Śrī Kṛṣṇa's Līlās – Kṛṣṇa Kills Aghāsura, the Giant Python Demon
Story So Far
Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma are now fully immersed in their joyful cowherd life in Vṛndāvana—tending calves, playing in the forests, delighting the villagers, and effortlessly protecting Vraja from hidden dangers. After the fall of Bakāsura, Kaṁsa's hatred deepens, and he sends yet another terrible asura.
Aghāsura Arrives in Vṛndāvana
One day, while Kṛṣṇa and all His friends were playing in the forest, the evil Aghāsura appeared. He was the younger brother of Pūtanā and Bakāsura, and seeing Kṛṣṇa surrounded by happy boys and calves filled him with unbearable anger. "This Kṛṣṇa is the killer of my brother and sister," he thought. "Let me kill Him and all His friends at once—then the hearts of Vraja will break."
Filled with wicked intent, Aghāsura transformed into a monstrous python, stretching for miles. His lower lip rested on the earth; his upper lip touched the clouds. His teeth stood like cliffs, his vast tongue lay like a long red road, his breath blew hot like desert wind, and the inside of his mouth was dark as a cave. To the innocent cowherd boys, it looked like a giant game.
"Look! A dead python! Let's explore! That must be his tongue! See the teeth—just like mountains!"
Laughing and clapping, thinking it only a strange natural wonder, the boys and calves walked straight into his mouth.
But Kṛṣṇa knew the danger. He saw through the illusion. He saw the asura waiting, ready to crush His friends in a single swallow.
Kṛṣṇa Enters the Asura
Aghāsura waited for only one thing—Kṛṣṇa Himself. Kṛṣṇa paused, His heart filled with compassion. "These boys depend only on Me. I must save them, and also destroy this evil asura." Then He entered the gaping mouth.
From the heavens, the devas cried, "Alas! Alas!" Kaṁsa's allies rejoiced. But the Lord of all worlds never falters.
Inside the python's throat, Kṛṣṇa suddenly expanded Himself, growing larger and larger until the demon's airway shut tight. Aghāsura's enormous body locked, swelled, and burst—the life air shooting out through the crown of his skull. The demon died instantly.
The Deliverance of Aghāsura
Inside the lifeless body of the demon, the boys and calves had fallen unconscious. Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Protector, revived them perfectly, as if awakening them from a gentle sleep. Then, carrying them with Him, He walked out of the python's open mouth.
At once, a brilliant light rose from the demon's body—pure, radiant, freed. Before the astonished demigods, the light entered Kṛṣṇa Himself, attaining liberation. The heavens erupted in celebration. Celestial flowers showered down. Gandharvas sang. Apsarās danced. Drums and conches rang across the sky.
Even Lord Brahmā, hearing the wondrous sounds, came to witness the glory of Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
Meaning for Devotional Hearts
- Kṛṣṇa protects His devotees even in dangers they cannot see or understand.
- The Lord's compassion is so vast that even a demon who tries to kill Him can receive liberation by His touch.