Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 16
Aghāsura-vadha: The Killing and Deliverance of Aghāsura
इति व्यवस्याजगरं बृहद् वपु: स योजनायाममहाद्रिपीवरम् । धृत्वाद्भुतं व्यात्तगुहाननं तदा पथि व्यशेत ग्रसनाशया खल: ॥ १६ ॥
iti vyavasyājagaraṁ bṛhad vapuḥ sa yojanāyāma-mahādri-pīvaram dhṛtvādbhutaṁ vyātta-guhānanaṁ tadā pathi vyaśeta grasanāśayā khalaḥ
After thus deciding, that crooked Aghāsura assumed the form of a huge python, as thick as a big mountain and as long as eight miles. Having assumed this wonderful python’s body, he spread his mouth like a big cave in the mountains and lay down on the road, expecting to swallow Kṛṣṇa and His associates the cowherd boys.
FAQs
This verse describes the demon’s strategy: he takes a gigantic python-like form, lies across the path with a cave-like mouth open, intending to swallow Kṛṣṇa and the cowherd boys.
To emphasize the terrifying scale of the asura’s deception—his mouth is so vast it resembles a mountain cave, making the trap appear like a natural opening on the path.
Danger can appear “normal” and inviting, like a path-side opening; the verse encourages vigilance and reliance on Kṛṣṇa’s protection when facing deceptive, harmful influences.