Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 26

Aghāsura-vadha: The Killing and Deliverance of Aghāsura

Devanagari script

तावत् प्रविष्टास्त्वसुरोदरान्तरं परं न गीर्णा: शिशव: सवत्सा: । प्रतीक्षमाणेन बकारिवेशनं हतस्वकान्तस्मरणेन रक्षसा ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

tāvat praviṣṭās tv asurodarāntaraṁ paraṁ na gīrṇāḥ śiśavaḥ sa-vatsāḥ pratīkṣamāṇena bakāri-veśanaṁ hata-sva-kānta-smaraṇena rakṣasā

Translation

In the meantime, while Kṛṣṇa was considering how to stop them, all the cowherd boys entered the mouth of the demon. The demon, however, did not swallow them, for he was thinking of his own relatives who had been killed by Kṛṣṇa and was just waiting for Kṛṣṇa to enter his mouth.

Synonyms

• tāvat: meanwhile
• tāvat: Kāla (काल/Time adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तावदर्थक (so long/meanwhile)

• praviṣṭāḥ: having entered
• praviṣṭāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-viś (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom), बहुवचन

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/अन्वय (but/indeed)

• asura-udara-antaram: into the demon’s belly-interior
• asura-udara-antaram: Karma (कर्म/Object—goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asura (प्रातिपदिक) + udara (प्रातिपदिक) + antara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (asurasya udara-antaram)

• param: completely
• param: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत्-प्रयोगः; तीव्रता/अत्यर्थ (completely/very)

• na: not
• na: Nishedha (निषेध/Negator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation)

• gīrṇāḥ: swallowed (down)
• gīrṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gir (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom), बहुवचन

• śiśavaḥ: the boys
• śiśavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiśu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom), बहुवचन

• sa-vatsāḥ: with the calves
• sa-vatsāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (उपसर्ग/सह) + vatsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom), बहुवचन; सहार्थक-तत्पुरुषः (with calves)

• pratīkṣamāṇena: by (the demon) waiting
• pratīkṣamāṇena: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument/Agentive instr.)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-īkṣ (धातु) + śānac (शानच्)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present middle participle); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instr), एकवचन

• bakāri-veśanam: the entry/approach of Bakāri (Kṛṣṇa)
• bakāri-veśanam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bakāri (प्रातिपदिक) + veśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (bakāreḥ veśanam)

• hata-sva-kānta-smaraṇena: with (his) remembrance of his beloved destroyed
• hata-sva-kānta-smaraṇena: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hata (कृदन्त; हन्-क्त) + sva (प्रातिपदिक) + kānta (प्रातिपदिक) + smaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instr), एकवचन; समासः—(sva-kānta)=षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष, ततः kānta-smaraṇa=षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष, ततः hata-पूर्वपद (whose remembrance is destroyed)

• rakṣasā: by the demon
• rakṣasā: Karaṇa (करण/Agent in instr.)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instr), एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Vraja boys (gopas)
• Calves (vatsāḥ)
• Aghāsura (the demon)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 10.12.26 describe about Aghasura’s plan?

It describes how the cowherd boys and calves had entered the demon’s belly, yet the demon delayed swallowing them, waiting for the right moment to kill Kṛṣṇa.

Why did the boys and calves enter the demon’s mouth in the Aghāsura pastime?

In the narrative, they mistook the demon’s open mouth for a playful cave-like formation; their innocence sets the stage for Kṛṣṇa’s protective līlā.

What is a practical lesson from Bhagavatam 10.12.26 for modern life?

Even when danger is unseen or misunderstood, the Bhagavatam emphasizes taking shelter of Kṛṣṇa’s protection—cultivating faith and remembrance rather than fear.