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----- bhagap260.html
AGHA OR THE SERPENT.
SKAXDIIA X. CHAP. 12.
One day Krishna was playing with the boys in the forest.
Agha, the youngest born of Putnna and Baka, the Asura whom even
the Devas, rendered immortal by Amnta, dreaded, burning with a
spirit of revenge at the death of his brother and sister, thought of killing
Krishna and all his attendants. He stretched himself forth as a huge
serpent, spreading over one yojana, the extremities of his open mouth
touching the clouds and the earth. The Gopa boys took the Asura
to be the goddess of Vrindavana. " Or if it really be a serpent open-
ing its mouth to kill us, it will instantly be killed like the Asura
Vaka." So with their eyes fixed on Krishna they clapped their
hands and with a smile entered the mouth of the serpent, even before
Krishna had time to warn them. The Asura still waited with its
mouth open for Krishna. Krishna thought how he could kill the ser-
pent and at the same time save his companions.
On reflection, he himself entered the mouth of the serpent
and stretched himself and his comrades. The Asura lost breath and
breathed his last. A shining spirit emerged from the Asura body and
entered the body of Krishna. Krishna gave fresh life to his comrades
by his Amrita bearing looks.
Krishna killed Agha in his fifth year, but the Gopa boys who
witnessed the act said, when Krishna entered his sixth year, that the
act was done that very day.
"How could that be? " enquired Parikshit
Suka explained this with reference to the following story.
BRAHMA AND KRISHNA.
SKANDHA X. CHAP. 13-14.
When the Asura Agha was killed, Krishna went with his com-
panions to the river bank and said:
"We are hungry, the hour is late. Let us have our meals here.
Let the calves drink water and graze on near lands." The Gopa boys
spread out their stores and improvised plates for eating. While they
were engaged in eating, the calves strayed away. The boys became
anxious and were about to get up, when Krishna stopped them, saying
he would find the calves. He left his companions and went on
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