Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 15
Aghāsura-vadha: The Killing and Deliverance of Aghāsura
एते यदा मत्सुहृदोस्तिलाप: कृतास्तदा नष्टसमा व्रजौकस: । प्राणे गते वर्ष्मसु का नु चिन्ता प्रजासव: प्राणभृतो हि ये ते ॥ १५ ॥
ete yadā mat-suhṛdos tilāpaḥ kṛtās tadā naṣṭa-samā vrajaukasaḥ prāṇe gate varṣmasu kā nu cintā prajāsavaḥ prāṇa-bhṛto hi ye te
Aghāsura thought: If somehow or other I can make Kṛṣṇa and His associates serve as the last offering of sesame and water for the departed souls of my brother and sister, then the inhabitants of Vrajabhūmi, for whom these boys are the life and soul, will automatically die. If there is no life, there is no need for the body; consequently, when their sons are dead, naturally all the inhabitants of Vraja will die.
FAQs
This verse shows the demon’s understanding that if Krishna’s dear companions (the calves and boys) were harmed, the entire community of Vraja would feel life itself had been taken—revealing how inseparably their well-being is tied to Krishna and His circle.
Aghasura reasoned that the cowherd boys and calves are the heart of Vraja; if they died, the residents would lose the will to live—just as family and dependents become irrelevant once the life-breath leaves the body.
The verse reminds us to see what truly sustains life and purpose; cultivate spiritual priorities and devotion rather than assuming security in externals like possessions or relationships, which cannot help when life itself is gone.