Kanhaland

Krishna storybook · Chapter 5:Kaliya in the Yamuna

A poisoned lake

In one part of the Yamuna lived Kaliya, a huge many-hooded serpent whose poison made the water steam.

Even the trees on the bank dried up, except one kadamba tree.

Tell me more

Birds flying over the water turned away. Kaliya hid in this lake because he was afraid of Garuda, the great eagle who carries Lord Vishnu. Long ago a sage had told Garuda never to hunt in that lake, so it was the one place Kaliya felt safe.

Friends in danger

One hot day, the thirsty cowherd boys and cows drank from that lake, and fell down unconscious.

Krishna looked at them lovingly, and they all woke up as if from a nap!

Into the water

Krishna decided to make the Yamuna clean again.

He climbed the kadamba tree, tightened His belt, and jumped in. SPLASH!

Caught in the coils

Angry Kaliya bit Krishna and wrapped Him in his coils, and everyone on the bank cried.

Only Balarama stayed calm. He knew nothing could harm his brother.

Tell me more

Mother Yashoda wanted to jump in after Him.

The dance on the hoods

Krishna slipped free, jumped onto Kaliya’s hoods and began to dance!

Whenever a hood rose, He stamped it down to the beat, and the demigods showered flowers.

Tell me more

He made Himself bigger to slip out of the coils, and the demigods played music for His dance.

Dance with Krishna

Now it’s your turn to dance with Him!

Tap to jump from hood to hood until the river runs clear.

Kaliya has poisoned the Yamuna. Krishna leaps onto his hoods. Tap to dance with Him.

Kaliya’s wives pray

Kaliya grew weak, and his wives rose from the water and prayed, “Please forgive our husband.”

Krishna, full of mercy, stopped His dance.

Tell me more

In their prayers, Kaliya’s wives said that Krishna’s “punishment” was really a blessing. The dust of His lotus feet had touched their husband’s heads, which even great sages long for.

A clean river

Kaliya bowed, and Krishna sent him to live in the ocean, safe forever.

The Yamuna became clean and sweet again, and Mother Yashoda hugged Krishna tight.

Tell me more

Krishna promised that Garuda would never harm Kaliya, because Krishna’s footprints were on his hoods. That night everyone stayed on the riverbank. A forest fire broke out around them, and Krishna, seeing His friends afraid, simply swallowed the fire to keep them safe.

What we learn

  • Krishna protects His friends, even from poison.
  • Praying for others pleases Krishna very much.
  • Even Krishna’s punishment is mercy.

Did you like this story? Say “Hare Krishna!” out loud.

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Retold from Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto 10, chapters 15–17. Placeholder pictures only.

All chapters of the Krishna storybook