Chapter Six Aghāsura-mokṣa The Liberation of Aghāsura

Śrī Nārada said: Once, as, near the beauitful Yamunā, with the boys He was herding the calves, Kṛṣṇa enjoyed the pastimes of childhood.

A great demon named Aghāsura stayed there. His body was two miles long and his mouth wide open.

From afar they saw him, his body like a great mountain. Approaching, and clapping their hands, they entered his mouth with the calves.

hā-śabdo 'bhūt surāṇāṁ tu daityānāṁ harṣa eva hi kṛṣṇo vapuḥ svaṁ vairājaṁ tatānāghodare tataḥ tad-rakṣārthaṁ-to protect them; ca—and; sa-bālaḥ—with the boys; tan-mukhe—in his mouth; praviśat—entered; hariḥ—Lord Kṛṣṇa; nigīrṇeṣu—swallowed; sa-vatseṣu—with the calves; bāleṣu—and boys; tv—indeed; ahi-rūpiṇā—in the form of a snake; hā—of ala; śabdaḥ—the sound; abhūt—weas; surāṇām—of the demigods; tu—indeed; daityānām—of the demons; harṣa—joy; eva—indeed; hi—indeed; kṛṣṇaḥ—Kṛṣṇa; vapuḥ—form; svam—own; vairājam—universal; tatāna—manifested; agha—of Agha; udare—in the belly; tataḥ—then. To protect them, Kṛṣṇa entered the mouth along with the boys. When the demon in the form of a snake had swallowed the boys and calves, the demigods cried out, "Alas!" and the demons became happy. Then Kṛṣṇa expanded His universal form inside Aghāsura's stomach.

It's movements stopped, the demon's life-breath broke through the demon's skull and left. Then Kṛṣṇa and the boys and calves left his mouth, O king of Mithilā.

With a glance Kṛṣṇa brought the boys and calves to life. Then a light that was like a lightning flash (left the demon's body) and entered Kṛṣṇa, who was dark as a monsoon cloud.

O king, then the demigods showered flowers. After hearing the sage's words, the king of Mithilā spoke.

The king said: Who was this demon in his previous birth that he was able to enter Lord Kṛṣṇa? Simply by hating Him, this demon quickly attained Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Śrī Nārada said: O king, he was Śaṅkhacūḍa's son, and his name was Agha. He was young, strong, and very handsome. He was like another Kāmadeva.

When he saw the disfigured sage Aṣṭavakra Muni walking by the Malaya Hills, Agha laughed and said, "Who is this ugly person?"

Then the sage cursed the demon Agha: "O wicked-hearted one, you will become a snake. You will be the ugliest snake in the circle of the earth."

Seeing that the demon, his pride and arrogance now gone, had fallen at his feet, the sage became pleased with him and gave him a benediction.

Śrī Aṣṭavakta said: Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who is more handsome than many millions of Kāmadevas, will enter your stomach. Then you will be free from having a snake's form.

By Aṣṭavakra's curse Aghāsura became a snake, and by Aṣṭavakra's blessing Aghāsura attained a liberation even the demigods cannot attain.

Hearing how in only a few days Kṛṣṇa was rescued from Vatsāsura, Bakāsura's beak, and now from Aghāsura, Yaśodā became filled with fears.

navopanandān nandāṁś ca vṛṣabhānūn vrajeśvarān samāhuya tad-agre ca vacaḥ prāha yaśomatī kalāvatīm—Kalāvatī; rohiṇīm—Rohiṇī; ca—and; gopī-gopānvayādhikān—the most important gopas and gopīs; vṛṣabhānu-varam—King Vṛṣabhānu; gopam—the gopa; nandarājam—King Nanda; vrajeśvaram—the master of Vraja; nava—nine; upanandān—Upanandas; nandān—Nandas; ca—and; vṛṣabhānūn—the Vṛṣabhānus; vrajeśvarān—the rulers of Vraja; samāhuya—calling; tad-agre—in their presence; ca—and; vacaḥ—words; prāha—said; yaśomatī—Yaśodā. Calling together Kalāvatī, Rohiṇī, the most important gopas and gopīs, the gopa king Vṛṣabhānu, Vraja's king Nanda, the nine Upanandas, the Nandas, the Vṛṣabhānus, and the various leaders of Vraja, Yaśodā spoke to them.

navopanandān nandāṁś ca vṛṣabhānūn vrajeśvarān samāhuya tad-agre ca vacaḥ prāha yaśomatī kalāvatīm—Kalāvatī; rohiṇīm—Rohiṇī; ca—and; gopī-gopānvayādhikān—the most important gopas and gopīs; vṛṣabhānu-varam—King Vṛṣabhānu; gopam—the gopa; nandarājam—King Nanda; vrajeśvaram—the master of Vraja; nava—nine; upanandān—Upanandas; nandān—Nandas; ca—and; vṛṣabhānūn—the Vṛṣabhānus; vrajeśvarān—the rulers of Vraja; samāhuya—calling; tad-agre—in their presence; ca—and; vacaḥ—words; prāha—said; yaśomatī—Yaśodā. Calling together Kalāvatī, Rohiṇī, the most important gopas and gopīs, the gopa king Vṛṣabhānu, Vraja's king Nanda, the nine Upanandas, the Nandas, the Vṛṣabhānus, and the various leaders of Vraja, Yaśodā spoke to them.

Śrī Yaśodā said: What shall I do? Where shall I go? How will I be happy? Moment after moment many calamities have fallen on my son.

First we left Mahāvana and came to Vṛndāvana. If we leave Vṛndāvana to what safe country, where there will be no fearful calamities, could we go? Please tell me.

When He plays, my restless boy goes far away. All the boys are restless. I am not the only one to say that.

Powerful and sharp-beaked Bakāsura swallowed my boy. Somehow He was rescued. Another day Aghāsura swallowed my boy and all the other boys.

When he tried to kill my boy, Vatsāsura was himself killed by his own fate. Now I do not allow my boy to go outside to care for the calves.

Śrī Nārada said: Glancing at Yaśodā as she spoke these words and wept, Nanda, who was the best of the pious and who understood the true meaning of religion, spoke to her. He comforted her by repeating the words of Garga Muni.

Nanda Mahārāja said: O Yaśodā, you have completely forgotten Garga Muni's words. The words of the brāhmaṇas are always true. They are never untrue.

Therefore charity should be given. That will dispel all calamities. There has never been nor will there ever be a source of good fortune better than giving charity.

Śrī Nārada said: O king, on behalf of her boy and Balarāma, Yaśodā then gave to the brāhmaṇas great wealth, seven kinds of precious jewels, and even her own ornaments.