabiting rendering the water as poison. [13-36]

sArpahradaH purushhasAranipAtavega
saN^xobhitoragavishhochchhavasitAmburAshiH |
paryupluto vishhakashhAyavibhIshhaNormi
bhImo dhanuH shatam nananta balasya kiM tat || 13 .37||
(bhA .pu . 10 .14 .6 -7)

As and when kR^iShNa jumped into lake, that serpent kaaliiya is highly perturbed and jumped up hissing lethal suspires. Then the water that is put to turmoil rose up to a hundred bow-lengths, say some 4800 cubits. What if the water is upheaved to this height, when kR^iShNa himself is vasty. [13-37]

taM yAmuna hrada viloLakamApya nAgaH
kALyo nijaiH sam adashat saha vAsudevam |
bhogaiH babandha cha nija iishvaram enam aj~naH
sehe tam Isha uta bhaktimato aparAdham || 13 .38||

kaaliiya together with other serpents of his yoke has bitten kR^iShNa because he put the placidity of the lake to turmoil, and lacking the knowledge that kR^iShNa is his own master, constrained him in the coils of his tail. kR^iShNa too allowed it, owing to his lenient nature towards his devotees. [13-38]

utpAtam Ixya tu tadA akhila gopa saN^gha
tatra aajagAma halinA pratibodhito.api |
dR^ishhTvA nija aashraya janasya bahoH suduHkhaM
kR^ishhNaH sva bhaktam api nAgam amuM mamarda || 13 .39||

On seeing kR^iShNa’s falling into kaalindi lake all the cowherds have rushed to the bank of that lake, though that area is with a toxic environ, and though dissuaded by balaraama saying that kR^iShNa alone can deal with that snake. And on seeing the annoyance of cowherds, who hinge themselves on kR^iShNa, kR^iShNa had to trample kaaliiya, though kaaliiya is an adherent of kR^iShNa. [13-39]

tasyonnateshhu sa phaNeshhu nanarta kR^ishhNo
brahmAdibhiH kusumavarshhibhirID.hyamAnaH |
Arto mukhairuru vaman rudhiraM sa nAgo
nArAyaNaM tamaraNaM manasA jagAma || 13 .40||

And kR^iShNa performed trample-dance on the towering hoods of kaaliiya, for which brahma et al gods have showered flowers onto him. But enfeebled kaaliiya, vomiting blood from his mouths, mentally started praying kR^iShNa for a let off. [13-40]

tat chitra tANDava virugNa phaNa aata patraM
raktaM vamantam uru sannadhiyaM nitAntam |
dR^ishhTvA hi rAjam upasedur amushhya patnyo
nemushcha sarva jagat Adi guruM bhuvi iisham || 13 .41||

Seeing kaaliiya, whose hoods have become shattered umbrellas, who is vomiting blood, and whose faculties are zeroed owing to the uncommon trample-dance of kR^iShNa, his wives have approached and prostrated before kR^iShNa. [13-41]

tAbhiH stutaH sa bhagavAnamunA cha tasmai
dattvA.abhayaM yamasahodaravArito.amum |
utsR^ijya nirvishhajalAM yamunAM chakAra
sa.nstUyamAnacharitaH surasiddhasAdhyaiH || 13 .42||

Appeased by kaaliiya and his wives through their laudation, kR^iShNa gave them assurance, and removing kaaliiya from beneath the water of river yamuna, he made those waters free of poison, while sura-s, siddha-s, and saadhyaa-s rendered plaudits. [13-42]

gopairbalAdibhirudIrNatarapramodaiH
sArddhaM sametya bhagavAnaravindanetraH |
tAM rAtrimatra nivasan yamunAtaTe sa
dAvAgnimuddhatabalaM cha papau vrajArthe || 13 .43||

And kR^iShNa spent that night there on the rivernbank of yamuna along with his frinds and balarāma, and when wildfire broke out at that place, he just swallowed it. [13-43]

Note: Nothing surprising if he swallows wild fire, because prusha suukta says that cosmic fire itself emerged from the mouth of Supreme Person – mukhaat indraH ca agniH ca – and it returns into that mouth only.

[baladev das b.]

Gopi prana dhana madana manohara kaliya damana vidhaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnaaaaaaa!!!