Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.16.19
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesLove Amid Anguish and Confusion
“As they hurried along the path to the bank of the Yamunā River, they saw from a distance that Kṛṣṇa was in the lake, motionless within the coils of the black serpent. They further saw that the cowherd boys had fallen unconscious and that the animals were standing on all sides, crying out for Kṛṣṇa. Seeing all this, the residents of Vṛndāvana were overwhelmed with anguish and confusion.”
What the purport teaches
- The residents saw Kṛṣṇa motionless within the serpent’s coils, the cowherd boys unconscious and the animals crying out for Him.
- They could not tell whether Kāliya had dragged Kṛṣṇa into the water or Kṛṣṇa had jumped in Himself. The unconscious cowherd boys could not explain what had happened.
- The crying cows and calves added to the overwhelming scene. The residents were filled with grief, shock and panic.
Try this today
Reread the verse carefully, distinguishing what the residents saw from what they could not understand.
Ask yourself
How does their inability to understand what happened deepen your appreciation of their distress?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.