Shloka 24
Aghāsura-vadha: The Killing and Deliverance of Aghāsura
अस्मान् किमत्र ग्रसिता निविष्टा- नयं तथा चेद् बकवद् विनङ्क्ष्यति । क्षणादनेनेति बकार्युशन्मुखं वीक्ष्योद्धसन्त: करताडनैर्ययु: ॥ २४ ॥
asmān kim atra grasitā niviṣṭān ayaṁ tathā ced bakavad vinaṅkṣyati kṣaṇād aneneti bakāry-uśan-mukhaṁ vīkṣyoddhasantaḥ kara-tāḍanair yayuḥ
Then the boys said, “Has this living creature come to swallow us? If he does so, he will immediately be killed like Bakāsura, without delay.” Thus they looked at the beautiful face of Kṛṣṇa, the enemy of Bakāsura, and, laughing loudly and clapping their hands, they entered the mouth of the python.
After talking about the terrible animal this way and that way, they decided to enter the demon’s mouth. They had full faith in Kṛṣṇa because they had experienced how Kṛṣṇa had saved them from the mouth of Bakāsura. Now, here was another asura, Aghāsura. Therefore, they wanted to enjoy the sport of entering the demon’s mouth and being saved by Kṛṣṇa, the enemy of Bakāsura.
FAQs
This verse shows the cowherd boys instinctively turning to Kṛṣṇa (Bakāri) even while trapped inside Aghāsura, implying that remembrance of Kṛṣṇa and trust in His power is the devotee’s refuge in peril.
They feared being destroyed like Bakāsura’s victims, so they sought assurance in Kṛṣṇa—known already as the slayer of Bakāsura—by looking to His calm, pleasing face for protection.
When fear arises, anchor the mind in remembrance of God’s past help, seek steadiness through faith, and act without panic—like the boys who regained composure by focusing on Kṛṣṇa.