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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
10.12.3010.12.32

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.12.31

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

ततोऽतिकायस्य निरुद्धमार्गिणो

ह्युद्गीर्णद‍ृष्टेर्भ्रमतस्त्वितस्तत: ।

पूर्णोऽन्तरङ्गे पवनो निरुद्धो

मूर्धन् विनिर्भिद्य विनिर्गतो बहि: ॥ ३१ ॥

tato ’tikāyasya niruddha-mārgiṇo

hy udgīrṇa-dṛṣṭer bhramatas tv itas tataḥ

pūrṇo ’ntar-aṅge pavano niruddho

mūrdhan vinirbhidya vinirgato bahiḥ

Translation

Then, because Kṛṣṇa had increased the size of His body, the demon extended his own body to a very large size. Nonetheless, his breathing stopped, he suffocated, and his eyes rolled here and there and popped out. The demon’s life air, however, could not pass through any outlet, and therefore it finally burst out through a hole in the top of the demon’s head.

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 Cannot Resist Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    After Kṛṣṇa increased His bodily size, the demon also extended his body to a very large size.

  2. 2

    Despite this expansion, the demon’s breathing stopped and he suffocated.

  3. 3

    His life air could not pass through any outlet. It finally burst out through a hole in the top of his head.

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:

Thus He entered the mouth of the gigantic asura, and when He was within the demon’s mouth along with His friends, He expanded His body to such an extent that the asura suffocated and died. After this, Kṛṣṇa, by casting His nectarean glance upon His friends, brought them back to life, and with pleasure they all came out unhurt.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.12
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tataḥafter Kṛṣṇa took action to kill the demon’s body from within the mouth
  2. ati-kāyasyaof that great demon, who had expanded his body to a very large size
  3. niruddha-mārgiṇaḥbecause of suffocating, all outlets being stopped up
  4. hi udgīrṇa-dṛṣṭeḥwhose eyes had popped out
  5. bhramataḥ tu itaḥ tataḥthe eyeballs, or the life air, moving here and there
  6. pūrṇaḥcompletely filled
  7. antaḥ-aṅgewithin the body
  8. pavanaḥthe life air
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

What does the failure of the demon’s enormous size show about his power compared with Kṛṣṇa’s?

Practice

Pause after reading and recall that the demon’s increased size could not overcome Kṛṣṇa.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Demon Cannot Resist 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 10.12.31? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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