- December 2, 2025
Prātaḥ kāl paḍane ke liye,
Shrī Kūl Yamunā denu āge, jal meṁ baiṭhe Prabhujī ān ke.
Naag³ nāginī donoṁ baiṭhe, Sri Krishna jī pahuṁche ān ke.
Nāginī kahatī – “Suno re bālak, jāo yahāṁ se bhāg ke,
Terī sūrat dekh mann dayā jo upajī, nāg māregā jhag ke.”
“Kiska bālak putra kahiye, kaun tumhārā grām hai?
Kiske ghar tū janmiya bālak, kyā tumhārā nām hai?”
“Vasudev jī kā putra kahiye, Gokul hamārā grām hai.
Śrī Mātā Devakī janmiya mainū, Sri Krishna hamārā nām hai.”
“Le re bālak hathānte gangana, kannānte kundal sawā lagāntīyām boriyām,
Itna dravya le jā re bālak, deyām main nāgāṁ koloṁ choriyām.”
“Kya karūṁ tere hāthon ke gangan, kannāṁ ke kundal sawā lagāṁtīyām boriyām?
Śrī Mātā Yashodā dahi bilove, pāvām nāg kā le diyām ḍoriyām.”
“Kya re bālak ved brāhmaṇ, kya mariyā tū tām sāhūnāyem?
Naag dah me ān pahuṁchiyā, ab kaise kar jāvanāyem?”
“Nā re Padmanī ved brahmaṇ, Nand jī kā main bālaka.
Śrī Mātā Yashodā dahi bilove, netrā mānge kāle nāg kā.”
Padam sūme pūjā maroḍī, nāginī nāg jagāyā.
Uḍo re uḍo balavant yoddhā, bālak nathne ko āyā.
Uḍiyā re uḍiyā nāg maṇḍalī kā rājā, Indra vāgūṁ garjiyā.
Bāṅke mukuṭ par jhafat kīnī, Sri Krishna jī mukuṭ bachā liyā.
Pujā kā bal Prabhu kīñch līnhom, jihvā kā bal Prabhu jī rahan diyom.
Hāth jor nāgniyām kahatīm — “Bal piyā jī tumhārā kahāṁ gayom?”
Bansurī sethī kālī nāg nadiyā, phan phan nritya karāyā.
Phūl phūl Mathurā kī nagarī, Devakī maṅgal gāyā.
Bhagat het Prabhu janm lekar, Laṅkā me Rāvan māriyā.
Kālī dal me nāg nādiyā, Mathurā me Kams pasāriyā.
Sapt dīp nau khaṇḍ chauvdah, sabhī terā hai basāriyā.
Surdās jo terā yaś gāve, tere charaṇom dō balahāriyām.
Naag Leela is one of the most divine and miraculous exploits of Lord Krishna.
In the Yamuna river lived the venomous serpent Kaliya, who had poisoned the water so severely that humans, animals, and birds suffered greatly.
Moved by the prayers of the people, little Krishna entered the deadly waters to subdue Kaliya and protect the world.
The song beautifully narrates this sacred event:
At dawn, Krishna walks towards the Yamuna. In the depths of the river live Kaliya and his wife, the Nagini. When Nagini sees Krishna approaching their abode, she becomes frightened and warns Him:
“This is a dangerous place, child. If my husband wakes up, he will surely kill you.
You are so beautiful; my heart feels compassion. Take these ornaments and wealth—please leave this place.”
Krishna gently replies:
“I am the son of Nanda of Gokul.
I have not come out of fear, nor am I here to take anything. I have come to protect the world.”
The Nagini then performs pūja to awaken Kaliya.
Kaliya emerges fiercely, roaring like thunder, swirling the waters violently. He tries to attack Krishna with his venom, strength, and arrogance.
But Krishna — the Supreme Being — effortlessly overpowers him.
He climbs onto Kaliya’s many heads and performs His divine dance, subduing the serpent completely.
Defeated and humbled, Kaliya and his wife fold their hands and surrender:
“We understand Your divine power. Please forgive us.”
Krishna spares their lives and orders Kaliya to leave Yamuna forever, thus restoring peace.
The song ends by praising the eternal works of God:
And finally:
“Surdas sings Your glory; I too surrender at Your sacred feet.”
