Shreemad Bhagavat Mahapuran- Canto: 10, Chapters: 6-7
Shukadevji tells Parikshit that when Nand Baba was returning from Mathura, he began reflecting on the way, “Whatever Vasudevji said cannot be false.” This thought made him uneasy, sensing that some disturbance might arise. Then, he resolved in his mind, “Bhagwan alone is the supreme refuge. He alone will protect us.”
There was a cruel rakshasi (demoness) named Putna, whose only occupation was to kill infants. On the orders of Kans, she would roam through towns, villages, and the settlements of the cowherds, seeking babies to kill.
Wherever people fail to dispel the fear of rakshas by listening to, chanting, or remembering the names, glories, and pastimes of Bhagwan, there such demonic forces become powerful.
Putna could travel through the sky and assume any form she wished. One day, she reached near Nand Baba’s Gokul and, using her maya (illusion), transformed herself into a beautiful young woman and entered Gokul.
She had adorned herself magnificently; her hair was braided with jasmine flowers, she wore fine garments, and her earrings shone so brightly that the curls falling on her face looked even more radiant. Her hips and bosom were full, and her waist slender. With her sweet smile and enchanting glances, she began to captivate the hearts of the Brajvasis. Seeing her carrying a lotus in her hand, the gopis whispered among themselves, “It seems as if Goddess Lakshmi Herself has come to meet Her Lord.”
Putna was like an ominous planet for children. Searching for infants here and there, she entered Nand Baba’s house without a second thought. There she saw baby Shree Krishna lying peacefully on His bed.
Shukadevji says, “Bhagwan Shree Krishna is the death of all evil beings. Yet at that moment, just as fire lies hidden under a heap of ashes, He concealed His divine splendour.”
Since Bhagwan Shree Krishna is the indwelling soul (Atma) of all beings, He immediately knew that this was Putna, the killer of infants. He closed His eyes, feigning innocence, just as a man might, by mistake, lift up a sleeping serpent, thinking it to be a rope. Thus, Putna unknowingly took in her arms Bhagwan Krishna, the very embodiment of Time and Death.
Putna’s heart was wicked and deceitful, yet outwardly she appeared so gentle and charming that anyone would be easily deceived. Like a sharp sword sheathed in velvet, her cruelty was hidden beneath a sweet exterior. She looked like a noble lady, and when Rohini and Yashoda Maiya saw her entering, they were momentarily stunned by her beauty and grace. They felt no suspicion and remained silent, simply watching her.
The terrible rakshasi Putna then lifted baby Krishna in her arms and placed her poisoned breast into His mouth. That milk was laced with deadly venom fatal for any infant. But Bhagwan Krishna, assuming wrath as His ally, gripped her breasts tightly with His little hands and began to suck, drinking not only her milk but her very life-force. As He did so, the vital points of her body burst with unbearable pain. She screamed in agony, “Leave me! Leave me! Enough now!”
Putna thrashed her arms and legs, crying out loudly. Her eyes rolled back, sweat poured down her body, and her terrifying shriek resounded across the universe. Mountains trembled, the Earth quaked, the celestial spheres wavered, and all directions echoed with her roar. People were terrified, thinking thunderbolts might fall from the sky, and many fainted in fear.
The pain in her breasts became so unbearable that she could no longer hide her demonic form. She revealed her true rakshasi appearance, her body expanded monstrously, her mouth gaping wide, her hair dishevelled, limbs spread far apart. Like Vritrasur struck by Indra’s thunderbolt, she collapsed with a thunderous crash in the cowshed outside.
Her body was so immense that, as she fell, she crushed trees over an area of about six kosh (approximately 48 miles). Everyone was struck with awe and disbelief; truly, it was a most astonishing sight!
Putna’s body looked horrifying. Her mouth was sharp like a plough-blade, her teeth dreadful, her nostrils deep like mountain caves, and her breasts were as large as boulders. Her red hair was scattered everywhere, her eyes sunken like dark wells, her hips terrifying like riverbanks, her limbs like massive bridges, and her belly resembled a dried lake.
Seeing that dreadful body, all the cowherds and gopis were terrified. Her dreadful screams had already pierced their hearts, ears, and heads. But when the gopis saw little Krishna fearlessly playing on Putna’s chest, their fright grew even greater. They rushed forward, quickly lifted Him into their arms, and anxiously checked whether the child had been harmed by her touch.
Then, Mother Yashoda, Rohini, and the other gopis began performing traditional rites to protect baby Krishna. They bathed Him in gomutra (cow’s urine), applied sacred cow-dust and cow-dung to His body, and chanted holy names like Keshav while marking His limbs for divine protection.
After purifying themselves with achaman, the gopis recited the eleven bija mantras, energised their hands and bodies through nyasa, and invoked divine energy on Krishna’s limbs for protection.
They then prayed to the various forms of Bhagwan Vishnu to safeguard every part of Krishna’s being, His body, mind, intellect, life-force, and senses. They invoked Keshav, Narayan, Madhav, Hrishikesha, and other forms, praying that no demon, ghost, planet, or disease could harm their beloved child, and that all such evils be destroyed by the power of Bhagwan’s names.
Shukadevji says that Mother Yashoda then nursed her child and lovingly laid Him to sleep in the cradle. Just then, Nand Baba and the cowherds returned from Mathura. Seeing Putna’s monstrous corpse, they were astonished. They exclaimed, “This is indeed marvellous! Surely Vasudevji must be a sage or a realised yogi, for everything he foretold has now come true.”
The Brajvasis then cut Putna’s enormous body into pieces with axes, carried it outside Gokul, and burned it on a pile of wood. As it burned, a fragrance like sandalwood spread through the air, for Bhagwan Krishna had drunk her poisoned milk, and thus all her sins were destroyed instantly.
Putna was a rakshasi whose nature was to kill infants and drink their blood. Though she had nursed Krishna with the intent to kill Him, by His grace, she attained the same supreme destination that great saints receive. Therefore, those devotees who offer their dearest possessions or acts of love to Bhagwan Krishna with motherly affection and faith receive infinitely greater rewards.
The feet of Bhagwan Krishna are worshipped even by Brahma, Shiva, and the devas, and those very feet had touched Putna’s body, purifying her completely. Though she was a demoness, she attained the exalted state of motherhood. Then how much more blessed must be the gopis and the cows of Braj, whose milk Krishna lovingly drank! Bhagwan Krishna is the Supreme Soul, the giver of liberation and of every blessing. He drank the milk of the gopis and cows that flowed out of their maternal love for Him. Those who see Krishna as their own child in this way are forever freed from the cycle of birth and death.
When Nand Baba and the Brajvasis were returning to Gokul, they smelled a sweet fragrance rising from the smoke of the funeral pyre. They wondered, “What is this aroma?”
Upon reaching Gokul, the gopis narrated everything from Putna’s arrival to her destruction. Hearing this, they were overwhelmed with wonder and joy to find Krishna unharmed. Nand Baba lifted his dear child in his arms, smelled His head repeatedly, and felt immense happiness in his heart.
After hearing the story of Putna’s deliverance, King Parikshit humbly says, “O revered one! Bhagwan Shree Hari, the all-powerful, manifests innumerable beautiful and delightful pastimes through His countless incarnations. Listening to His divine deeds purifies the heart, ends worldly cravings, and awakens devotion to His feet and love for His devotees. If you deem me worthy, please narrate those enchanting pastimes of Bhagwan.”
Shukadevji continues that once, when Bhagwan Shree Krishna’s turning-over ceremony was being celebrated, it also happened to be the day of His birth-star. The house was filled with music, songs, and joy. The women were rejoicing, and Mother Yashoda herself was bathing and anointing her son. The Brahmins chanted blessings, and they were offered abundant food, garments, garlands, cows, and gifts.
After all rituals were completed, Yashoda saw that her little one was sleepy, so she lovingly laid Him in the cradle and began attending to the guests.
After a while, Krishna awoke and began to cry for milk, but Yashoda Maiya, busy with the festival, did not hear Him. The baby Krishna, crying, began to move His tiny legs. He was lying under a cart (chakda) loaded with pots of milk and curd. As His little foot touched the cart, it overturned! The pots broke, the wheels scattered, and the whole cart fell apart.
Everyone was startled. Yashoda, Rohini, Nand Baba, and the women exclaimed, “How did this cart fall on its own?” No one could understand the cause.
Then the children playing nearby said, “Oh! Krishna kicked it with His foot; it fell because of Him!” But the elders dismissed their words as childish, not realising that this baby was the Supreme Bhagwan Himself.
Yashoda Maiya thought it to be some graha dosha (planetary disturbance). She took Krishna into her arms, had Brahmins chant Vedic mantras for His protection, and then nursed Him. The cowherds righted the cart, rearranged the goods, and performed worship with offerings and havan.
Nand Baba, believing that the blessings of Brahmins never go in vain, took his son in his lap and performed abhishek with Vedic chants. He fed the Brahmins sumptuously and gifted them many decorated cows, praying for his son’s long life and prosperity.
Some time later, as mother Yashoda fondly held her beloved child, Krishna’s body suddenly became as heavy as a mountain. She could no longer bear the weight and gently placed Him on the ground, astonished. Bowing to the Supreme Purushottam, she resumed her household duties in wonder.
Summary: JKYog India Online Class- Shreemad Bhagavat Katha [Hindi]- 27.10.2025
