sri-raja uvaca -- King Parikshit said; katham -- how; antah-jale -- within the water; agadhe -- unfathomable; nyagrihnat -- subdued; bhagavan -- the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ahim -- the serpent; sah -- he, Kaliya; vai -- indeed; bahu-yuga -- for many ages; avasam -- having residence; yatha -- how; asit -- so became; vipra -- O learned brahmana; kathyatam -- please explain.

King Parikshit inquired: O learned sage, please explain how the Supreme Personality of Godhead chastised the serpent Kaliya within the unfathomable waters of the Yamuna, and how it was that Kaliya had been living there for so many ages.