Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 29
Pūtanā-mokṣa — The Witch Pūtanā’s Attempt and Kṛṣṇa’s Deliverance
डाकिन्यो यातुधान्यश्च कुष्माण्डा येऽर्भकग्रहा: । भूतप्रेतपिशाचाश्च यक्षरक्षोविनायका: ॥ २७ ॥ कोटरा रेवती ज्येष्ठा पूतना मातृकादय: । उन्मादा ये ह्यपस्मारा देहप्राणेन्द्रियद्रुह: ॥ २८ ॥ स्वप्नदृष्टा महोत्पाता वृद्धा बालग्रहाश्च ये । सर्वे नश्यन्तु ते विष्णोर्नामग्रहणभीरव: ॥ २९ ॥
ḍākinyo yātudhānyaś ca kuṣmāṇḍā ye ’rbhaka-grahāḥ bhūta-preta-piśācāś ca yakṣa-rakṣo-vināyakāḥ
The evil witches known as Ḍākinīs, Yātudhānīs and Kuṣmāṇḍas are the greatest enemies of children, and the evil spirits like Bhūtas, Pretas, Piśācas, Yakṣas, Rākṣasas and Vināyakas, as well as witches like Koṭarā, Revatī, Jyeṣṭhā, Pūtanā and Mātṛkā, are always ready to give trouble to the body, the life air and the senses, causing loss of memory, madness and bad dreams. Like the most experienced evil stars, they all create great disturbances, especially for children, but one can vanquish them simply by uttering Lord Viṣṇu’s name, for when Lord Viṣṇu’s name resounds, all of them become afraid and go away.
As stated in the Brahma-saṁhitā (5.33) :
FAQs
This verse lists various harmful beings and invokes divine protection, implying that such influences are countered by devotion and remembrance of the Lord.
In the Putanā narrative, Vraja’s elders express motherly concern and perform protective acts, highlighting that Krishna is protected by the Lord’s own divine power even amid perceived dangers.
Cultivate steadiness through prayer, chanting, and sattvic living—turning fear into remembrance of God and disciplined spiritual practice.