Text 19] The Killing of the Demon Aghasura 283

spot of Vrndavana. 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

ore fertth wea aerge ge: Perey |
FARIA IAM SSI A aT WAM

aho mitrani gadata
sattva-kiitam purah sthitam

asmat-sarngrasana-vyatta-
vydla-tunddyate na vd

aho—oh; mitrdni—friends; gadata—just let us know; sattva-
kitam—dead python; purah sthitam—as it is just before us all; asmmat—
all of us; sarigrasana—to devour us altogether; vydtta-vydla-tunda-
yate—the python has spread its mouth; na vd—whether it is a fact or
not.

TRANSLATION

The boys said: Dear friends, is this creature dead, or is it ac-
tually 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 won-
derful creature laying before them. Was it dead, or was it actually a liv-
ing python trying to swallow them up?
