PLATE FIFTEEN
One day a great demon named Aghāsura appeared in Vṛndāvana. Having been sent by King Kaṁsa to kill Kṛṣṇa, Aghāsura assumed the form of a huge python, as thick as a big mountain and as long as eight miles. He spread his mouth like a big mountain cave and laid down on the road, expecting to swallow Kṛṣṇa and His cowherd boy friends. Upon seeing this wonderful demon, the cowherd boys were unafraid. On the contrary, at first they thought that it was a statue made in the shape of a great python for their enjoyment. Then they began to discuss the demon among themselves. “Dear friends,” said one boy, “is this creature dead, or is it actually a living python with its mouth spread wide just to swallow us all? Kindly clear up this doubt.” At last they decided that the creature was indeed a huge python who intended to swallow them up. Then one boy began to point out the unusual features of the creature: “Dear friends, just see, this creature’s upper lip resembles a cloud reddened by the sunshine, and its lower lip resembles the reddish shadows of the cloud. On the left and right, the two depressions resembling mountain caves are the corners of its mouth, and the high mountain peaks are its teeth.” Then all the boys said, “If this creature tries to swallow us, Kṛṣṇa will immediately kill him, just as He killed Bakāsura.” Thus, looking at the beautiful face of Kṛṣṇa and laughing loudly and clapping their hands, the boys entered the mouth of Aghāsura. ( pp. 278–86 )