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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
10.12.3510.12.37

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.12.36

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

राजन्नाजगरं चर्म शुष्कं वृन्दावनेऽद्भ‍ुतम् ।

व्रजौकसां बहुतिथं बभूवाक्रीडगह्वरम् ॥ ३६ ॥

rājann ājagaraṁ carma

śuṣkaṁ vṛndāvane ’dbhutam

vrajaukasāṁ bahu-tithaṁ

babhūvākrīḍa-gahvaram

Translation

O King Parīkṣit, when the python-shaped body of Aghāsura dried up into merely a big skin, it became a wonderful place for the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana to visit, and it remained so for a long, long time.

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’s Skin Becomes a Wonderful Visiting Place

  1. 1

    Aghāsura’s python-shaped body dried up until only a large skin remained.

  2. 2

    This skin became a wonderful place for the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana to visit.

  3. 3

    It remained a place to visit for a long, long time.

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:

Parīkṣit Mahārāja inquired, “Why is it that this pastime was disclosed only after one year and yet the inhabitants of Vraja thought that it had been performed that very day?” With this question, the Twelfth Chapter ends.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.12
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. rājanO Mahārāja Parīkṣit
  2. ājagaram carmathe dry body of Aghāsura, which remained only a big skin
  3. śuṣkamwhen it completely dried up
  4. vṛndāvane adbhutamlike a wonderful museum piece in Vṛndāvana
  5. vraja-okasāmfor the inhabitants of Vrajabhūmi, Vṛndāvana
  6. bahu-tithamfor many days, or for a long time
  7. babhūvabecame
  8. ākrīḍasporting place
  9. gahvarama cave
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.12

    In this verse: “king”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What strikes me as wonderful about what remained of Aghāsura’s body?

Practice

Reread the translation and recall the three details: the dried skin, the visitors and how long it remained.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAghāsura’s Skin Becomes a Wonderful Visiting PlaceThis 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 10.12.36? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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