Shloka 33
Pūtanā-mokṣa — The Witch Pūtanā’s Attempt and Kṛṣṇa’s Deliverance
कलेवरं परशुभिश्छित्त्वा तत्ते व्रजौकस: । दूरे क्षिप्त्वावयवशो न्यदहन् काष्ठवेष्टितम् ॥ ३३ ॥
kalevaraṁ paraśubhiś chittvā tat te vrajaukasaḥ dūre kṣiptvāvayavaśo nyadahan kāṣṭha-veṣṭitam
Die Bewohner von Vraja zerhackten den riesigen Körper von Putana mit Äxten. Dann warfen sie die Stücke weit weg, bedeckten sie mit Holz und verbrannten sie.
It is the practice that after a snake has been killed, its body is cut into various pieces for fear that it may come to life again simply by interacting with air. Merely killing a serpent is not sufficient; after it is killed, it must be cut to pieces and burned, and then the danger will be over. Pūtanā resembled a great serpent, and therefore the cowherd men took the same precautions by burning her body to ashes.
FAQs
It says the Vrajavāsīs cut Pūtanā’s body with axes, threw the limbs far away, and then burned the remains wrapped in firewood.
After the demoness was slain, they disposed of her huge, dangerous body by cutting it up and burning it—an act of practical protection and purification for the village.
Remove harmful influences decisively and completely—don’t keep “toxic remnants” around; take clear steps that protect devotional life and the community.