aho mitrÄṇi gadata
sattva-kÅ«á¹aá¹ puraḥ sthitam
asmat-saá¹…grasana-vyÄtta-
vyÄla-tuṇá¸Äyate na vÄ
aho - oh; mitrÄṇi - friends; gadata - just let us know; sattva-kÅ«á¹am - 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.
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?