CC Madhya 24.54
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
TEXT 54
- kasyānubhāvo 'sya na deva vidmahe
- tavāṅghri-reṇu-sparaśādhikāraḥ
- yad-vāñchayā śrīr lalanācarat tapo
- vihāya kāmān su-ciraṁ dhṛta-vratā
SYNONYMS
kasya—of what; anubhāvaḥ—a result; asya—of the serpent (Kāliya); na—not; deva—O Lord; vidmahe—we know; tava-aṅghri—of Your lotus feet; reṇu—of the dust; sparaśa—for touching; adhikāraḥ—qualification; yat—which; vāñchayā—by desiring; śrīḥ—the goddess of fortune; lalanā—the topmost woman; acarat—performed; tapaḥ—austerity; vihāya—giving up; kāmān—all desires; su-ciram—for a long time; dhṛta—a law upheld; vratā—as a vow.
TRANSLATION
"'O Lord, we do not know how the serpent Kāliya attained such an opportunity to be touched by the dust of Your lotus feet. For this end, the goddess of fortune performed austerities for centuries, giving up all other desires and taking austere vows. Indeed, we do not know how this serpent Kāliya got such an opportunity.'
PURPORT
This verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (SB 10.16.36) was spoken by the wives of the Kāliya serpent.