The Killing of the Demon Aghasura

Verse 1 (bhagavata.10.12.1)

श्रीशुक उवाच क्वचिद् वनाशाय मनो दधद्व्रजात् प्रातः समुत्थाय वयस्यवत्सपान् । प्रबोधयञ्छृङ्गरवेण चारुणा विनिर्गतो वत्सपुरःसरो हरिः ॥ 12.1 ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca kvacid vanāśāya mano dadhad vrajāt prātaḥ samutthāya vayasya-vatsapān prabodhayañ chṛṅga-raveṇa cāruṇā vinirgato vatsa-puraḥsaro hariḥ

Shri Shuka said: one day, setting his heart on a picnic in the forest, Hari rose early in the morning, woke his fellow calf-herds with the sweet blast of his horn, and set out from Vraja with the calves going before him.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.10.12.2)

तेनैव साकं पृथुकाः सहस्रशः स्निग्धाः सुशिग्वेत्रविषाणवेणवः । स्वान् स्वान् सहस्रोपरिसङ्ख्ययान्वितान् वत्सान् पुरस्कृत्य विनिर्ययुर्मुदा ॥ 12.2 ॥

tenaiva sākaṁ pṛthukāḥ sahasraśaḥ snigdhāḥ suśig-vetra-viṣāṇa-veṇavaḥ svān svān sahasropari-saṅkhyayānvitān vatsān puraskṛtya viniryayur mudā

Along with him went out, in high spirits, thousands of loving boys, each carrying his own bag, staff, horn and flute, each driving before him his own herd of calves numbering in the thousands.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.10.12.3)

कृष्णवत्सैरसङ्ख्यातैर्यूथीकृत्य स्ववत्सकान् । चारयन्तोऽर्भलीलाभिर्विजह्रुस्तत्र तत्र ह ॥ 12.3 ॥

kṛṣṇa-vatsair asaṅkhyātair yūthī-kṛtya sva-vatsakān cārayanto ’rbha-līlābhir vijahrus tatra tatra ha

Merging their countless calves into one herd with Krishna's own, they wandered here and there, tending them amid all manner of childlike games.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.10.12.4)

फलप्रबालस्तवकसुमनःपिच्छधातुभिः । काचगुञ्जामणिस्वर्णभूषिता अप्यभूषयन् ॥ 12.4 ॥

phala-prabāla-stavaka- sumanaḥ-piccha-dhātubhiḥ kāca-guñjā-maṇi-svarṇa- bhūṣitā apy abhūṣayan

Already decked out by their mothers with glass beads, gunja seeds, gems and gold, the boys went on to adorn themselves further with fruit, tender shoots, clusters of flowers, peacock feathers and bright-colored earths.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.10.12.5)

मुष्णन्तोऽन्योन्यशिक्यादीन्ज्ञातानाराच्च चिक्षिपुः । तत्रत्याश्च पुनर्दूराद्धसन्तश्च पुनर्ददुः ॥ 12.5 ॥

muṣṇanto ’nyonya-śikyādīn jñātān ārāc ca cikṣipuḥ tatratyāś ca punar dūrād dhasantaś ca punar daduḥ

They stole one another's lunch-bags, and once caught out, flung them still farther off, while the others further along tossed them farther still, laughing all the while — and then, in the end, gave them back.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.10.12.6)

यदि दूरं गतः कृष्णो वनशोभेक्षणाय तम् । अहं पूर्वमहं पूर्वमिति संस्पृश्य रेमिरे ॥ 12.6 ॥

yadi dūraṁ gataḥ kṛṣṇo vana-śobhekṣaṇāya tam ahaṁ pūrvam ahaṁ pūrvam iti saṁspṛśya remire

Whenever Krishna wandered off a little way to gaze at some beauty of the forest, all the boys would race after him crying, me first, me first, delighting simply in the touch of him.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.10.12.7)

केचिद्वेणून्वादयन्तो ध्मान्तः शृङ्गाणि केचन । केचिद्भृङ्गैः प्रगायन्तः कूजन्तः कोकिलैः परे ॥ 12.7 ॥

kecid veṇūn vādayanto dhmāntaḥ śṛṅgāṇi kecana kecid bhṛṅgaiḥ pragāyantaḥ kūjantaḥ kokilaiḥ pare

Some played their flutes, some blew their horns, some hummed in imitation of bees as they sang, and others cooed like cuckoos.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.10.12.8)

विच्छायाभिः प्रधावन्तो गच्छन्तः साधु हंसकैः । बकैरुपविशन्तश्च नृत्यन्तश्च कलापिभिः ॥ 12.8 ॥

vicchāyābhiḥ pradhāvanto gacchantaḥ sādhu-haṁsakaiḥ bakair upaviśantaś ca nṛtyantaś ca kalāpibhiḥ

Some chased the shadows of flying birds, some walked with the graceful gait of swans, some sat quietly among the herons, and others danced along with the peacocks.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.10.12.9)

विकर्षन्तः कीशबालानारोहन्तश्च तैर्द्रुमान् । विकुर्वन्तश्च तैः साकं प्लवन्तश्च पलाशिषु ॥ 12.9 ॥

vikarṣantaḥ kīśa-bālān ārohantaś ca tair drumān vikurvantaś ca taiḥ sākaṁ plavantaś ca palāśiṣu

Some tugged at the young monkeys, some climbed the trees along with them, some pulled monkey-faces of their own, and others leapt from branch to branch just as the monkeys did.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.10.12.10)

साकं भेकैर्विलङ्घन्तः सरितः स्रवसम्प्लुताः । विहसन्तः प्रतिच्छायाः शपन्तश्च प्रतिस्वनान् ॥ 12.10 ॥

sākaṁ bhekair vilaṅghantaḥ saritaḥ srava-samplutāḥ vihasantaḥ praticchāyāḥ śapantaś ca pratisvanān

Some leapt across the little streams together with the frogs, some laughed at seeing their own reflections in the water, and others scolded their own echoes.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.10.12.11)

इत्थं सतां ब्रह्मसुखानुभूत्या दास्यं गतानां परदैवतेन । मायाश्रितानां नरदारकेण साकं विजह्रुः कृतपुण्यपुञ्जाः ॥ 12.11 ॥

itthaṁ satāṁ brahma-sukhānubhūtyā dāsyaṁ gatānāṁ para-daivatena māyāśritānāṁ nara-dārakeṇa sākaṁ vijahruḥ kṛta-puṇya-puñjāḥ

Thus, with him who is realized by the pure of heart as the very bliss of Brahman, who is the supreme Deity for those devotees who have taken up his service, and who appears to those bound by maya as nothing more than an ordinary human child — with him did these boys, their merit accumulated over many births, sport and play.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.10.12.12)

यत्पादपांसुर्बहुजन्मकृच्छ्रतो धृतात्मभिर्योगिभिरप्यलभ्यः । स एव यद् दृग्विषयः स्वयं स्थितः किं वर्ण्यते दिष्टमतो व्रजौकसाम् ॥ 12.12 ॥

yat-pāda-pāṁsur bahu-janma-kṛcchrato dhṛtātmabhir yogibhir apy alabhyaḥ sa eva yad-dṛg-viṣayaḥ svayaṁ sthitaḥ kiṁ varṇyate diṣṭam ato vrajaukasām

The very dust of his feet even great yogis, disciplining the mind through many lifetimes of hard practice, cannot attain — and that same being now stood, in plain sight, before the eyes of these boys. What words, then, could ever measure the good fortune of the people of Vraja?

Verse 13 (bhagavata.10.12.13)

अथाघनामाभ्यपतन्महासुर- स्तेषां सुखक्रीडनवीक्षणाक्षमः । नित्यं यदन्तर्निजजीवितेप्सुभिः पीतामृतैरप्यमरैः प्रतीक्ष्यते ॥ 12.13 ॥

athāgha-nāmābhyapatan mahāsuras teṣāṁ sukha-krīḍana-vīkṣaṇākṣamaḥ nityaṁ yad-antar nija-jīvitepsubhiḥ pītāmṛtair apy amaraiḥ pratīkṣyate

Just then a mighty demon named Agha arrived there, unable to bear the sight of the boys' happy play — a demon so terrible that even the nectar-drinking gods, fearing for their own lives, waited constantly for his death.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.10.12.14)

दृष्ट्वार्भकान् कृष्णमुखानघासुरः कंसानुशिष्टः स बकीबकानुजः । अयं तु मे सोदरनाशकृत्तयो- र्द्वयोर्ममैनं सबलं हनिष्ये ॥ 12.14 ॥

dṛṣṭvārbhakān kṛṣṇa-mukhān aghāsuraḥ kaṁsānuśiṣṭaḥ sa bakī-bakānujaḥ ayaṁ tu me sodara-nāśa-kṛt tayor dvayor mamainaṁ sa-balaṁ haniṣye

Sent by Kamsa, Aghasura, younger brother of Putana and Baka, saw those children with Krishna at their head and thought: it is this one who destroyed my brother and sister — I shall kill him now, together with all his companions.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.10.12.15)

एते यदा मत्सुहृदोस्तिलापः कृतास्तदा नष्टसमा व्रजौकसः । प्राणे गते वर्ष्मसु का नु चिन्ता प्रजासवः प्राणभृतो हि ये ते ॥ 12.15 ॥

ete yadā mat-suhṛdos tilāpaḥ kṛtās tadā naṣṭa-samā vrajaukasaḥ prāṇe gate varṣmasu kā nu cintā prajāsavaḥ prāṇa-bhṛto hi ye te

He thought: once these become the last offering for my slain kin, all the people of Vraja will be as good as dead — for once the life-breath is gone, what use is the body? — and these very boys are the life-breath of their people.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.10.12.16)

इति व्यवस्याजगरं बृहद् वपुः स योजनायाममहाद्रिपीवरम् । धृत्वाद्भुतं व्यात्तगुहाननं तदा पथि व्यशेत ग्रसनाशया खलः ॥ 12.16 ॥

iti vyavasyājagaraṁ bṛhad vapuḥ sa yojanāyāma-mahādri-pīvaram dhṛtvādbhutaṁ vyātta-guhānanaṁ tadā pathi vyaśeta grasanāśayā khalaḥ

Having resolved on this, the wicked demon took the vast form of a python, thick as a great mountain and eight miles in length, and, spreading his mouth wide as a cave, lay down across the path, waiting to devour them.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.10.12.17)

धराधरोष्ठो जलदोत्तरोष्ठो दर्याननान्तो गिरिशृङ्गदंष्ट्रः । ध्वान्तान्तरास्यो वितताध्वजिह्वः परुषानिलश्वासदवेक्षणोष्णः ॥ 12.17 ॥

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

His lower lip touched the ground and his upper lip reached the clouds, his cavernous mouth was fanged with teeth like mountain peaks, its interior was black as pitch, his outstretched tongue lay like a broad road, his breath came like a scorching wind, and his eyes blazed like a forest fire.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.10.12.18)

दृष्ट्वा तं तादृशं सर्वे मत्वा वृन्दावनश्रियम् । व्यात्ताजगरतुण्डेन ह्युत्प्रेक्षन्ते स्म लीलया ॥ 12.18 ॥

dṛṣṭvā taṁ tādṛśaṁ sarve matvā vṛndāvana-śriyam vyāttājagara-tuṇḍena hy utprekṣante sma līlayā

Seeing this strange shape, all the boys took it simply for some marvel of Vrindavana, and in their play began to imagine it as the gaping mouth of a python.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.10.12.19)

अहो मित्राणि गदत सत्त्वकूटं पुरः स्थितम् । अस्मत्सङ्ग्रसनव्यात्तव्यालतुण्डायते न वा ॥ 12.19 ॥

aho mitrāṇi gadata sattva-kūṭaṁ puraḥ sthitam asmat-saṅgrasana-vyātta- vyāla-tuṇḍāyate na vā

They said: friends, tell us — this creature lying before us, could it really be a living serpent, its mouth thrown open to swallow us all?

Verse 20 (bhagavata.10.12.20)

सत्यमर्ककरारक्तमुत्तराहनुवद् धनम् । अधराहनुवद्रोधस्तत्प्रतिच्छाययारुणम् ॥ 12.20 ॥

satyam arka-karāraktam uttarā-hanuvad ghanam adharā-hanuvad rodhas tat-praticchāyayāruṇam

Indeed — its upper lip is thick as a cloud reddened by the sun's rays, and its lower lip glows red like the shore lit by that same cloud's reflection.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.10.12.21)

प्रतिस्पर्धेते सृक्कभ्यां सव्यासव्ये नगोदरे । तुङ्गशृङ्गालयोऽप्येतास्तद्दंष्ट्राभिश्च पश्यत ॥ 12.21 ॥

pratispardhete sṛkkabhyāṁ savyāsavye nagodare tuṅga-śṛṅgālayo ’py etās tad-daṁṣṭrābhiś ca paśyata

Look how the two corners of its mouth, like mountain caves on either side, seem to vie with each other — and look too at those towering peaks, its teeth.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.10.12.22)

आस्तृतायाममार्गोऽयं रसनां प्रतिगर्जति । एषामन्तर्गतं ध्वान्तमेतदप्यन्तराननम् ॥ 12.22 ॥

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

Its outstretched, broad tongue roars like some vast highway, and the depths of its mouth are choked with utter darkness.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.10.12.23)

दावोष्णखरवातोऽयं श्वासवद्भाति पश्यत । तद्दग्धसत्त्वदुर्गन्धोऽप्यन्तरामिषगन्धवत् ॥ 12.23 ॥

dāvoṣṇa-khara-vāto ’yaṁ śvāsavad bhāti paśyata tad-dagdha-sattva-durgandho ’py antar-āmiṣa-gandhavat

See how this hot, harsh wind seems just like its very breath, carrying from within the foul stench of scorched flesh.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.10.12.24)

अस्मान् किमत्र ग्रसिता निविष्टा- नयं तथा चेद् बकवद् विनङ्क्ष्यति । क्षणादनेनेति बकार्युशन्मुखं वीक्ष्योद्धसन्तः करताडनैर्ययुः ॥ 12.24 ॥

asmān kim atra grasitā niviṣṭān ayaṁ tathā ced bakavad vinaṅkṣyati kṣaṇād aneneti bakāry-uśan-mukhaṁ vīkṣyoddhasantaḥ kara-tāḍanair yayuḥ

And if this thing tries to swallow us once we're inside, well, it will meet the same instant end as Baka did — saying this, and glancing toward the face of Baka's slayer, they went in laughing loudly and clapping their hands.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.10.12.25)

इत्थं मिथोऽतथ्यमतज्ज्ञभाषितं श्रुत्वा विचिन्त्येत्यमृषा मृषायते । रक्षो विदित्वाखिलभूतहृत्स्थितः स्वानां निरोद्धुं भगवान् मनो दधे ॥ 12.25 ॥

itthaṁ mitho ’tathyam ataj-jña-bhāṣitaṁ śrutvā vicintyety amṛṣā mṛṣāyate rakṣo viditvākhila-bhūta-hṛt-sthitaḥ svānāṁ niroddhuṁ bhagavān mano dadhe

Hearing this foolish, childish talk among themselves and recognizing at once that the illusion was no ordinary thing, Bhagavan — dwelling as he does in the heart of every being — knew it at once for a demon, and resolved to hold his companions back.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.10.12.26)

तावत् प्रविष्टास्त्वसुरोदरान्तरं परं न गीर्णाः शिशवः सवत्साः । प्रतीक्षमाणेन बकारिवेशनं हतस्वकान्तस्मरणेन रक्षसा ॥ 12.26 ॥

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

But by then all the boys, with their calves, had already entered the demon's belly — and still he did not swallow them, for that demon, mourning his slain kin, was waiting only for the enemy of Baka to enter as well.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.10.12.27)

तान् वीक्ष्य कृष्णः सकलाभयप्रदो ह्यनन्यनाथान् स्वकरादवच्युतान् । दीनांश्च मृत्योर्जठराग्निघासान् घृणार्दितो दिष्टकृतेन विस्मितः ॥ 12.27 ॥

tān vīkṣya kṛṣṇaḥ sakalābhaya-prado hy ananya-nāthān sva-karād avacyutān dīnāṁś ca mṛtyor jaṭharāgni-ghāsān ghṛṇārdito diṣṭa-kṛtena vismitaḥ

Seeing those helpless boys — who knew no other refuge than himself, now slipped from his own hands, become as fodder for the belly-fire of death — Krishna, giver of fearlessness to all beings, was struck with compassion and amazed at how this had come to unfold.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.10.12.28)

कृत्यं किमत्रास्य खलस्य जीवनं न वा अमीषां च सतां विहिंसनम् । द्वयं कथं स्यादिति संविचिन्त्य ज्ञात्वाविशत्तुण्डमशेषदृग्घरिः ॥ 12.28 ॥

kṛtyaṁ kim atrāsya khalasya jīvanaṁ na vā amīṣāṁ ca satāṁ vihiṁsanam dvayaṁ kathaṁ syād iti saṁvicintya jñātvāviśat tuṇḍam aśeṣa-dṛg ghariḥ

How could both this be done — that the wicked one need not simply live on, and that these good souls not come to harm? Pondering this, all-seeing Hari found the answer and entered the demon's mouth himself.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.10.12.29)

तदा घनच्छदा देवा भयाद्धाहेति चुक्रुशुः । जहृषुर्ये च कंसाद्याः कौणपास्त्वघबान्धवाः ॥ 12.29 ॥

tadā ghana-cchadā devā bhayād dhā-heti cukruśuḥ jahṛṣur ye ca kaṁsādyāḥ kauṇapās tv agha-bāndhavāḥ

At that moment the gods, hidden behind the clouds, cried out in fear, alas, alas — while Kamsa and the other demons, kinsmen of Agha, rejoiced.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.10.12.30)

तच्छ्रुत्वा भगवान्कृष्णस्त्वव्ययः सार्भवत्सकम् । चूर्णीचिकीर्षोरात्मानं तरसा ववृधे गले ॥ 12.30 ॥

tac chrutvā bhagavān kṛṣṇas tv avyayaḥ sārbha-vatsakam cūrṇī-cikīrṣor ātmānaṁ tarasā vavṛdhe gale

Hearing this, the imperishable Krishna, together with the calves and boys, instantly swelled his own body within the demon's throat, to thwart his intention of crushing them all to pulp.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.10.12.31)

ततोऽतिकायस्य निरुद्धमार्गिणो ह्युद्गीर्णदृष्टेर्भ्रमतस्त्वितस्ततः । पूर्णोऽन्तरङ्गे पवनो निरुद्धो मूर्धन् विनिर्भिद्य विनिर्गतो बहिः ॥ 12.31 ॥

tato ’tikāyasya niruddha-mārgiṇo hy udgīrṇa-dṛṣṭer bhramatas tv itas tataḥ pūrṇo ’ntar-aṅge pavano niruddho mūrdhan vinirbhidya vinirgato bahiḥ

The huge-bodied demon's passage now stood blocked; his bulging eyes rolled, and he thrashed about here and there; at last his trapped, swollen breath burst clean through the crown of his head and rushed out.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.10.12.32)

तेनैव सर्वेषु बहिर्गतेषु प्राणेषु वत्सान् सुहृदः परेतान् । दृष्टया स्वयोत्थाप्य तदन्वितः पुन- र्वक्त्रान्मुकुन्दो भगवान् विनिर्ययौ ॥ 12.32 ॥

tenaiva sarveṣu bahir gateṣu prāṇeṣu vatsān suhṛdaḥ paretān dṛṣṭyā svayotthāpya tad-anvitaḥ punar vaktrān mukundo bhagavān viniryayau

Once all the demon's breath had gone out, Bhagavan Mukunda, with a mere glance, restored the dead calves and his own companions to life, and came out from that mouth together with them all.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.10.12.33)

पीनाहिभोगोत्थितमद्भुतं मह- ज्ज्योतिः स्वधाम्ना ज्वलयद् दिशो दश । प्रतीक्ष्य खेऽवस्थितमीशनिर्गमं विवेश तस्मिन् मिषतां दिवौकसाम् ॥ 12.33 ॥

pīnāhi-bhogotthitam adbhutaṁ mahaj jyotiḥ sva-dhāmnā jvalayad diśo daśa pratīkṣya khe ’vasthitam īśa-nirgamaṁ viveśa tasmin miṣatāṁ divaukasām

From that huge serpent-body there rose a wondrous, mighty light, blazing forth in every direction on its own radiance; it hovered there in the sky awaiting the Lord's own emergence, and then, in full view of the dwellers of heaven, merged back into him.

Verse 34 (bhagavata.10.12.34)

ततोऽतिहृष्टाः स्वकृतोऽकृतार्हणं पुष्पैः सुगा अप्सरसश्च नर्तनैः । गीतैः सुरा वाद्यधराश्च वाद्यकैः स्तवैश्च विप्रा जयनिःस्वनैर्गणाः ॥ 12.34 ॥

tato ’tihṛṣṭāḥ sva-kṛto ’kṛtārhaṇaṁ puṣpaiḥ sugā apsarasaś ca nartanaiḥ gītaiḥ surā vādya-dharāś ca vādyakaiḥ stavaiś ca viprā jaya-niḥsvanair gaṇāḥ

Then, overjoyed, each honoring him in his own fashion with an offering never given before, the gods rained down flowers, the celestial dancers danced, the singers sang, the musicians played their instruments, the brahmanas offered hymns, and the hosts of gods raised shouts of victory.

Verse 35 (bhagavata.10.12.35)

तदद्भुतस्तोत्रसुवाद्यगीतिका- जयादिनैकोत्सवमङ्गलस्वनान् । श्रुत्वा स्वधाम्नोऽन्त्यज आगतोऽचिराद् दृष्ट्वा महीशस्य जगाम विस्मयम् ॥ 12.35 ॥

tad-adbhuta-stotra-suvādya-gītikā- jayādi-naikotsava-maṅgala-svanān śrutvā sva-dhāmno ’nty aja āgato ’cirād dṛṣṭvā mahīśasya jagāma vismayam

Hearing that auspicious clamor of wondrous hymns, sweet music, song, and cries of victory, the unborn Brahma quickly descended from his own abode — and seeing this glory of the lord of the earth, he too was overcome with astonishment.

Verse 36 (bhagavata.10.12.36)

राजन्नाजगरं चर्म शुष्कं वृन्दावनेऽद्भुतम् । व्रजौकसां बहुतिथं बभूवाक्रीडगह्वरम् ॥ 12.36 ॥

rājann ājagaraṁ carma śuṣkaṁ vṛndāvane ’dbhutam vrajaukasāṁ bahu-tithaṁ babhūvākrīḍa-gahvaram

O King, in Vrindavana the dried-out skin of that python remained for a very long time, an object of wonder that became a favorite playground-cave for the people of Vraja.

Verse 37 (bhagavata.10.12.37)

एतत् कौमारजं कर्म हरेरात्माहिमोक्षणम् । मृत्योः पौगण्डके बाला दृष्ट्वोचुर्विस्मिता व्रजे ॥ 12.37 ॥

etat kaumārajaṁ karma harer ātmāhi-mokṣaṇam mṛtyoḥ paugaṇḍake bālā dṛṣṭvocur vismitā vraje

This deed of Hari's early childhood — in which he saved himself and his companions, and even freed that serpent-demon from death — the boys, grown a little older, told and retold in wonder throughout Vraja, as though it had all just happened.

Verse 38 (bhagavata.10.12.38)

नैतद् विचित्रं मनुजार्भमायिनः परावराणां परमस्य वेधसः । अघोऽपि यत्स्पर्शनधौतपातकः प्रापात्मसाम्यं त्वसतां सुदुर्लभम् ॥ 12.38 ॥

naitad vicitraṁ manujārbha-māyinaḥ parāvarāṇāṁ paramasya vedhasaḥ agho ’pi yat-sparśana-dhauta-pātakaḥ prāpātma-sāmyaṁ tv asatāṁ sudurlabham

For him who takes the guise of a human child, the supreme ordainer of all causes and effects, this is nothing strange at all — that even Agha, whose sins that very touch had already washed away, should attain a closeness to him that the impure can scarcely ever hope for.

Verse 39 (bhagavata.10.12.39)

सकृद् यदङ्गप्रतिमान्तराहिता मनोमयी भागवतीं ददौ गतिम् । स एव नित्यात्मसुखानुभूत्यभि- व्युदस्तमायोऽन्तर्गतो हि किं पुनः ॥ 12.39 ॥

sakṛd yad-aṅga-pratimāntar-āhitā manomayī bhāgavatīṁ dadau gatim sa eva nityātma-sukhānubhūty-abhi- vyudasta-māyo ’ntar-gato hi kiṁ punaḥ

If merely holding his form in the mind, even once, grants that eternal devotional destiny, then what more need be said of those in whose very hearts he dwells, entering there beyond all illusion, together with the constant experience of the self's own bliss?

Verse 40 (bhagavata.10.12.40)

श्रीसूत उवाच इत्थं द्विजा यादवदेवदत्तः श्रुत्वा स्वरातुश्चरितं विचित्रम् । पप्रच्छ भूयोऽपि तदेव पुण्यं वैयासकिं यन्निगृहीतचेताः ॥ 12.40 ॥

śrī-sūta uvāca itthaṁ dvijā yādavadeva-dattaḥ śrutvā sva-rātuś caritaṁ vicitram papraccha bhūyo ’pi tad eva puṇyaṁ vaiyāsakiṁ yan nigṛhīta-cetāḥ

Shri Suta said: O brahmanas, hearing this marvelous tale of his own protector, Parikshit — given by grace of the Lord of the Yadus — asked the son of Vyasa to tell that same holy story once more, so utterly was his mind held captive by it.

Verse 41 (bhagavata.10.12.41)

श्रीराजोवाच ब्रह्मन्कालान्तरकृतं तत्कालीनं कथं भवेत् । यत् कौमारे हरिकृतं जगुः पौगण्डकेऽर्भकाः ॥ 12.41 ॥

śrī-rājovāca brahman kālāntara-kṛtaṁ tat-kālīnaṁ kathaṁ bhavet yat kaumāre hari-kṛtaṁ jaguḥ paugaṇḍake ’rbhakāḥ

The King said: O brahmana, how could a thing that happened long before be spoken of as happening then? Hari performed this deed in his infancy, yet the boys sang of it as recent news when he had already grown into his paugandaka years.

Verse 42 (bhagavata.10.12.42)

तद् ब्रूहि मे महायोगिन्परं कौतूहलं गुरो । नूनमेतद्धरेरेव माया भवति नान्यथा ॥ 12.42 ॥

tad brūhi me mahā-yogin paraṁ kautūhalaṁ guro nūnam etad dharer eva māyā bhavati nānyathā

O great sage, my teacher, tell me the secret of this, for I am filled with the deepest curiosity. Surely this too is nothing but another play of Hari's own illusive power — it can be nothing else.

Verse 43 (bhagavata.10.12.43)

वयं धन्यतमा लोके गुरोऽपि क्षत्रबन्धवः । वयं पिबामो मुहुस्त्वत्तः पुण्यं कृष्णकथामृतम् ॥ 12.43 ॥

vayaṁ dhanyatamā loke guro ’pi kṣatra-bandhavaḥ vayaṁ pibāmo muhus tvattaḥ puṇyaṁ kṛṣṇa-kathāmṛtam

O teacher, mere descendants of kshatriyas though we are, we count ourselves the most fortunate of all in this world, for again and again we drink, from your very lips, the sacred nectar of Krishna's story.

Verse 44 (bhagavata.10.12.44)

श्रीसूत उवाच इत्थं स्म पृष्टः स तु बादरायणि- स्तत्स्मारितानन्तहृताखिलेन्द्रियः । कृच्छ्रात् पुनर्लब्धबहिर्दृशिः शनैः प्रत्याह तं भागवतोत्तमोत्तम ॥ 12.44 ॥

śrī-sūta uvāca itthaṁ sma pṛṣṭaḥ sa tu bādarāyaṇis tat-smāritānanta-hṛtākhilendriyaḥ kṛcchrāt punar labdha-bahir-dṛśiḥ śanaiḥ pratyāha taṁ bhāgavatottamottama

Shri Suta said: O best of the great devotees, questioned thus, Badarayani — his every outward sense drawn utterly inward by the mere remembrance of the Infinite — slowly and with effort regained his outward awareness, and began his reply to the king.