Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 19

Aghāsura-vadha: The Killing and Deliverance of Aghāsura

Devanagari script

अहो मित्राणि गदत सत्त्वकूटं पुर: स्थितम् । अस्मत्सङ्ग्रसनव्यात्तव्यालतुण्डायते न वा ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

aho mitrāṇi gadata sattva-kūṭaṁ puraḥ sthitam asmat-saṅgrasana-vyātta- vyāla-tuṇḍāyate na vā

Translation

The boys said: Dear friends, is this creature dead, or is it actually a living python with its mouth spread wide just to swallow us all? Kindly clear up this doubt.

Synonyms

• अहो: oh!
• अहो: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अहो (अव्यय)
• Form: Exclamation (उद्गार)

• मित्राणि: friends
• मित्राणि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Plural; address

• गदत: say!
• गदत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Plural, परस्मैपद; ‘speak/tell!’

• सत्त्व-कूटम्: a mass of creatures
• सत्त्व-कूटम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्त्व + कूट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुष: ‘सत्त्वानां कूटम्’ (a heap/mass of living beings)

• पुरः: in front
• पुरः: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरः (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) meaning ‘in front’

• स्थितम्: standing/placed
• स्थितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past passive participle), Neuter, Accusative, Singular; agrees with ‘सत्त्व-कूटम्’

• अस्मत्-सङ्ग्रसन-व्यात्त-व्याल-तुण्डायते: seems like (a gaping serpent-mouth)
• अस्मत्-सङ्ग्रसन-व्यात्त-व्याल-तुण्डायते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्मत् + सङ्ग्रसन + व्यात्त + व्याल + तुण्ड + √अय् (धातु, denominative)
• Form: लट् (Present), 3rd person, Singular, आत्मनेपद; denominative from ‘तुण्ड’ with suffix -आय (तुण्डायते = ‘becomes like a mouth’). Compound sense: ‘(it) appears like a gaping serpent-mouth for swallowing us’

• न: not
• न: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध)

• वा: or?
• वा: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (विकल्प) ‘or/indeed?’ (rhetorical)

Purport

The friends began to discuss among themselves the reality of the wonderful creature laying before them. Was it dead, or was it actually a living python trying to swallow them up?

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Cowherd boys (Gopas)
• Vatsāsura (the calf-demon, implied)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about fear during Krishna’s childhood pastimes?

This verse shows the gopas’ momentary fear on seeing a dangerous presence, highlighting how apparent threats arise in Vraja-līlā even as Kṛṣṇa ultimately protects His friends.

Why did the cowherd boy say this to his friends in Canto 10 Chapter 12?

Seeing a frightening, powerful creature before them (the calf-demon’s deceptive presence), a gopa urges his companions to notice it—describing it as a beast’s open mouth ready to swallow them.

Practical application of Krishna’s protection from danger in modern life?

When fear arises, remember that danger can appear overwhelming, yet steady devotion, prayer, and taking shelter of Kṛṣṇa cultivates courage and clarity to act rightly.