The wives offered respects by paying obeisances on the ground. It is understood that in the lake of Kaliya there was an island, where Kaliya held Krsna in his coils. The inhabitants of Vraja could see this. The wives put their own babies in front of them to invoke the compassion of Krsna.

They were extremely frightened or grief stricken (su-vigna-manasaḥ) by the thought that their husband would die or by fear of his great offense. Their offering of respect is a sign of their surrender or a quality of their extreme humility. They placed their bodies on the ground. It is understood there was an island in the lake. There Kṛṣṇa raised himself while surrounded by the coils of Kāliya and was seen by the people of Gokula. They placed their children in front to make Kṛṣṇa compassionate. “Were they not afraid of their husband’s offense?” The wives felt in their hearts that Kṛṣṇa was the Lord of all living beings (bhūta-patim). Though they were afraid, where else could they go? They desired that he leave Kāliya alone since they were loyal wives (sādhvyaḥ) and they were Kṛṣṇa’s devotees.

They were extremely frightened or grief stricken (su-vigna-manasaḥ) by the thought that their husband would die or by fear of his great offense. Their offering of respect is a sign of their surrender or a quality of their extreme humility. They placed their bodies on the ground. They placed their children in front to make Kṛṣṇa compassionate. “Were they not afraid of their husband’s offense?” The wives felt in their hearts that Kṛṣṇa was the Lord of all living beings (bhūta-patim) since they had surrendered to him. They desired that he free Kāliya from sin. Genitive has the meaning of ablative (śamalasya for śamalāt). Why? They were his wives (sādhvyaḥ). Or they were filled with bhakti for Kṛṣṇa. Therefore it was proper that Kṛṣṇa give them special mercy. They surrendered to Kṛṣṇa who could grant the shelter (śaraṇadam) of that lake. Otherwise they could not reside in Vṛndāvana. Or he is the source of all protection (śaranadam). They surrendered to him in order to gain protection, which could only be given by him. They surrendered to him crying painfully, “Please protect us!” Or they took shelter of Kṛṣṇa who was the protector from all disasters, by reciting praises. The true meaning is this. Though Kāliya was an offender, having done violence to the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana, his wives were devotees surrendered to Kṛṣṇa, having a desire to kiss him.