Stories From The Bhagawatham - Krishna Avatar - The Humbling Of Kaliya - Part 2

When Krishna dived into the lake, it created huge waves in the otherwise still lake. The waves created a disturbance that stretched till the bottom of the lake where Kaliya lived. The snake felt the disturbance and was amazed. Nothing had shaken the lake for a very long time. He raised all of his five enormous heads and drifted to the top of the lake. 

He saw a lot of people standing at the banks of the lake and weeping in despair. Some of them had fainted, while some tried to jump into the lake but were held back by the others. While Kaliya stared around in confusion, Krishna came to the surface of the lake.

Kaliya was struck with wonderment. The little boy was the most beautiful being he had ever seen. There was no trace of any fear or worry on the child’s face. For a long while, Kaliya stared at Krishna but then shook himself out of his hesitation. This was clearly an intruder and had to be killed.

Kaliya caught hold of Krishna and wrapped his enormous body around him. The people at the banks of the lake watched in horror. Balarama had a hard time stopping Nanda and Yashoda from jumping into the lake. “Nothing can destroy Krishna!” He kept telling them while holding them tightly.

Kaliya was squeezing Krishna tightly with his body when he felt an immense pressure. He suddenly realized that Krishna’s body was growing alarmingly and was straining against Kaliya’s hold. Kaliya tried with all his strength but Krishna escaped from his clutches.

Seeing this, the people at the banks of the lake suddenly shouted with joy and hope. “Come to us, Krishna!” They called out to him, stretching their hands to help him. “We will save you, come here!” Krishna calmly gestured with his hands to not be afraid.

In the meanwhile, Kaliya got angry. All of his five hoods opened and he started lashing out at Krishna who escaped from every one of his strikes, swimming here and there. Just when it felt that Kaliya had reached all his might, his eyes becoming red and his fangs dripping with poison, Krishna leaped up out of the lake and landed right on the hoods of Kaliya.

When one hood tried to attack Krishna, he jumped onto the other one. It looked like Krishna was dancing on the hoods of Kaliya! The waves produced in the lake by Krishna and Kaliya seemed to create a rhythm to which Krishna danced beautifully, jumping from one hood of Kaliya to another. Celestial beings watched this dance in awe and wonder, so did the people of Brindavan.

Kaliya started to tire. His hoods started to pain. He realized that it was Lord Narayana Himself who was dancing upon them. Kaliya’s wives arose to the surface and requested Krishna to spare Kaliya.

Hearing their prayer, Krishna jumped into the lake. Kaliya looked totally subdued, none of his arrogance remaining. He bowed low to Krishna and said, “I am cured of my sleep of ignorance. I know who you are, and I will never go back to my old nature again.”

“You are forgiven, but you must leave this place.” Krishna said to Kaliya. “Go to the ocean and stay with your own people. This lake serves as nourishment to many people and animals here. It is not right to poison it.”

Kaliya stood silent and Krishna could sense his distress. “I know you are worried about Garuda’s presence in the world beyond this.” Krishna said with a smile. “Don’t worry. While dancing on your hoods, I have marked them with my feet. Garuda will never seek you out now and will leave you in peace.”

Kaliya bowed to Krishna and he and his wives swam out of the lake. Once the snake left, the water of the lake once again became pure and pristine. The people of Brindavan rejoiced to see Krishna safe and sound. Krishna’s Maya made people forget what they saw. They only knew that Krishna had fallen into the lake where Kaliya used to live, and he had returned safely to land while Kaliya had left the lake. Through Krishna’s Maya, the children and the cattle who had fainted on drinking the lake’s water, were revived.

All the people prayed to Lord Narayana, thanking Him for keeping their children safe. Krishna and Balarama, exchanging a smile, hugged each other.

Om Namo Narayana! Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaaya!