Shreemad Bhagavat Mahapuran- Canto: 10, Chapters: 15-16
After the slaying of Dhenukasur, Shree Krishna returns to Braj with His elder brother Balramji. The gwalbaals (cowherd boys) walk alongside Them, joyfully singing the glories of His divine leelas.
At that time, dust from playful games still clung to Shree Krishna’s hair. A peacock feather adorns His crown, and wild forest flowers are woven into His locks. A gentle, enchanting smile graces His face, and His eyes overflow with love. He plays the murli, while the gwalbaals sing in harmony with Him. Hearing the sound of that murli, many gopis step out of Braj, for they have long been waiting for the darshan of Shree Krishna.
The moment the gopis behold His face, the pain of separation they carried through the day simply melts away. Shree Krishna, in turn, receives their shy smiles and love-filled glances with quiet affection and then enters Braj.
Dhoosari, dhoori bhare Hari aavat.
Mor mukut kati kachhani kaache, murali madhur bajaavat.
Dhuni suni venu sabai Braj banita dekhan ko juri dhaavat.
Kaandhe lakuti kaamri kaari, lat urjhi man bhaavat.
Vats-prem ras poori surabhi than, medini ksheer chuvaavat.
So Kripalu jhaanki jhaankan hit, Shambhu samaadhi bhulaavat.
Meaning: This verse paints the incomparable evening vision of Shree Krishna returning to Braj after grazing the cows. Dust raised by the cows’ hooves clings softly to Him, enhancing His rustic beauty. A peacock feather adorns His crown, a lovely waistcloth is tied around Him, and He plays the murli in the most tender, soul-melting notes.
The moment that flute music spreads through Braj, all the gopis, who cannot bear even a moment of separation from Shyam, rush out of their homes, longing for His darshan. Their hearts are so overwhelmed by love that, upon seeing Him again, they almost resent the Creator for making eyelids that interrupt their gaze even for a blink.
A staff rests on one shoulder, a dark woollen shawl on the other. His curly, slightly dishevelled hair effortlessly captivates the mind. Behind Him, the cows walk along, so immersed in vats-prem for their calves that milk naturally flows from their udders onto the earth.
Shree Kripaluji Maharaj says that this crooked, charming, and utterly divine vision of Gopal, surrounded by His cows, is so enchanting that even Bhagwan Shankar is compelled to forget His deepest meditation just to behold it.
Meanwhile, Yashoda Maiya and Mother Rohini feel their hearts overflow with motherly affection. The moment Shyam and Ram reach home, they lovingly offer Them the food and clothes already prepared at the proper time.
With gentle care, the mothers massage Them with oil and ubtan and bathe Both, washing away the fatigue of the long day. They then dress Them in fresh, clean garments, adorn Them with flower garlands, and apply cooling sandalwood paste.
After this, the two brothers sit and relish the delicious meal lovingly served by Their mothers’ own hands. When They have eaten to Their fill, Yashoda maiya and Mother Rohini tenderly put Them to rest. Shyam and Ram soon fall into peaceful sleep.
In this way, Shree Krishna continues to perform countless sweet and enchanting leelas in Vrindavan, filling every heart with bliss and divine love.
Shree Krishna Leaps into the Kaliya Dah
One day, Shree Krishna goes to the banks of the Yamuna with His sakha gwalbaals. On that day, Balramji is not with Him. The scorching heat of Jyeshtha–Ashadh (mid-May to mid-July) weighs heavily upon the cows and the boys. Their throats are parched with thirst. Overcome by destiny, they drink the poisoned waters of the Yamuna, unaware of its danger. The moment they do so, all the cows and gwalbaals collapse lifeless on the riverbank.
Seeing this, Shree Krishna casts His compassion-filled glance upon them, and instantly, life returns to all. As they regain consciousness, they rise to their feet, looking at one another in utter astonishment.
Shukdevji tells Parikshit that everyone understands it this way: “We had died after drinking the poisoned water, but our Shree Krishna restored our lives with His merciful glance.” Bhagwan Shree Krishna then realises that Kaliya Nag has poisoned the waters of the Yamuna. To purify Yamunaji, He resolves to drive that serpent away from there.
Within Yamunaji lies a deep pool (Kaliya Dah) belonging to Kaliya Nag. Its waters boil constantly from the heat of poison. Even birds flying overhead are scorched, fall into the water, and perish. When the toxic waves touch the air, and their droplets drift to the banks, merely brushing the grass, trees, animals, or birds, death follows instantly.
When Bhagwan Shree Krishna sees how terrifying the serpent’s poison is and how it has defiled Yamunaji herself, He prepares Himself with firm resolve. Climbing atop a tall Kadamba tree, He slaps His arms and leaps straight into the poisonous waters.
Because of Kaliya’s venom, the Yamuna is already seething. Its waves rise fiercely, glowing red and yellow in a dreadful swirl. The moment Shree Krishna plunges in, the waters surge even more violently. The poison-filled pool spreads nearly four hundred cubits in all directions. Shree Krishna splashes and plays within the Kaliya pool, and as He moves through the water, the powerful strokes of His arms create thunderous sounds.
Shree Krishna Bound in Kaliya’s Serpent Coils
That thunderous sound reaches Kaliya Nag. He realises that someone is playing fearlessly in his very abode. Enraged by this intrusion, he rushes forward and comes face-to-face with Shree Krishna. Before him stands a dark, exquisitely beautiful young boy, His body as soft and radiant as a rain cloud, upon His chest shines the sacred Shrivatsa mark, and He is clad in yellow garments.
Kaliya is astonished to see that this child is joyfully splashing in the poisonous waters without the slightest fear. His anger flares even more. He bites Shree Krishna and wraps His body tightly within his coils. Bound by the serpent’s grip, Shree Krishna remains motionless for a while.
Seeing this, His sakha gwalbaals are overwhelmed with sorrow. Struck by grief, fear, and remorse, they faint and fall to the ground. The cows, bulls, and calves begin to cry out loudly in terror and anguish. Their eyes remain fixed on Shree Krishna, their bodies frozen as if weeping without tears.
Meanwhile, throughout Braj, dreadful and inauspicious signs appear in the earth, the sky, and even within people’s bodies, foretelling that some great calamity is about to occur. Nandbaba and the other gopas notice these ominous signs first. Soon, they learn that today Shree Krishna has gone to graze the cows without Balram. Panic grips their hearts. Unaware of Bhagwan’s divine leela, they interpret the bad omens to mean only one thing: that Shree Krishna must have died. At this thought, they sink into unbearable grief, sorrow, and fear, for Shree Krishna is their very life, mind, and everything.
The children, elders, and women of Braj possess hearts overflowing with vatsalya, much like the cows themselves. The moment such thoughts arise, they become utterly helpless. Driven by an intense longing to see their beloved Kanhaiya, they leave their homes and rush out.
Balramji, who Himself is Bhagwan and all-powerful, sees the Brajvasis in such distress and feels a gentle smile arise within Him. Yet He says nothing and remains silent, for He knows very well the limitless power of His younger brother, Shree Krishna.
The Brajvasis begin searching for their dear Shree Krishna. They do not struggle much, for along the way they find His divine footprints, marked with symbols of Chakra, Chhatra, Dhwaj, Vajra, etc. Recognising these signs, they move swiftly toward the banks of the Yamuna. From a distance, they see Shree Krishna lying motionless in the Kaliya dah, tightly bound within the coils of Kaliya Nag. Nearby, the gwalbaals lie unconscious, while cows, bulls, and calves cry out loudly in anguish. Witnessing this sight, the gopas are overcome with unbearable distress and finally faint.
The gopis’ hearts are forever immersed in love for Bhagwan Shree Krishna. They constantly remember His smile, His love-filled glances, and His sweet words. When they see their beloved Shyamsundar trapped in the coils of the dark serpent, their hearts fill with burning sorrow and anguish. Without Him, who is their very life, the entire world appears empty and desolate.
Yashoda Maiya, unable to bear the sight, is about to leap into the Kaliya dah after her beloved son, but the gopis hold her back. Their own hearts ache with the same pain, and tears stream endlessly from their eyes. Everyone’s gaze remains fixed on Shree Krishna’s face. Those who are still conscious try to console Yashoda Maiya by recalling Shree Krishna’s past leelas, such as the slaying of Putana. Yet most have already collapsed to the ground, unconscious with grief.
For Nandbaba and the other gopas, Shree Krishna is their very breath. They, too, begin to step into the Kaliya dah. Seeing this, Balramji, who fully understands Shree Krishna’s divine power, stops them, some with gentle reasoning, some with firm strength, and others by awakening resolve within their hearts.
Shree Krishna Dances upon the Hoods of Kaliya Nag
Being bound within the coils of the serpent is itself one of Shree Krishna’s divine leelas. When He sees that all the people of Braj, the women and the children, are drowning in sorrow for His sake, He chooses to remain within the serpent’s grip for a short while, and then effortlessly frees Himself. At that moment, Shree Krishna expands His body, making it immensely heavy. The serpent’s coils are crushed under the pressure. Unable to bear the weight, Kaliya Nag loosens his grip and recoils, rising up in fury and hissing violently.
Seizing the moment to strike, Kaliya fixes his gaze upon Shree Krishna. Streams of poison pour from his nostrils, his eyes blaze red, and flames seem to leap from his mouth. Flicking his forked tongue, licking his lips, and spewing venom through his eyes, the serpent prepares to attack. Bhagwan Shree Krishna, agile like Garud, playfully changes His stance again and again. The serpent, too, keeps shifting, trying to find an opening.
In this exchange of swift movements, Kaliya’s strength slowly begins to fade. Then Shree Krishna presses down upon the serpent’s massive heads and leaps onto them. Each hood is studded with glowing red gems. Their touch makes Shree Krishna’s tender lotus feet appear even more crimson. Bhagwan, the original source of all dance and art, now begins to perform a divine and graceful dance upon Kaliya’s hoods.
Witnessing this wondrous sight, Gandharvs, Siddhas, Devatas, Charans, and celestial maidens are filled with overwhelming love. They play mridangas, drums, and kettledrums, sing sweet hymns, shower flowers from the heavens, and rush forward with offerings for Bhagwan.
Kaliya Nag has one hundred and one heads. Whichever hood refuses to bow, Shree Krishna subdues it with the powerful strike of His feet. With every such blow, Kaliya’s strength drains away. Blood begins to gush from his mouth and nostrils, and at last, reeling in agony, he collapses into unconsciousness.
Whenever he briefly regains awareness, he spits venom from his eyes and hisses violently in rage. Each time he lifts a hood, Bhagwan Shree Krishna, dancing effortlessly, presses it back down beneath His feet. The drops of blood that fall upon Bhagwan’s feet appear as though His lotus feet are being worshipped with red flowers.
Through this extraordinary dance of Bhagwan, Kaliya’s hoods shatter. His entire body is grievously wounded, and blood pours from his mouth. Within Shree Krishna’s divine form resides the entire universe, and under the weight of that infinite presence, all of Kaliya’s remaining strength breaks apart. Struck again and again by Shree Krishna’s heels, his umbrella-like hoods are crushed to pieces.
At last, remembering Bhagwan Narayan, the primordial Guru of all creation, Kaliya Nag surrenders within his heart and seeks refuge at His feet.
The Serpent Wives Seek Forgiveness from Shree Krishna
Seeing the pitiable condition of their husband, Kaliya’s wives are seized with fear and rush to seek refuge in Bhagwan Shree Krishna. In their terror, their garments and ornaments fall into disarray, and their hair comes loose. Their hearts tremble with anguish. Placing their children before them, they fall to the ground, fold their hands, and bow again and again at Shree Krishna’s feet. Knowing Bhagwan to be the unfailing protector of those who surrender, they come to Him to save their guilty husband.
The serpent wives then pray to Shree Krishna for forgiveness. They confess that Kaliya’s punishment is just, yet even this punishment, they say, is itself an expression of Bhagwan’s mercy. They acknowledge that only due to some merit from a past life did Kaliya receive the rare touch of Bhagwan’s lotus feet, and that Bhagwan alone is all-powerful and the very support of all existence.
At last, with hearts full of humility, they beg for compassion, asking that their sinful husband be forgiven and that they be granted the opportunity to serve Bhagwan according to His will.
Kaliya Nag Seeks Forgiveness and Abhay from Shree Krishna
When the serpent wives praise Bhagwan in this way, Shree Krishna, moved by compassion, releases Kaliya. Slowly, sensation and life return to Kaliya Nag’s senses and breath. Struggling to breathe, he regains consciousness and, with great humility, folds his hands and speaks to Shree Krishna, “We are wicked by birth, dominated by tamogun, and fiercely prone to anger. It is extremely difficult for living beings to abandon their inherent nature. You alone have created this world with its varied dispositions, strengths, bodies, and species according to the gunas. Within Your creation, we serpents too exist, and our very nature is to be wrathful. Ensnared by Your Maya, we are powerless to free ourselves by our own strength. Our nature, and this Maya itself, are part of Your divine arrangement. Now, do as You deem fit, whether You show mercy or give punishment.”
Hearing Kaliya’s words, Bhagwan Shree Krishna replies, “O serpent, you must no longer remain here. Leave this place at once and go to the ocean with your kinsmen, sons, and wives. From now on, cows and human beings will freely use the waters of the Yamuna. Whoever remembers and sings of this command of Mine twice daily will never fear snakes. I know you came here after leaving Ramanak Dweep out of fear of Garud. Now that My footprints are marked upon your body, Garud will no longer devour you.”
Shree Shukdevji tells Parikshit that upon receiving Bhagwan Shree Krishna’s command, Kaliya Nag and his wives are filled with joy. With reverence, they worship Bhagwan, offering divine garments, flowers, precious gems, ornaments, sandalwood, and garlands of lotuses. After circumambulating Him and offering salutations, they seek permission and depart with their wives, children, and relatives for Ramanak Dweep in the ocean.
By Shree Krishna’s grace, the waters of the Yamuna instantly become free of poison and turn as sweet and life-giving as nectar.
Summary: JKYog India Online Class- Shreemad Bhagavat Katha [Hindi]- 15.12.2025
