Shloka 17
Pūtanā-mokṣa — The Witch Pūtanā’s Attempt and Kṛṣṇa’s Deliverance
ईषामात्रोग्रदंष्ट्रास्यं गिरिकन्दरनासिकम् । गण्डशैलस्तनं रौद्रं प्रकीर्णारुणमूर्धजम् ॥ १५ ॥ अन्धकूपगभीराक्षं पुलिनारोहभीषणम् । बद्धसेतुभुजोर्वङ्घ्रि शून्यतोयह्रदोदरम् ॥ १६ ॥ सन्तत्रसु: स्म तद्वीक्ष्य गोपा गोप्य: कलेवरम् । पूर्वं तु तन्नि:स्वनितभिन्नहृत्कर्णमस्तका: ॥ १७ ॥
īṣā-mātrogra-daṁṣṭrāsyaṁ giri-kandara-nāsikam gaṇḍa-śaila-stanaṁ raudraṁ prakīrṇāruṇa-mūrdhajam
The Rākṣasī’s mouth was full of teeth, each resembling the front of a plow, her nostrils were deep like mountain caves, and her breasts resembled big slabs of stone fallen from a hill. Her scattered hair was the color of copper. The sockets of her eyes appeared like deep blind wells, her fearful thighs resembled the banks of a river, her arms, legs and feet seemed like big bridges, and her abdomen appeared like a dried-up lake.
FAQs
Bhagavatam 10.6.15 describes Pūtanā’s corpse as colossal and dreadful—her mouth like a chasm, nostrils like mountain caves, and hair scattered—emphasizing the horror of the demoness and the wonder of Krishna’s victory.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrates these verses to Mahārāja Parīkṣit while recounting Krishna’s childhood pastimes and the liberation of Pūtanā.
Even when danger appears overwhelming, remembrance of Krishna and devotion cultivate inner fearlessness, because the Lord can neutralize threats far beyond human capacity.