Shloka 17

Aghāsura-vadha: The Killing and Deliverance of Aghāsura

Devanagari script

धराधरोष्ठो जलदोत्तरोष्ठो दर्याननान्तो गिरिश‍ृङ्गदंष्ट्र: । ध्वान्तान्तरास्यो वितताध्वजिह्व: परुषानिलश्वासदवेक्षणोष्ण: ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

dharādharoṣṭho jaladottaroṣṭho dary-ānanānto giri-śṛṅga-daṁṣṭraḥ dhvāntāntar-āsyo vitatādhva-jihvaḥ paruṣānila-śvāsa-davekṣaṇoṣṇaḥ

Translation

Sa lèvre inférieure reposait sur la terre, la supérieure touchait les nuages. Sa bouche ressemblait à une grotte sombre, sa langue à une large route et ses yeux brûlaient comme le feu.

Synonyms

• dharādhara-oṣṭhaḥ: having mountain-like lips
• dharādhara-oṣṭhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of the demon/form)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharādhara + oṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; बहुव्रीहिः—‘धराधरौ (पर्वतौ) इव ओष्ठौ यस्य’ (whose lips are like mountains)

• jalada-uttara-oṣṭhaḥ: having a cloud-like upper lip
• jalada-uttara-oṣṭhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jalada + uttara + oṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; बहुव्रीहिः—‘जलद इव उत्तर-ओष्ठः यस्य’ (whose upper lip is like a cloud)

• dary-ānana-antaḥ: with a cave-like mouth-interior
• dary-ānana-antaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: darī + ānana + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; बहुव्रीहिः—‘दर्याः (गुहायाः) आननान्तः यस्य’ (whose mouth-interior is like a cave)

• giri-śṛṅga-daṁṣṭraḥ: having fangs like mountain peaks
• giri-śṛṅga-daṁṣṭraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: giri + śṛṅga + daṁṣṭra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; बहुव्रीहिः—‘गिरिशृङ्गवत् दंष्ट्रा यस्य’ (whose fangs are like mountain-peaks)

• dhvānta-antara-āsyaḥ: with a mouth dark within
• dhvānta-antara-āsyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhvānta + antara + āsya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; बहुव्रीहिः—‘ध्वान्तम् अन्तरं यस्य आस्यस्य’ (whose mouth-interior is darkness)

• vitata-adhva-jihvaḥ: having a tongue like a long road
• vitata-adhva-jihvaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vitata (√tan, तन् धातु; क्त) + adhvan + jihvā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; बहुव्रीहिः—‘विततः अध्वा इव जिह्वा यस्य’ (whose tongue is like an extended road)

• paruṣa-anila-śvāsa-dava-īkṣaṇa-uṣṇaḥ: hot, with harsh-wind breath and wildfire-like glance
• paruṣa-anila-śvāsa-dava-īkṣaṇa-uṣṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paruṣa + anila + śvāsa + dava + īkṣaṇa + uṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; बहुव्रीहिः—‘परुषानिलवत् श्वासः, दववत् ईक्षणम्, उष्णः यस्य’ (whose breath is like harsh wind, whose glance is like wildfire, (and) hot)

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Aghāsura

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Aghasura’s terrifying form?

This verse vividly describes Aghāsura’s gigantic, serpentlike mouth—lips like earth and cloud, teeth like mountain peaks, a dark throat, and a blazing, scorching gaze—showing the extreme danger from which Kṛṣṇa protects His devotees.

Why did Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe Aghāsura in such detail to King Parīkṣit?

To heighten the contrast between the demon’s overwhelming threat and Kṛṣṇa’s effortless protection of the cowherd boys, strengthening Parīkṣit’s faith in the Lord’s shelter and supremacy.

Practical application: how can this verse help in modern life when facing fear?

It teaches that dangers may appear enormous and overpowering, yet remembrance of Kṛṣṇa and reliance on divine shelter can steady the mind and inspire courageous, devotional trust.