Shloka 22

Aghāsura-vadha: The Killing and Deliverance of Aghāsura

Devanagari script

आस्तृतायाममार्गोऽयं रसनां प्रतिगर्जति । एषामन्तर्गतं ध्वान्तमेतदप्यन्तराननम् ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

āstṛtāyāma-mārgo ’yaṁ rasanāṁ pratigarjati eṣāṁ antar-gataṁ dhvāntam etad apy antar-ānanam

Translation

“它的舌头宽广如铺开的大道；而口内深处黑暗至极，宛如山中洞窟的幽暗。”

Synonyms

• आस्तृत-आयाम-मार्गः: the long-spread passage
• आस्तृत-आयाम-मार्गः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ-√स्तृ (धातु) + आयाम + मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; compound: ‘आस्तृतः आयामः यस्य मार्गः’ (path whose extent is spread out)

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; demonstrative pronoun

• रसनाम्: the tongue
• रसनाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रसना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; ‘tongue’

• प्रतिगर्जति: roars
• प्रतिगर्जति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-√गर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), 3rd person, Singular, परस्मैपद; ‘roars/resounds’

• एषाम्: of these
• एषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; ‘of these’

• अन्तर्गतम्: contained within
• अन्तर्गतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्तर् + गत (√गम् धातु; क्त)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; past participle ‘gone inside/contained within’ qualifying ‘ध्वान्तम्’

• ध्वान्तम्: darkness
• ध्वान्तम्: Karma/Viṣaya (विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; ‘darkness’

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; demonstrative pronoun

• अपि: also
• अपि: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) ‘also/even’

• अन्तर्-आननम्: the inner mouth (interior)
• अन्तर्-आननम्: Samānādhikaraṇa/Viṣaya (विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर् + आनन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; तत्पुरुष: ‘अन्तः आननम्’ (inner mouth/interior)

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Vrajavāsī cowherd boys

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam describe in Canto 10 Chapter 12 verse 22?

It poetically describes the fearful, dark interior of a mouth (and the tongue’s roaring response) as part of the vivid narration of Krishna’s Vraja pastimes in this chapter.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī use imagery like darkness inside the mouth in Krishna-līlā?

To intensify the listener’s experience of wonder and danger, showing how extraordinary events in Vraja are effortlessly overcome under Krishna’s protection.

What is a practical takeaway from this verse for modern life?

Even when situations appear dark and threatening, remembering Krishna’s shelter and staying steady in devotion helps one move through fear with faith.