Shloka 41
Aghāsura-vadha: The Killing and Deliverance of Aghāsura
श्रीराजोवाच ब्रह्मन्कालान्तरकृतं तत्कालीनं कथं भवेत् । यत् कौमारे हरिकृतं जगु: पौगण्डकेऽर्भका: ॥ ४१ ॥
śrī-rājovāca brahman kālāntara-kṛtaṁ tat-kālīnaṁ kathaṁ bhavet yat kaumāre hari-kṛtaṁ jaguḥ paugaṇḍake ’rbhakāḥ
ശ്രീരാജാവ് പറഞ്ഞു—ഹേ ബ്രഹ്മൻ, പഴയകാലത്ത് നടന്ന കാര്യം അന്നേ നടന്നതുപോലെ എങ്ങനെ പറയപ്പെട്ടു? ഹരി ഈ ലീല കൌമാരാവസ്ഥയിൽ ചെയ്തു; പിന്നെ പൗഗണ്ഡാവസ്ഥയിൽ ബാലകർ ഇത് ഇപ്പോഴേ നടന്നതെന്ന പോലെ എങ്ങനെ പറഞ്ഞു?
FAQs
Because the cowherd boys, now described as in paugaṇḍa boyhood, are praising deeds Kṛṣṇa performed in their earlier kaumāra childhood, and Parīkṣit wants to understand how this chronological shift is being presented.
They are stages of childhood: kaumāra refers to early childhood, while paugaṇḍa refers to a later boyhood stage; this verse contrasts the two to highlight the apparent time discrepancy in the narration.
It models attentive, respectful inquiry—when something in scripture seems inconsistent, a sincere student asks clarifying questions rather than dismissing the text, deepening understanding and devotion.