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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 10 · The Summum Bonum · 90 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
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Canto 10 · Chapter 12: The Killing of the Demon Aghāsura
10.12.1510.12.17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.12.16

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.12.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

इति व्यवस्याजगरं बृहद् वपु:

स योजनायाममहाद्रिपीवरम् ।

धृत्वाद्भ‍ुतं व्यात्तगुहाननं तदा

पथि व्यशेत ग्रसनाशया खल: ॥ १६ ॥

iti vyavasyājagaraṁ bṛhad vapuḥ

sa yojanāyāma-mahādri-pīvaram

dhṛtvādbhutaṁ vyātta-guhānanaṁ tadā

pathi vyaśeta grasanāśayā khalaḥ

Translation

After thus deciding, that crooked Aghāsura assumed the form of a huge python, as thick as a big mountain and as long as eight miles. Having assumed this wonderful python’s body, he spread his mouth like a big cave in the mountains and lay down on the road, expecting to swallow Kṛṣṇa and His associates the cowherd boys.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Aghāsura Prepared to Swallow Kṛṣṇa’s Associates

  1. 1

    The crooked Aghāsura assumed the form of a huge python, as thick as a great mountain and eight miles long.

  2. 2

    He spread his mouth so that it resembled a large cave in the mountains.

  3. 3

    He lay on the road, expecting to swallow Kṛṣṇa and His associates, the cowherd boys.

How it feels

Peril and pride → Friendship and humility. Divinity is revealed amid intimate childhood play.

Chapters 12–19 of Canto 10: Childhood dangers and Brahmā's amazement. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 12: The Killing of the Demon Aghāsura

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The demon, who had been sent by Kaṁsa, assumed the form of a python, expanding himself to a length of eight miles and the height of a mountain, his mouth seeming to extend from the surface of the earth to the heavenly planets. Having assumed this feature, Aghāsura lay on the road.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.12
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. itiin this way
  2. vyavasyadeciding
  3. ājagarampython
  4. bṛhat vapuḥa very, very large body
  5. saḥAghāsura
  6. yojana-āyāmaoccupying eight miles of land
  7. mahā-adri-pīvaramas thick as a great mountain
  8. dhṛtvāassuming this form
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.12

    In this verse: “cowherd boys”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What was Aghāsura’s intention behind this wonderful appearance?

Practice

Read the verse once more, noting both Aghāsura’s outward form and his hidden intention.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAghāsura Prepared to Swallow Kṛṣṇa’s AssociatesThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 10.12.16? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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