अहो मित्राणि गदत सत्त्वकूटं पुरः स्थितम् ।
अस्मत्सङ्ग्रसनव्यात्त व्यालतुण्डायते न वा ॥ १९ ॥
sattva-kutam purah sthitam
aho-oh; mitrani-friends; gadata-just let us know; sattva-kutam-dead python; purah sthitam-as it is just before us all; asmat-all of us; saṅgrasana-to devour us altogether; vyatta-vyala-tunda-yate-the python has spread its mouth; na va-whether it is a fact or not.
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.
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?