The Brindavan into which Krishna and Balarama enter to graze the calves and cows reverberates with an indescribable Krishna Bhava, synonymous with His Saulabhya, said Nochur Sri Venkataraman in a discourse. This is unique to Krishna avatar. What a chance for common people, for those unlearned in the sastras, to be in close communion with the Supreme Truth who has come as Nandagopa’s son to live in their midst?
Against this background, Krishna enacts the confrontation with the serpent Kaliya who has been residing in the waters of the Yamuna, spreading deadly poison in the waters and polluting the atmosphere in the vicinity. Krishna decides to protect the people from this serpent and enters the river. Kaliya is surprised at this daring intrusion. Krishna allows the serpent to bind Him, but soon overpowers him. As the people wait anxiously, the Lord mounts on the head of the serpent that spreads as a hundred hoods.
He who is the repertoire of all arts and from whom all arts flow and in whom all arts abide, performs a dance, an exceptional treat that even the entire celestial world watches spell bound. The subdued Kaliya, released from his unconscious state, revives slowly and with repentant feelings addresses the Lord thus: “The serpents are evil natured by birth and it is difficult to get over one’s inherent nature. People act in evil ways compelled by their inborn nature. The Lord’s insurmountable Maya out of which this universe with its infinite variety is created is the cause of the gunas, Satva, rajas and tamas in people. None can their shed evil tendencies without His help.”
Kaliya is grateful to the Lord for ridding him of his ego. The waters of the Yamuna are free of the poison and blessed by the Lord to confer purity and sanctity on people henceforth.
