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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 10 · The Summum Bonum · 90 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.

Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›

Canto 10 · Chapter 16: Kṛṣṇa Chastises the Serpent Kāliya

10.16.5 10.16.7

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.16.6

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.16.4inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तं चण्डवेगविषवीर्यमवेक्ष्य तेन

दुष्टां नदीं च खलसंयमनावतार: ।

कृष्ण: कदम्बमधिरुह्य ततोऽतितुङ्ग-

मास्फोट्य गाढरशनो न्यपतद् विषोदे ॥ ६ ॥

taṁ caṇḍa-vega-viṣa-vīryam avekṣya tena

duṣṭāṁ nadīṁ ca khala-saṁyamanāvatāraḥ

kṛṣṇaḥ kadambam adhiruhya tato ’ti-tuṅgam

āsphoṭya gāḍha-raśano nyapatad viṣode

Translation

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.

Read the purport on Vedabase.io

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.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Acts to Subdue the Envious

1
Kṛṣṇa saw that Kāliya’s terribly powerful poison had polluted the Yamunā. He had descended from the spiritual world specifically to subdue envious demons.
2
The Lord climbed a very high kadamba tree, tightened His belt and slapped His arms in preparation for battle.
3
The ācāryas explain that He also tied back His hair. Then He jumped into the poisonous water.

Key points from the purport

According to the ācāryas, Lord Kṛṣṇa also tied back the locks of His hair as He prepared to do battle with Kāliya.

The purport's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

How it feels

Peril and pride → Friendship and humility. Divinity is revealed amid intimate childhood play.

Chapters 12–19 of Canto 10: Childhood dangers and Brahmā's amazement. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Chapter 16: Kṛṣṇa Chastises the Serpent Kāliya

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

To restore the purity of the Yamunā’s waters, which had been contaminated by Kāliya’s poison, Lord Kṛṣṇa climbed into a kadamba tree on the riverbank and jumped into the water. Then He began fearlessly playing within the water like a maddened elephant.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 10.16