Shloka 12
Pūtanā-mokṣa — The Witch Pūtanā’s Attempt and Kṛṣṇa’s Deliverance
तस्या: स्वनेनातिगभीररंहसा साद्रिर्मही द्यौश्च चचाल सग्रहा । रसा दिशश्च प्रतिनेदिरे जना: पेतु: क्षितौ वज्रनिपातशङ्कया ॥ १२ ॥
tasyāḥ svanenātigabhīra-raṁhasā sādrir mahī dyauś ca cacāla sa-grahā rasā diśaś ca pratinedire janāḥ petuḥ kṣitau vajra-nipāta-śaṅkayā
By Pūtanā’s exceedingly deep and forceful scream, the earth with its mountains and the sky with its planets trembled. The lower worlds and all directions resounded, and people fell to the ground, fearing that thunderbolts were crashing down.
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura remarks that in this verse the word rasā refers to the planetary systems below the earth, such as Rasātala, Atala, Vitala, Sutala and Talātala.
FAQs
This verse describes that Pūtanā’s terrifying cry shook the earth, mountains, and even the sky with the planets, while the oceans and directions echoed—so intense that people fell down fearing a thunderbolt strike.
He highlights the extraordinary, supernatural magnitude of the event—Pūtanā was a powerful demoness, and her fall marks a dramatic moment in Kṛṣṇa’s childhood līlā and His protection of Vraja.
Even when fear and upheaval seem overwhelming, the Bhagavatam reminds devotees that divine protection can operate beyond ordinary perception—encouraging steadiness, prayer, and trust in Kṛṣṇa during crisis.