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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.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.12.33

Who is speaking and story frame

पीनाहिभोगोत्थितमद्भ‍ुतं मह-

ज्ज्योति: स्वधाम्ना ज्वलयद् दिशो दश ।

प्रतीक्ष्य खेऽवस्थितमीशनिर्गमं

विवेश तस्मिन् मिषतां दिवौकसाम् ॥ ३३ ॥

pīnāhi-bhogotthitam adbhutaṁ mahaj

jyotiḥ sva-dhāmnā jvalayad diśo daśa

pratīkṣya khe ’vasthitam īśa-nirgamaṁ

viveśa tasmin miṣatāṁ divaukasām

Translation

From the body of the gigantic python, a glaring effulgence came out, illuminating all directions, and stayed individually in the sky until Kṛṣṇa came out from the corpse’s mouth. Then, as all the demigods looked on, this effulgence entered into Kṛṣṇa’s body.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa’s Association Grants Liberation

  1. 1

    An effulgence left the python’s body, waited individually in the sky, and entered Kṛṣṇa as the demigods watched. Kṛṣṇa made the individuality of the living being visible.

  2. 2

    Through association with Kṛṣṇa, Aghāsura became free from material contamination. Although entering Kṛṣṇa’s body is called sāyujya-mukti, the purport explains that he attained sārūpya-mukti, a four-armed spiritual form like Viṣṇu’s in Vaikuṇṭha.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa showed that anyone killed by Him attains liberation. The liberation of those on the transcendental platform of love and affection is vimukti, special liberation.

Key points from the purport
  • Apparently the serpent named Aghāsura, because of having received association with Kṛṣṇa, attained mukti by entering Kṛṣṇa’s body.
  • The Brahman effulgence is not visible to material eyes, but to prove that every living being is individual, Kṛṣṇa had this individual effulgence stay outside the demon’s body for some time, for everyone to see.
  • Thus the serpent first entered the body of Kṛṣṇa personally and mixed with the Brahman effulgence.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

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:

For a crooked, sinful person there is no scope for sāyujya-mukti, or becoming one with the effulgence of Kṛṣṇa, but because the Supreme Personality of Godhead entered the body of Aghāsura, by His touch this demon got the opportunity to merge into the existence of the Brahman effulgence and thus attain sāyujya-mukti. When this pastime was performed, Kṛṣṇa was only five years old.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.12
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. pīnavery great
  2. ahi-bhoga-utthitamissuing from the serpent’s body, which was meant for material enjoyment
  3. adbhutamvery wonderful
  4. mahatgreat
  5. jyotiḥeffulgence
  6. sva-dhāmnāby his own illumination
  7. jvalayatmaking glaring
  8. diśaḥ daśaall the ten directions
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 10.12

    In this verse: “love”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.12

    In this verse: “material”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 10.12

    In this verse: “free from”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does Kṛṣṇa’s kindness to Aghāsura deepen your appreciation of Him?

Practice

Spend a minute reflecting on Kṛṣṇa’s kindness, with the desire to develop love and affection for Him.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa’s Association Grants LiberationThis 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 10.12.33? Get an answer from the verses themselves.