This chapter describes Lord Sri Krishna's pastime of subduing the serpent Kaliya within the lake adjoining the river Yamuna and His showing mercy to Kaliya in response to the prayers offered by Kaliya's wives, the Naga-patnis.

To restore the purity of the Yamuna's waters, which had been contaminated by Kaliya's poison, Lord Krishna climbed into a kadamba tree on the riverbank and jumped into the water. Then He began fearlessly playing within the water like a maddened elephant. Kaliya could not tolerate Krishna's trespassing upon his personal residence, and the serpent quickly went up to the Lord and bit Him on the chest. When Krishna's friends saw this, they fell down on the ground unconscious. At that time all sorts of evil omens appeared in Vraja, such as earth tremors, falling stars and the trembling of various creatures' left limbs.

The residents of Vrindavana thought, "Today Krishna went to the forest without Balarama, so we do not know what great misfortune may have befallen Him." Thinking in this way, they traced the path of Krishna's footprints to the bank of the Yamuna. Within the water of the lake adjoining the river they saw Lord Krishna, the very essence of their lives, enwrapped in the coils of a black snake. The residents thought the three worlds had become empty, and they all prepared to enter the water. But Lord Balarama checked them, knowing well the power of Krishna.

Then Lord Krishna, seeing how disturbed His friends and relatives had become, expanded His body greatly and forced the serpent to loosen his grip and release Him. Next the Lord began playfully dancing about on the serpent's hoods. By this wonderful, boisterous dancing, Sri Krishna trampled the serpent's one thousand hoods until his body slackened. Vomiting blood from his mouths, Kaliya finally understood that Krishna was the primeval personality, Lord Narayana, the spiritual master of all moving and nonmoving creatures, and he took shelter of Him.

Seeing how very weary Kaliya had become, his wives, the Naga-patnis, bowed down at Lord Krishna's lotus feet. Then they offered Him various prayers in hopes of gaining their husband's freedom: "It is quite fitting that You have brought our cruel husband to this condition. Indeed, by Your anger he has gained great benefit. What piety Kaliya must have amassed in his previous lives! Today he has borne upon his head the dust of the lotus feet of the Personality of Godhead, the attainment of which is difficult for even the mother of the universe, goddess Lakshmi. Please kindly forgive the offense Kaliya has committed out of ignorance, and allow him to live."

Satisfied by the Naga-patnis' prayers, Krishna released Kaliya, who slowly regained his sensory and vital powers. Then Kaliya, in a distressed voice, acknowledged the offense he had committed, and finally he offered Krishna many prayers and said he was ready to accept His command. Krishna told him to leave the Yamuna lake with his family and return to Ramanaka Island.