Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 23

Aghāsura-vadha: The Killing and Deliverance of Aghāsura

Devanagari script

दावोष्णखरवातोऽयं श्वासवद्भ‍ाति पश्यत । तद्दग्धसत्त्वदुर्गन्धोऽप्यन्तरामिषगन्धवत् ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

dāvoṣṇa-khara-vāto ’yaṁ śvāsavad bhāti paśyata tad-dagdha-sattva-durgandho ’py antar-āmiṣa-gandhavat

Translation

The hot fiery wind is the breath coming out of his mouth, which is giving off the bad smell of burning flesh because of all the dead bodies he has eaten.

Synonyms

• dāva-uṣṇa-khara-vātaḥ: the wind that is like a forest-fire—hot and harsh
• dāva-uṣṇa-khara-vātaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāva (प्रातिपदिक) + uṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + khara (प्रातिपदिक) + vāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—विशेषण-विशेष्यभावः (कर्मधारय)

• ayam: this
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• śvāsavat: like breathing
• śvāsavat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śvāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + vat (तद्धित प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्ययवत्-प्रयोगः; उपमानवाचक-तद्धितान्त (वत्), विशेषणम्

• bhāti: appears, seems
• bhāti: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhā (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• paśyata: look! (you all)
• paśyata: Sambodhana-prayoga (सम्बोधन/Addressed action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: paś (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), बहुवचन; संबोधनार्थे

• tat: that
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Determiner)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद-निर्देशक

• dagdha-sattva-durgandhaḥ: the foul smell of burnt creatures
• dagdha-sattva-durgandhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dagdha (कृदन्त; दह् धातोः क्त) + sattva (प्रातिपदिक) + durgandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (dagdha-sattva = ‘burnt beings’), ततः तत्पुरुषः

• api: also, even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/समुच्चयार्थक (also/even)

• antaḥ-āmiṣa-gandhavat: as if having the smell of flesh inside
• antaḥ-āmiṣa-gandhavat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: antaḥ (अव्यय) + āmiṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + gandha (प्रातिपदिक) + vat (तद्धित)
• Form: अव्ययीभावः—antaḥ + (āmiṣa-gandhavat); उपमानवाचक-वत्; विशेषणम्

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Cowherd boys (gopas)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna protecting devotees during danger like a forest fire?

This verse depicts the terrifying nature of the forest fire, setting the stage for Kṛṣṇa’s protection—showing that when devotees are overwhelmed, the Lord can remove even unavoidable calamities.

Why did the cowherd boys describe the forest fire as ‘breathing’?

They express how the fire’s hot, harsh wind felt alive—like breath—conveying their fear and the immediacy of danger in Vraja’s forest pastimes.

Practical application of this shloka in modern life?

When circumstances feel overpowering and ‘alive’ with threat, this verse encourages honest awareness of danger and taking shelter of the Lord with faith, as the Vraja boys did.