Though the seed of bhakti in the form of mercy had previously been planted in Kaliya’s heart by his wives who were exalted devotees, it could not sprout because of his cruel conduct arising from aparadha, as seeds sown on barren ground cannot sprout. But when his offense vanished through the punishment by the touch of Krsna’s lotus feet, suddenly the seed began to sprout. He thought (smrtva) that Krsna’s power was thousands of times greater than that of his enemy Garuda. Therefore this person must be the supreme Lord, approachable by bhakti, mentioned by his wives. "Making me realize that I am a fool to think that I am god by displaying his extraordinary strength, he has accepted the position of my guru and placed his feet on my head. I take shelter of (aranam) him (tam)."

Kāliya’s thousand heads were seriously (vi) broken or injured (rugna) by the variety of dancing moves such as bhrānti and recaka. By being punished by the Lord’s feet directly, thousands of Kāliya’s internal faults were destroyed. By his touch pure love arose within him and, similar to Bali, he recognized the Lord. He then took shelter of the Lord. He remembered Kṛṣṇa (tam) as the guru of moving and non-moving entities since he is their father—since he is the first among all beings (purāṇam puruṣam)—since he is Nārāyaṇa from whose navel the worlds arise, or since he is Nārāyaṇa who is the shelter (ayana) of all jīvas (nāra). These are the reasons for his surrender. Hearing hundreds of times previously about Kṛṣṇa, his evil nature was destroyed. Thus he could remember Kṛṣṇa’s identity. He surrendered in his mind because he could not utter the words “I am yours” since he was in extreme pain. Or, he remembered that Kṛṣṇa was Nārāyaṇa, having heard from his wives. He then surrendered.

The dancing was amazing because it included various moves such as bhrānti and recaka described by Bharata Muni. Or it was amazing because by dancing Kṛṣṇa struck Kāliya on his head. Or though he danced to punish the snake he ultimately gave him mercy. By the dancing the snake’s thousand hoods were severely (vi) wounded (rugnam) or broken. Or king! Though kings like punish the wicked, they actually give the wicked mercy. The actual meaning is that by dancing on his hoods, the snake received the highest mercy. Getting wounded indicates that the dancing was the greatest mercy, like the explanation of being trampled earlier. The snake became humbled with the removal of his pride when his hoods were damaged. Actually by destroying a thousand faults, he became pure. Thus he remembered the Lord. His surrender is described. Kṛṣṇa is the producer (gurum) of moving and non-moving beings because he is the first among all persons (purāṇam puruṣam), because his lotus navel holds the worlds (nārāyaṇam) or because he is the shelter of all jīvas (nārāyaṇam). These are causes of completely surrendering. Kāliya fixed his mind (smṛtvā) on Kṛsṇa, or contemplated him and surrendered to him alone. He took shelter of the Lord in his mind (manasi) since he could not physically act because of great pain. Or he surrendered to Kṛṣṇa because Kṛṣṇa always (purāṇam) exits in the city of the heart (puruṣam). The rest is the same explanation. The real meaning is this. Knowing (smṛtvā) Kṛṣṇa (tam) as Nārāyaṇa, because he is heavier (guru) than the whole universe made of moving and non-moving beings, since he supports everything, and because, though he was a child he was not a child, being the oldest person (purāṇam puruṣam)—since he danced in this way, he surrendered to him.