Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.17.6
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesKāliya Counterattacks with Poison
“As Garuḍa swiftly fell upon him, Kāliya, who had the weapon of poison, raised his numerous heads to counterattack. Showing his ferocious tongues and expanding his horrible eyes, Kāliya then bit Garuḍa with the weapons of his fangs.”
What the purport teaches
- As Garuḍa swiftly attacked, Kāliya raised his numerous heads to counterattack.
- Showing his ferocious tongues and expanding his horrible eyes, Kāliya bit Garuḍa with his fangs.
- The ācāryas explain that Kāliya used poison at a distance by spitting venom and at short range by biting.
Try this today
Read the verse slowly and identify the two ways Kāliya used his poison.
Ask yourself
Which details help you understand the fierceness of Kāliya’s counterattack?
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.