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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
10.12.1610.12.18

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.12.17

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

धराधरोष्ठो जलदोत्तरोष्ठो

दर्याननान्तो गिरिश‍ृङ्गदंष्ट्र: ।

ध्वान्तान्तरास्यो वितताध्वजिह्व:

परुषानिलश्वासदवेक्षणोष्ण: ॥ १७ ॥

dharādharoṣṭho jaladottaroṣṭho

dary-ānanānto giri-śṛṅga-daṁṣṭraḥ

dhvāntāntar-āsyo vitatādhva-jihvaḥ

paruṣānila-śvāsa-davekṣaṇoṣṇaḥ

Translation

His lower lip rested on the surface of the earth, and his upper lip was touching the clouds in the sky. The borders of his mouth resembled the sides of a big cave in a mountain, and the middle of his mouth was as dark as possible. His tongue resembled a broad traffic-way, his breath was like a warm wind, and his eyes blazed like fire.

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.

The Python’s Terrifying Form

  1. 1

    The python’s lower lip rested on the earth, while his upper lip touched the clouds.

  2. 2

    The borders of his mouth resembled the sides of a mountain cave, and its interior was extremely dark.

  3. 3

    His tongue resembled a broad traffic-way, his breath was like a warm wind, and his eyes blazed like fire.

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. dharāon the surface of the globe
  2. adhara-oṣṭhaḥwhose lower lip
  3. jalada-uttara-oṣṭhaḥwhose upper lip was touching the clouds
  4. darī-ānana-antaḥwhose mouth was expanded very widely like a mountain cave
  5. giri-śṛṅgalike a mountain peak
  6. daṁṣṭraḥwhose teeth
  7. dhvānta-antaḥ-āsyaḥwithin whose mouth the atmosphere was as dark as possible
  8. vitata-adhva-jihvaḥwhose tongue was like a broad way
  9. paruṣa-anila-śvāsawhose breath was like a warm wind
  10. dava-īkṣaṇa-uṣṇaḥand whose glance was like flames of fire
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

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Which detail helps you most clearly picture the python’s enormous form?

Practice

Slowly reread the description, noticing the lips, mouth, tongue, breath, and eyes.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Python’s Terrifying FormThis 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 10.12.17? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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