(P) Krishna Defeats the Kaliya Serpent
All summer long the cowherd boys took the calves to different places to graze. One day they were all feeling very hot and thirsty, so they went to the Yamuna River.
Unknown to them, deep within the water lurked a huge and horrible snake called Kaliya. Kaliya had one hundred heads. He so polluted the water that the grass and trees on the river banks had all dried up. A thin cloud of poisonous mist hung over the water, spelling certain death for all who breathed it. The only living plant left on the river bank was a Kadamba tree, with beautiful yellow flowers. The reason why that tree could live there and not others was that Garuda, the king of birds, knew that Krishna would need this tree. So he protected it by pouring life-saving nectar on its roots.
But the boys were very thirsty and unaware of any danger, so they eagerly drank the water. As soon as they took a sip, they slumped to the ground.
After this, Krishna and his brother Balaram came to the river bank. They saw all their friends lying there, as if dead. Krishna felt he had to find the cause of the problem. He climbed high into the Kadamba tree. From that vantage point, Krishna could see the nasty snake Kaliya sleeping in the middle of the river’s water.
Balaram watched as his brother tightened his orange belt. Then Krishna flapped his arms and leapt from the treetop. He landed in the water with so much force that the river overflowed its banks. Krishna splashed about like a great elephant in order to attract the terrible snake’s attention.
“How dare you disturb me?” Kaliya hissed. He furiously rushed at Krishna, grabbing him in his massive coils.
For two hours Balaram watched as Krishna appeared to struggle in Kaliya’s grip. During this time the whole village of Vrindavana, including Krishna’s mother and father, arrived at the river bank. Struck with horror, they all watched the battle.
The villagers shivered in fear as the sky filled with terrible omens portending great danger: the earth trembled and meteors fell from the sky. Some villagers fainted in fright; but not Balaram. He was smiling, confident that Krishna would win.
When Kaliya caught Krishna in his dangerous coils, Krishna would expand his body, and then quickly reduce his size. Thus he easily slipped away from the snake.
The serpent was getting more and more angry. His eyes blazed like red-hot coals and he spat fire from his one-hundred mouths. Flaring his hoods, he would snort poisonous fumes from his nostrils. He moved slowly in a circle, striking out with his many heads and trying to sink his fangs into Krishna’s bluish body.
But, smiling constantly, Krishna merrily leapt from hood to hood, crushing each one down with His dancing feet.
Repeatedly beaten, Kaliya’s heads each vomited blood. He was forced to admit defeat.
Kaliya’s wives, the Nagapatnis, came from their watery residence and prayed to Krishna to have mercy upon their husband.
Pleased by their sincere prayers, Krishna ordered the serpent, “Kaliya, take your wives, family and everything you possess to the great ocean. Never come back to this river.”
Kaliya said, “I have taken shelter of this Yamuna River because I am afraid of the giant eagle, Garuda. He eats snakes like me. He is your servant, so I know that he would never kill anything that lives in Vrindavana. If I move to the ocean he will certainly swoop down and kill me.”
Krishna raised his hands as if to assure Kaliya, “Don’t worry about him. When he sees the marks of my feet on your heads he will leave you alone.”
Krishna then touched all His friends and calves who were lying motionless on the river bank. Just the touch of his hand brought them back to life.
Seeing Krishna safe and moving amongst them, everyone was happy. They praised him over and over again for his wonderful activities.