Beholding him in the lake thus surrounded by serpents, his companions immediately went to Vraja bewailing aloud his fate. "Krishna has foolishly jumped into the lake of the serpent Kāliya, and is being devoured by that serpent-king; do ye come and behold him". Hearing those words, resembling the fall of thunder, the cow-herds and their wives headed by Yasoda, proceeded speedily towards the lake.

In plain words: Seeing Krishna wrapped by snakes, his friends run back to the village crying that he foolishly jumped into Kaliya's lake and is being eaten. The news hits like thunder, and the cowherds and their wives, led by Yashoda, Krishna's mother, rush to the lake.