Text 19] The Killing of the Demon Aghāsura
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spot of Vṛndāvana. Thereafter, they imagined it to be similar to the mouth of a great python. In other words, the boys, unafraid, thought that it was a statue made in the shape of a great python for the enjoyment of their pastimes.
PURPORT
Some of the boys, upon seeing this wonderful phenomenon, thought that it was in fact a python, and they were fleeing from the spot. But others said, “Why are you fleeing? It is not possible that a python like this is staying here. This is a spot of beauty for sporting.” This is what they imagined.
TEXT 19
अहो मित्राणि गदत सच्चकूटं पुरः स्थितम् । असत्संग्रसनव्यात्तव्यालतुण्डायते न वा ॥१९॥
aho mitrāṇi gadata sattva-kūṭam puraḥ sthitam asmat-saṅgrasana-vyātta- vyāla-tuṇḍāyate na vā
aho—oh; mitrāṇi—friends; gadata—just let us know; sattva-kūṭam—dead python; puraḥ sthitam—as it is just before us all; asmat—all of us; saṅgrasana—to devour us altogether; vyātta-vyāla-tuṇḍāyate—the python has spread its mouth; na vā—whether it is a fact or not.
TRANSLATION
The boys said: Dear friends, 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.
PURPORT
The friends began to discuss among themselves the reality of the wonderful creature laying before them. Was it dead, or was it actually a living python trying to swallow them up?