aho mitrÄṇi gadata
sattva-kūṭaṠpuraḥ sthitam
asmat-saá¹…grasana-vyÄtta-
vyÄla-tuṇá¸Äyate na vÄ

 aho - oh; mitrÄṇi - friends; gadata - just let us know; sattva-kūṭam - dead python; puraḥ sthitam - as it is just before us all; asmat - all of us; saá¹…grasana - to devour us altogether; vyÄtta-vyÄla-tuṇá¸Ä-yate - the python has spread its mouth; na vÄ - whether it is a fact or not.


Text

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?