The Nāga-patnīs’ Stotra to Śrī Kṛshṇa (Brahma Purāṇa)

Nāgapatnī Kṛta Śrī Kṛshṇa Stuti · nāgapatnī kṛta śrī kṛshṇa stuti, “the praise of Śrī Kṛshṇa by the wives of the nāga”

The Nāga-patnīs’ Stotra to Śrī Kṛshṇa is the praise that the wives of the serpent king Kālīya offered to Śrī Kṛshṇa as he danced on their husband’s hoods in the Yamunā. It is told in the Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 185, the subduing of Kālīya, which Vyāsa tells the munis. Taking refuge in Madhusūdana, the nāga-patnīs hail him as Devadeva, Sarveśvara and Purushottama, the form of the supreme light, in whom the whole brahmāṇḍa is the tiniest part, and they ask for their husband’s life as alms. Śrī Kṛshṇa grants it.

The setting

Once Kṛshṇa went with the gopas to Bṛndāvana without Balarāma, and in the river Kālindī he saw the pool of the serpent Kālīya, terrible as the mouth of death, its banks scorched by poison-fire. Because of Kālīya the Yamunā was fouled, and men and cows would not go near it. “It is for this very purpose that I descended into this world,” thought Kṛshṇa; “the wicked must be punished.” He climbed a kadamba tree, tightened his cloth and leapt into the pool.

At the sound the nāga king came up with many serpents of great poison, and his wives, more than a hundred, with lovely necklaces and swinging kuṇḍalas, gathered round. Kṛshṇa was caught in the coils of the hoods and bitten. The gopas ran to the vraja crying that he had fainted from the poison, and Yaśodā, Nanda, Balarāma and all came to the bank. Nanda and Yaśodā stood motionless, and the gopīs wept that they would rather enter the pool and die than return without Kṛshṇa.

Then Balarāma, knowing Kṛshṇa’s power, said: “Devadeva, are you showing your human nature? You are the maker, sustainer and withdrawer of the three worlds. Subdue this wicked one.” Kṛshṇa smiled, freed himself from the coils, bent down the middle hood with both hands, climbed onto it and danced. Under the blows of his feet each head bowed, and Kālīya fainted and vomited blood.

The stotra

Seeing blood flow from his mouths, Kālīya‘s wives took refuge in Madhusūdana and said:

  1. “Devadeva! Sarveśvara! Purushottama! You are of the form of the supreme light (paraṃjyoti).”
  2. “You are the very portion of the ātmā.”
  3. “Even the devas cannot praise you. How can a woman describe your form?”
  4. “Earth, water, fire, air and ether cannot describe it.”
  5. “The brahmāṇḍa, made of earth, water, fire, air and ether, is the tiniest part in you. How can I praise such a one?”
  6. “So, Jagatprabhu, master of the world, show mercy to this nāga. Crushed and humbled, he is giving up his life. Give us our husband as alms.”

Kṛshṇa’s grace

Kālīya too, bruised in every limb, praised Kṛshṇa and asked only for his life. Hari said: “Serpent, never stay in the waters of the Yamunā again. Go with your servants and retinue to the ocean. Seeing my feet on your head, Garuḍa, the enemy of serpents, will not kill you there.” He released the serpent king, and Kālīya bowed and left the pool with his offspring, his kin and all his wives. The river ran sweet and auspicious again, the gopas embraced Govinda as one come back from death, and, praised in song by the gopīs, Kṛshṇa returned to the vraja.

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 185

Sources

  • Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 185