Chapter 17 - Rescue from the Forest Conflagration

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

King Parīkṣit enquired:

1. Why did Kāliya migrate from Ramaṇaka, the home of the Nāgas? Or what specific offence did he commit against Garuḍa?

Śrī Śuka replied:

2-3. Oh King of mighty arms! It was formerly agreed^[1] that whatever share of offerings was received by the Nāgas, every month, from the serpent-worshippers, was to be dedicated to the noble-souled Garuḍa, and to be deposited on every New Moon day at the foot of a particular tree (in Ramaṇaka) by serpents who were the prey of Garuḍa. All Nāgas thus contributed their share for self-protection.

4. Being elated with pride for its power and virulence of its poison, Kāliya, the son of Kadru, slighted Garuḍa, and ate up the offerings intended for him.

5. On learning this, the glorious Garuḍa, beloved of the Lord, got enraged, and with a desire to kill Kāliya, swooped down on it with terrific speed, Oh King.

6. Raising up its numerous heads (hoods), the serpent whose weapon is poison, advanced against Garuḍa who was vehemently rushing at it, and bit him with fangs as its weapons, and looked terrific with its dreadful tongues, poisonous hissing and cruel eyes.

7. Brushing it aside with the terrific vehemence of his speed, the wrathful Garuḍa, the son of Tārkṣya (the sage Kāśyapa), the carrier of Lord Viṣṇu and possessed of terrific prowess, struck it down with its left wing^[2] brilliant like gold.

8. Struck down with the wing of Garuḍa, Kāliya became overwhelmed with fear and agitated. It entered the pool of the Yamunā that was out of bounds for Garuḍa, and hence unapproachable.

9. On one occasion Garuḍa, being extremely hungry carried away by force his favourite prey—an acquatic creature, though he was prohibited from doing so by the Sage Śaubhari.^[3]

10. Seeing that the fish were greatly over-whelmed with grief and felt miserable due to the death of that fish king, Śaubhari, out of compassion for the acquatic creatures in that pool, and for the safety of the creatures living in that pool declared;

11. “If ever Garuḍa enters this pool and eats the fish hereof, he will instantly meet death. I utter the truth.”

12. Only Kāliya knew this (Śaubhari’s) curse but no other serpent knew it. So it resided in that pool out of the fear of Garuḍa. It was expelled out of it by Kṛṣṇa.

13-14. Finding Kṛsṇa come out of the pool, decorated with heavenly garlands, sandal pigment and rich dress and beautified with numerous costly big diamonds, gems and gold ornaments all over his Person, all cowherds leapt to their feet like sense-organs on return of life (or ‘creatures after the return of the vital Principle’), and with their hearts overwhelmed with rapturous joy, embraced him with deep affection.

15. Regaining their consciousness, Yaśodā, Rohiṇī, Nanda and other cowherds and cowherdesses got their desires fulfilled by meeting Kṛṣṇa.

16. Balarāma clasped Kṛṣṇa in the arms and laughed, as he knew the prowess of Kṛṣṇa.

[Bhāgavata Candrikā’s text adds this half-verse:]

16(A). He seated him on his lap and looked at him again and again in great affection. The trees, cows, bullocks, calves all were filled with extreme joy.

17. The Brāhmaṇa preceptors (of Nanda) along with their wives (who had already come there along with all the inhabitants of Vraja), now approached Nanda and congratulated him, “Thank God! How fortunate it is that your son seized by Kāliya is liberated from its clutches.

18. Confer some gifts on Brāhmaṇas, on account of the deliverance of Kṛṣṇa (from Kāliya)”. Delighted at heart Nanda immediately gave cows and gold as gifts.

19. The highly fortunate Yaśodā who got restored to her child, which was as good as lost, hugged him. Seating him on her lap, he again and again shed tears of joy.

[Bhāgavata Candrikā’s text adds:]

19(A). In the meanwhile, when the sun set, Kṛṣṇa along with Rāma camped there along with their parents, cowherds and their wealth—the herds of cattle.

20. The inhabitants of Vraja and cows, oppressed as they were by hunger, thirst and physical exhaustion, passed that night near the bank of the Yamunā, oh King of Kings!

[Padaratnāvalī’s text adds: (a half verse)]

20(A). At that time, in Vraja, Oh best of Kurus!

21. In the jungle dried up with summer, a great forest conflagration broke out at midnight, and surrounding the Vraja lying fast asleep, it began to scorch them.

22. Touched by the fire, the inhabitants of Vraja woke up and in their bewilderment sought resort to Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Lord who had assumed a human form through his Māyā.

23. “Oh Kṛṣṇa! Oh highly fortunate Kṛṣṇa! Oh Rāma! Oh Rāma of infinite prowess! This extremely terrific fire is now consuming us who are yours (your devotees).

24. Oh Lord! Protect us who are your well-wishers and friends, from this death-like (deadly) fire from which it is extremely difficult to escape. We cannot give up your feet (resorting to which) there is no fear from any quarter”.

25. Perceiving this helplessness and danger of his people (devotees), the Supreme Ruler of the earth, the Infinite Lord of unfathomable powers, swallowed up that terrible fire.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

V.B.: quotes the following agreement brought about by Brahmā between Garuḍa and the serpents:

amāyāṃ vṛkṣa-mūle tu nāga-lokeṣu yad bhavet /
ekasmin divase tāvad ekatra sthāpayantu hi //
tato hi garuḍas tasmins tad bhuktvā naiva pīḍayet /
iti vyavasthavā sarpā māsi māsi baliṃ daduḥ //

SS. states that they offered one serpent per month to Garuḍa.

[2]:

VT. notes that it was to express his contempt for Kāliya that Garuḍa used his left wing.

[3]:

Probably the same sage who married all the fifty daughters of Māndhātā. It might be during his stay in the pool of the Yamunā for performing the penance, that the above incident took place, (vide Supra) 9-6. 39-55, also Viṣṇu Purāṇa 4.2.69-131)