1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

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

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 10 · The Summum Bonum · 90 chapters

123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 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
10.16.6410.17.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 10.16.65-67

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.16.64inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

दिव्याम्बरस्रङ्‌मणिभि: परार्ध्यैरपि भूषणै: ।

दिव्यगन्धानुलेपैश्च महत्योत्पलमालया ॥ ६५ ॥

पूजयित्वा जगन्नाथं प्रसाद्य गरुडध्वजम् ।

तत: प्रीतोऽभ्यनुज्ञात: परिक्रम्याभिवन्द्य तम् ॥ ६६ ॥

सकलत्रसुहृत्पुत्रो द्वीपमब्धेर्जगाम ह ।

तदैव सामृतजला यमुना निर्विषाभवत् ।

अनुग्रहाद् भगवत: क्रीडामानुषरूपिण: ॥ ६७ ॥

divyāmbara-sraṅ-maṇibhiḥ

parārdhyair api bhūṣaṇaiḥ

divya-gandhānulepaiś ca

mahatyotpala-mālayā

pūjayitvā jagan-nāthaṁ

prasādya garuḍa-dhvajam

tataḥ prīto ’bhyanujñātaḥ

parikramyābhivandya tam

sa-kalatra-suhṛt-putro

dvīpam abdher jagāma ha

tadaiva sāmṛta-jalā

yamunā nirviṣābhavat

anugrahād bhagavataḥ

krīḍā-mānuṣa-rūpiṇaḥ

Translation

Kāliya worshiped the Lord of the universe by offering Him fine garments, along with necklaces, jewels and other valuable ornaments, wonderful scents and ointments, and a large garland of lotus flowers. Having thus pleased the Lord, whose flag is marked with the emblem of Garuḍa, Kāliya felt satisfied. Receiving the Lord’s permission to leave, Kāliya circumambulated Him and offered Him obeisances. Then, taking his wives, friends and children, he went to his island in the sea. The very moment Kāliya left, the Yamunā was immediately restored to her original condition, free from poison and full of nectarean water. This happened by the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who was manifesting a humanlike form to enjoy His pastimes.

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.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Offer Worship and Desire to Serve

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa arranged for His own Kaustubha gem to enter Kāliya’s treasury and then be offered back to Him by Kāliya’s wives. They thought it was simply one of their jewels, while He was acting like an ordinary human being.

  2. 2

    Kāliya desired to become Kṛṣṇa’s carrier, considering himself the servant of His servant. His wish was to offer his ability to travel great distances in the Lord’s service.

  3. 3

    After pleasing the Lord through worship, Kāliya received permission to leave and departed with his family and friends. By the mercy of Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Yamunā immediately became free from poison and full of nectarean water.

Key points from the purport
  • Then when the appropriate moment came for Kāliya to worship the Lord with many different jewels and ornaments, the serpent’s wives, unaware of the Lord’s transcendental trick, presented Him with the Kaustubha gem, thinking it was simply one of the jewels in their possession.
  • The ācārya has further commented that the reason Lord Kṛṣṇa is described in this verse as garuḍa-dhvaja, “He whose flag is marked by the symbol of His carrier, Garuḍa,” is that Kāliya also desired to become Lord Kṛṣṇa’s carrier.
  • Garuḍa and the serpents are originally related as brothers, and therefore Kāliya wanted to indicate to Lord Kṛṣṇa, “If You ever have to go to a distant place, You should also think of me as Your personal carrier.

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

Further reading

Chapter 16: Kṛṣṇa Chastises the Serpent Kāliya

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Today he has borne upon his head the dust of the lotus feet of the Personality of Godhead, the attainment of which is difficult for even the mother of the universe, the goddess Lakṣmī. Please kindly forgive the offense Kāliya has committed out of ignorance, and allow him to live.”
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.16
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. divyadivine
  2. ambarawith clothing
  3. srakgarlands
  4. maṇibhiḥand jewels
  5. para-ardhyaiḥmost valuable
  6. apialso
  7. bhūṣaṇaiḥornaments
  8. divyadivine
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.16

    In this verse: “worshiped”, “worship”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.16

    In this verse: “friends”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 10.16

    In this verse: “free from”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What ability can I offer in Kṛṣṇa’s service, following Kāliya’s desire to serve?

Practice

Offer Kṛṣṇa a brief prayer today naming one ability you wish to use in His devotional service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 10.16's connections

Live this todayOffer Worship and Desire to ServeThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 10.16.65-67? Get an answer from the verses themselves.