Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.16.6
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesKṛṣṇa Acts to Subdue the Envious
“Lord Kṛṣṇa saw how the Kāliya serpent had polluted the Yamunā River with his terribly powerful poison. Since Kṛṣṇa had descended from the spiritual world specifically to subdue envious demons, the Lord immediately climbed to the top of a very high kadamba tree and prepared Himself for battle. He tightened His belt, slapped His arms and then jumped into the poisonous water.”
What the purport teaches
- Kṛṣṇa saw that Kāliya’s terribly powerful poison had polluted the Yamunā. He had descended from the spiritual world specifically to subdue envious demons.
- The Lord climbed a very high kadamba tree, tightened His belt and slapped His arms in preparation for battle.
- The ācāryas explain that He also tied back His hair. Then He jumped into the poisonous water.
Try this today
Recall the Lord’s preparations in order, ending with His jump into the water.
Ask yourself
What stands out to you about Kṛṣṇa’s immediate response to Kāliya’s pollution?
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.