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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 ›
Canto 10 · Chapter 12: The Killing of the Demon Aghāsura
10.12.3610.12.38

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.12.37

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

एतत् कौमारजं कर्म हरेरात्माहिमोक्षणम् ।

मृत्यो: पौगण्डके बाला द‍ृष्ट्वोचुर्विस्मिता व्रजे ॥ ३७ ॥

etat kaumārajaṁ karma

harer ātmāhi-mokṣaṇam

mṛtyoḥ paugaṇḍake bālā

dṛṣṭvocur vismitā vraje

Translation

This incident of Kṛṣṇa’s saving Himself and His associates from death and of giving deliverance to Aghāsura, who had assumed the form of a python, took place when Kṛṣṇa was five years old. It was disclosed in Vrajabhūmi after one year, as if it had taken place on that very day.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa’s Association Grants Eternal Life

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa delivered Aghāsura when He was five years old. The incident was disclosed in Vrajabhūmi one year later, as though it had happened that day.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa and His associates are already liberated. In the spiritual world everything is eternal, without birth, death, old age or disease.

  3. 3

    Through association with Kṛṣṇa and His devotees, Aghāsura also received eternal life. This shows that God is good for everyone: even one killed by Him attains liberation.

Key points from the purport
  • For the associates of Kṛṣṇa and for Kṛṣṇa Himself, there is no question about liberation; they are already liberated, being in the spiritual world.
  • As for the python, however, by the association of Kṛṣṇa and His devotees, Aghāsura also achieved the same facility of eternal life.
  • Therefore, as indicated here by the word ātmāhi-mokṣaṇam, if the python Aghāsura could receive eternal association with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, what is to be said of those who are already associates of the Lord?

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

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 10.12.37 quotesSB 10.12.7-11

Sākaṁ vijahruḥ kṛta-puṇya-puñjāḥ. Here is proof that God is good for everyone.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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:

When this pastime was performed, Kṛṣṇa was only five years old. One year later, when He was six years old and He stepped into the paugaṇḍa age, this pastime was disclosed to the inhabitants of Vraja.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.12
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. etatthis incident of delivering both Aghāsura and Kṛṣṇa’s associates from death
  2. kaumāra-jam karmaperformed during their kaumāra age (the age of five years)
  3. hareḥof the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  4. ātmathe devotees are the Lord’s heart and soul
  5. ahi-mokṣaṇamtheir deliverance and the deliverance of the python
  6. mṛtyoḥfrom the path of repeated birth and death
  7. paugaṇḍakeat the age of paugaṇḍa, beginning with the sixth year (one year later)
  8. bālāḥall the boys
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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 10.12

    In this verse: “death”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.12

    In this verse: “devotees”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does Aghāsura’s deliverance deepen my appreciation of Kṛṣṇa’s goodness?

Practice

Spend a minute reflecting on the gift of eternal association with the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa’s Association Grants Eternal LifeThis 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 10.12.37? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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