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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
10.12.2510.12.27

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.12.26

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The boyssince 10.12.19inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तावत् प्रविष्टास्त्वसुरोदरान्तरं

परं न गीर्णा: शिशव: सवत्सा: ।

प्रतीक्षमाणेन बकारिवेशनं

हतस्वकान्तस्मरणेन रक्षसा ॥ २६ ॥

tāvat praviṣṭās tv asurodarāntaraṁ

paraṁ na gīrṇāḥ śiśavaḥ sa-vatsāḥ

pratīkṣamāṇena bakāri-veśanaṁ

hata-sva-kānta-smaraṇena rakṣasā

Translation

In the meantime, while Kṛṣṇa was considering how to stop them, all the cowherd boys entered the mouth of the demon. The demon, however, did not swallow them, for he was thinking of his own relatives who had been killed by Kṛṣṇa and was just waiting for Kṛṣṇa to enter his mouth.

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 Demon Waits for Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    While Kṛṣṇa was considering how to stop them, all the cowherd boys entered the demon’s mouth.

  2. 2

    The demon did not swallow the boys, because he was waiting for Kṛṣṇa to enter.

  3. 3

    He was thinking of his own relatives who had been killed by Kṛṣṇa.

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:

Kṛṣṇa knew everything about Aghāsura, and therefore He wanted to forbid His friends to enter the demon’s mouth, but in the meantime all the cowherd boys, along with their groups of calves, entered the mouth of that gigantic figure. Kṛṣṇa was waiting outside, and Aghāsura was waiting for Kṛṣṇa, thinking that as soon as Kṛṣṇa entered he would close his mouth so that everyone would die.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.12
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tāvatin the meantime
  2. praviṣṭāḥall entered
  3. tuindeed
  4. asura-udara-antaramwithin the belly of the great demon
  5. parambut
  6. na gīrṇāḥthey were not swallowed
  7. śiśavaḥall the boys
  8. sa-vatsāḥalong with their calves
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 does the demon’s waiting reveal about his intention toward Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Reread the translation slowly, noting why the demon did not immediately swallow the boys.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Demon Waits for KṛṣṇaThis 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 10.12.26? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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