Chapter Thirteen Śeṣopākhyāna-varṇana The Story of Śeṣa

Śrī Bahulāśva said: After many births even the great yogīs in this world cannot attain the dust of the Lord's feet. Still, Lord Kṛṣṇa placed His lotus feet directly on Kāliya's heads.

What pious deeds did Kāliya, the best of snakes, do in his previous birth? This I wish to know. Please tell me this, O best of divine sages.

Śrī Nārada said: In ancient times, during the Svāyambhuva-manvantara, a sage named Vedaśirā Muni, who was a descendent of Bhṛgu Muni, performed austerities in the Vindhya Hills.

Then, one day a sage named Aśvaśirā Muni came to perform austerities at this sage's āśrama. With red eyes staring at his guest, Vedaśirā Muni angrily spoke.

Śrī Vedaśirā said: O brāhmaṇa, don't perform austerities in my āśrama. O sage whose wealth is austerity, is there no other place where you can happily perform austerities?

Śrī Nārada said: When he heard Vedaśirā's words, Aśvaśirā Muni became angry. With red eyes he spoke to the best of sages.

Śrī Aśvaśirā said: O best of sages, this place belongs to Lord Mahā-Viṣṇu. It does not belong to you or me. Have not many sages already performed great austerities here?

You are angry for no reason. You hiss as if you were a snake. Become a snake! You will be terrified of Garuḍa.

Śrī Vedaśirā said: Fool, for a slight offense you plot a great revenge! On this earth you are like a crow. Fool, become a crow!

Śrī Nārada said: Then Lord Viṣṇu appeared and consoled the two sages, who were now unhappy with their curses.

bhakta-vākyaṁ mṛṣa kartuṁ necchāmi śapatho mama te mūrdhni he vedaśiras caraṇau me bhaviṣyataḥ tadā te garuḍa-bhītir na bhaviṣyati karhicit śṛṇu me 'śvaśiro vākyaṁ śocaṁ mā kuru mā kuru kāka-rūpo 'pi su-jṣānaṁ te bhaviṣyati niścitam paraṁ trailokikaṁ jṣānaṁ samyutaṁ yoga-siddhibhiḥ śrī-bhagavān uvāca—the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; yuvām—you both; tu—indeed; me—to Me; samau—equal; bhaktau—devotees; bhujau—arms; iva—like; tanau—on the body; muni—sages; sva-vākyam—own words; tu—indeed; mṛṣā—false; kartum—to make; samarthaḥ—able; aham—I; munīśvarau—O kings of sages; bhakta—of a devotee; vākyam—the words; mṛṣa—false; kartum—to do; na—not; icchāmi—I wish; śapathaḥ—as a vow; mama—of Me; te—of you; mūrdhni—on the head; he—O; vedaśiraḥ—Vedasira; caraṇau—the feet; me—of me; bhaviṣyataḥ—will be; tadā—then; te—of you; garuḍa-bhītiḥ—fear of Garuḍa; na—not; bhaviṣyati—will be; karhicit—ever; śṛṇu—hear; me—Me; aśvaśiraḥ—O Asvasira; vākyam—the words; śocam—lament; mā—don't; kuru—do; mā—don't; kuru—do; kāka-rūpaḥ—the form of a crow; api—although; su-jṣānam—transcendental}knowledge; te—of you; bhaviṣyati—will be; niścitam—indeed; param—great; trailokikam—in the three worlds; jṣānam—knowledge; samyutam—with; yoga-siddhibhiḥ—the mystic perfections. The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: You are both equally devoted to Me. O sages, you are like the two arms of My body. O kings of the sages, I can make My own words false, but I do not wish to allow the words of my devotees to become false. That is My vow. O Vedaśirā, I will place My footprints on your head. Because of them you will never fear Garuḍa. O Aśvaśirā, hear My words. Don't lament. Please don't lament. You will have the form of a crow, but you will have transcendental knowledge. You will have yoga-siddhis and the highest knowledge in the three worlds.

bhakta-vākyaṁ mṛṣa kartuṁ necchāmi śapatho mama te mūrdhni he vedaśiras caraṇau me bhaviṣyataḥ tadā te garuḍa-bhītir na bhaviṣyati karhicit śṛṇu me 'śvaśiro vākyaṁ śocaṁ mā kuru mā kuru kāka-rūpo 'pi su-jṣānaṁ te bhaviṣyati niścitam paraṁ trailokikaṁ jṣānaṁ samyutaṁ yoga-siddhibhiḥ śrī-bhagavān uvāca—the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; yuvām—you both; tu—indeed; me—to Me; samau—equal; bhaktau—devotees; bhujau—arms; iva—like; tanau—on the body; muni—sages; sva-vākyam—own words; tu—indeed; mṛṣā—false; kartum—to make; samarthaḥ—able; aham—I; munīśvarau—O kings of sages; bhakta—of a devotee; vākyam—the words; mṛṣa—false; kartum—to do; na—not; icchāmi—I wish; śapathaḥ—as a vow; mama—of Me; te—of you; mūrdhni—on the head; he—O; vedaśiraḥ—Vedasira; caraṇau—the feet; me—of me; bhaviṣyataḥ—will be; tadā—then; te—of you; garuḍa-bhītiḥ—fear of Garuḍa; na—not; bhaviṣyati—will be; karhicit—ever; śṛṇu—hear; me—Me; aśvaśiraḥ—O Asvasira; vākyam—the words; śocam—lament; mā—don't; kuru—do; mā—don't; kuru—do; kāka-rūpaḥ—the form of a crow; api—although; su-jṣānam—transcendental}knowledge; te—of you; bhaviṣyati—will be; niścitam—indeed; param—great; trailokikam—in the three worlds; jṣānam—knowledge; samyutam—with; yoga-siddhibhiḥ—the mystic perfections. The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: You are both equally devoted to Me. O sages, you are like the two arms of My body. O kings of the sages, I can make My own words false, but I do not wish to allow the words of my devotees to become false. That is My vow. O Vedaśirā, I will place My footprints on your head. Because of them you will never fear Garuḍa. O Aśvaśirā, hear My words. Don't lament. Please don't lament. You will have the form of a crow, but you will have transcendental knowledge. You will have yoga-siddhis and the highest knowledge in the three worlds.

bhakta-vākyaṁ mṛṣa kartuṁ necchāmi śapatho mama te mūrdhni he vedaśiras caraṇau me bhaviṣyataḥ tadā te garuḍa-bhītir na bhaviṣyati karhicit śṛṇu me 'śvaśiro vākyaṁ śocaṁ mā kuru mā kuru kāka-rūpo 'pi su-jṣānaṁ te bhaviṣyati niścitam paraṁ trailokikaṁ jṣānaṁ samyutaṁ yoga-siddhibhiḥ śrī-bhagavān uvāca—the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; yuvām—you both; tu—indeed; me—to Me; samau—equal; bhaktau—devotees; bhujau—arms; iva—like; tanau—on the body; muni—sages; sva-vākyam—own words; tu—indeed; mṛṣā—false; kartum—to make; samarthaḥ—able; aham—I; munīśvarau—O kings of sages; bhakta—of a devotee; vākyam—the words; mṛṣa—false; kartum—to do; na—not; icchāmi—I wish; śapathaḥ—as a vow; mama—of Me; te—of you; mūrdhni—on the head; he—O; vedaśiraḥ—Vedasira; caraṇau—the feet; me—of me; bhaviṣyataḥ—will be; tadā—then; te—of you; garuḍa-bhītiḥ—fear of Garuḍa; na—not; bhaviṣyati—will be; karhicit—ever; śṛṇu—hear; me—Me; aśvaśiraḥ—O Asvasira; vākyam—the words; śocam—lament; mā—don't; kuru—do; mā—don't; kuru—do; kāka-rūpaḥ—the form of a crow; api—although; su-jṣānam—transcendental}knowledge; te—of you; bhaviṣyati—will be; niścitam—indeed; param—great; trailokikam—in the three worlds; jṣānam—knowledge; samyutam—with; yoga-siddhibhiḥ—the mystic perfections. The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: You are both equally devoted to Me. O sages, you are like the two arms of My body. O kings of the sages, I can make My own words false, but I do not wish to allow the words of my devotees to become false. That is My vow. O Vedaśirā, I will place My footprints on your head. Because of them you will never fear Garuḍa. O Aśvaśirā, hear My words. Don't lament. Please don't lament. You will have the form of a crow, but you will have transcendental knowledge. You will have yoga-siddhis and the highest knowledge in the three worlds.

bhakta-vākyaṁ mṛṣa kartuṁ necchāmi śapatho mama te mūrdhni he vedaśiras caraṇau me bhaviṣyataḥ tadā te garuḍa-bhītir na bhaviṣyati karhicit śṛṇu me 'śvaśiro vākyaṁ śocaṁ mā kuru mā kuru kāka-rūpo 'pi su-jṣānaṁ te bhaviṣyati niścitam paraṁ trailokikaṁ jṣānaṁ samyutaṁ yoga-siddhibhiḥ śrī-bhagavān uvāca—the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; yuvām—you both; tu—indeed; me—to Me; samau—equal; bhaktau—devotees; bhujau—arms; iva—like; tanau—on the body; muni—sages; sva-vākyam—own words; tu—indeed; mṛṣā—false; kartum—to make; samarthaḥ—able; aham—I; munīśvarau—O kings of sages; bhakta—of a devotee; vākyam—the words; mṛṣa—false; kartum—to do; na—not; icchāmi—I wish; śapathaḥ—as a vow; mama—of Me; te—of you; mūrdhni—on the head; he—O; vedaśiraḥ—Vedasira; caraṇau—the feet; me—of me; bhaviṣyataḥ—will be; tadā—then; te—of you; garuḍa-bhītiḥ—fear of Garuḍa; na—not; bhaviṣyati—will be; karhicit—ever; śṛṇu—hear; me—Me; aśvaśiraḥ—O Asvasira; vākyam—the words; śocam—lament; mā—don't; kuru—do; mā—don't; kuru—do; kāka-rūpaḥ—the form of a crow; api—although; su-jṣānam—transcendental}knowledge; te—of you; bhaviṣyati—will be; niścitam—indeed; param—great; trailokikam—in the three worlds; jṣānam—knowledge; samyutam—with; yoga-siddhibhiḥ—the mystic perfections. The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: You are both equally devoted to Me. O sages, you are like the two arms of My body. O kings of the sages, I can make My own words false, but I do not wish to allow the words of my devotees to become false. That is My vow. O Vedaśirā, I will place My footprints on your head. Because of them you will never fear Garuḍa. O Aśvaśirā, hear My words. Don't lament. Please don't lament. You will have the form of a crow, but you will have transcendental knowledge. You will have yoga-siddhis and the highest knowledge in the three worlds.

Śrī Nārada said: After speaking these words, Lord Viṣṇu departed. O king, then the sage Aśvaśirā became the crow Bhuṣuṇḍa on Mount Nīla.

He was devoted to Lord Rāmacandra. He was very powerful. He was a lamp shining on the meanings of all the scriptures. To Garuḍa he recited the Rāmāyaṇa.

O king, during the Cākṣuṣa-manvantara Prajāpati Dakṣa gave his eleven beautiful daughters in marriage to Kaśyapa Muni.

Kadrū was the best of them. Today Kadrū is Rohiṇī. She is dear to Mahārāja Vasudeva. Lord Balarāma was born as her son.

mahā-maṇi-dharān kāṁścid duḥsahāṁś ca śatānanān teṣāṁ vedaśirā nāma kāliyo 'bhud mahā-phaṇī sā-she; kadrūś—Kadru; ca—and; mahā-sarpān—great snakes; janayām āsa—gave birth; koṭiśaḥ—millions; mahodbhaṭān—very powerful; viṣa—poison; balān—strong; ugrān—horrible; paṣca-śat—five hundred; ānanān—heads; mahā—great; maṇi—jewels; dharān—having; kāṁścit—some; duḥsahāṁś—invincible; ca—and; śatānanān—a hundred heads; teṣām—of them; vedaśirā—Vedasira; nāma—named; kāliyaḥ—Kaliya; abhut—became; mahā—great; phaṇī—snake. Kadrū gave birth to many millions of great, powerful, invincible jewel-decorated, and very poisonous snakes, some having five-hundred heads, and others having a hundred heads. Among them Vedaśirā became the great snake Kāliya.

mahā-maṇi-dharān kāṁścid duḥsahāṁś ca śatānanān teṣāṁ vedaśirā nāma kāliyo 'bhud mahā-phaṇī sā-she; kadrūś—Kadru; ca—and; mahā-sarpān—great snakes; janayām āsa—gave birth; koṭiśaḥ—millions; mahodbhaṭān—very powerful; viṣa—poison; balān—strong; ugrān—horrible; paṣca-śat—five hundred; ānanān—heads; mahā—great; maṇi—jewels; dharān—having; kāṁścit—some; duḥsahāṁś—invincible; ca—and; śatānanān—a hundred heads; teṣām—of them; vedaśirā—Vedasira; nāma—named; kāliyaḥ—Kaliya; abhut—became; mahā—great; phaṇī—snake. Kadrū gave birth to many millions of great, powerful, invincible jewel-decorated, and very poisonous snakes, some having five-hundred heads, and others having a hundred heads. Among them Vedaśirā became the great snake Kāliya.

Ananta Śeṣa, the king of snakes, who is greater than the greatest, was the first of them. Today Ananta is Balarāma, the elder brother of the infallible Supreme Personality of Godhead.

One day Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is beyond the worlkd of matter and is always happy at heart, with words like the rumbling of clouds, spoke to Ananta Śeṣa.

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: No one else has the power to hold up the planets of Bhū-maṇḍala. You please carry these planets on Your head.

Your power is endless, and therefore You are known as Ananta (the endless). Please accept this duty for the welfare of the people.

Śrī Śeṣa said: O Lord, please put some limit on how long I must hold the world. Then, according Your word, I will hold up Bhū-maṇḍala.

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: O king of snakes, with Your thousand mouths always chant My names, names that reveal My transcendental qualities.

When You come to the end of all My transcendental names You can put down the burden of Bhū-maṇḍala and relax.

Śrī Śeṣa said: I will hold up Bhū-maṇḍala. But who will hold Me up? Without support how can I stand in the water? O Lord, please tell Me.

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: I will become a turtle and then I will hold You up. O My friend, don't be unhappy to hold such a great burden for such a long time.

Śrī Nārada said: O king, then Lord Śeṣa rose, bowed down before Lord Kṛṣṇa who holds the flag of Garuḍa, and went eight hundred thousand miles below Pātālaloka

Then very powerful Ananta Śeṣa picked up Bhū-maṇḍala and held it in one hand.

When Saṅkarṣaṇa Ananta went to Pātālaloka, by Brahmā's order the other great snakes followed Him.

Some went to Atalaloka and others to Sutalaloka, Mahātalaloka, Talātalaloka, and Rasātalaloka.

Many snakes headed by Kāliya happily lived in Ramaṇaka-dvīpa, the home Brahmā gave to them.

O king, thus I have told you Kāliya's story, which grants both happiness in this world and also liberation. What more do you wish to hear?