Devanagari
अलातैर्दह्यमानोऽपि नामुञ्चत्तमुरङ्गम: ।
तमस्पृशत्पदाभ्येत्य भगवान्सात्वतां पति: ॥ ८ ॥
Verse text
alātair dahyamāno ’pi
nāmuṣcat tam uraṅgamaḥ
tam aspṛśat padābhyetya
bhagavān sātvatāṁ patiḥ
Synonyms
alātaiḥ
—
by the firebrands
;
dahyamānaḥ
—
being burned
;
api
—
although
;
na amuṣcat
—
did not release
;
tam
—
him
;
uraṅgamaḥ
—
the snake
;
tam
—
that snake
;
aspṛśat
—
touched
;
padā
—
with His foot
;
abhyetya
—
coming
;
bhagavān
—
the Supreme Lord
;
sātvatām
—
of the devotees
;
patiḥ
—
the master .
Translation
But even though the firebrands were burning him, the serpent would not release Nanda Mahārāja. Then the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa, master of His devotees, came to the spot and touched the snake with His foot.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
But even though the firebrands were burning him, the serpent would not release Nanda Mahārāja. Then the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa, master of His devotees, came to the spot and touched the snake with His foot.
KB 10.34.8
But in spite of being beaten with burning logs, the serpent was not about to give up swallowing Nanda Mahārāja.
At that time Kṛṣṇa appeared on the scene and touched the serpent with His lotus feet.
Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
Being beaten by the sticks (alataih), the snake still did not let go of Nanda.
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
Kṛṣṇa arrived later since he was staying further away with his friends, avoiding the elders, since that was restrictive to their play. He came quickly out of affection for his father and faced him directly (abhi—etya). He touched the snake’s tail with his foot but did not kick it. He was careful not to touch his father with his foot, since that was improper. But he did not injury the snake since the snake could be released from its curse by another means. Later the snake will say ‘I was immediately freed from the brāhmaṇas’ punishment simply by seeing you.” (verse 17) Though his action did not appear so effective, he responded to his father’s cries since he was by nature the shelter of all powers (bhagavān). And he was the protector of his devotees (sātvatāṁ patiḥ). The snake was like Pūtanā dressing as a nurse. That was her bhakti by which the Lord became merciful. By some sort of bhakti, though the snake should not to be touched, Kṛṣṇa touched it with his foot and it received the greatest benefit.
Purport (Sanatana Goswami)
Kṛṣṇa touched him just slightly with his left foot, cool and soft like a lotus. Nanda could be freed from the snake and the snake could be freed from the curse just by seeing Kṛṣṇa or concentrating on him. However he wanted to give bhakti by his mercy, seeing the bhakti involved in the snake’s grabbing Nanda’s feet. He did this by seeming to kick the snake in anger. That is revealed later.
Kṛṣṇa arrived and face him. He was staying further away with his friends, avoiding the elders, since that was restrictive to their play. He revealed his powers (bhagavān). He should hide his powers. He was the protector of the devotees (sātvatām patiḥ). He did it out of great affection.