Shloka 13
Pūtanā-mokṣa — The Witch Pūtanā’s Attempt and Kṛṣṇa’s Deliverance
निशाचरीत्थं व्यथितस्तना व्यसु- र्व्यादाय केशांश्चरणौ भुजावपि । प्रसार्य गोष्ठे निजरूपमास्थिता वज्राहतो वृत्र इवापतन्नृप ॥ १३ ॥
niśā-carītthaṁ vyathita-stanā vyasur vyādāya keśāṁś caraṇau bhujāv api prasārya goṣṭhe nija-rūpam āsthitā vajrāhato vṛtra ivāpatan nṛpa
Ainsi, la rākṣasī Pūtanā, cruellement tourmentée parce que Kṛṣṇa attaquait son sein, rendit la vie. Ô roi Parīkṣit, la bouche grande ouverte, les cheveux, les bras et les jambes étendus, elle s’abattit dans le pâturage sous sa forme véritable de rākṣasī, comme Vṛtrāsura tombé sous le vajra d’Indra.
Pūtanā was a great Rākṣasī who knew the art of covering her original form by mystic power, but when she was killed her mystic power could not hide her, and she appeared in her original form.
FAQs
This verse describes Pūtanā dying in agony, revealing her true gigantic demon form, and collapsing in Gokula—showing Krishna’s divine power even as an infant.
The comparison highlights the sudden, decisive fall of a powerful demon—Pūtanā collapses helplessly, just as Vṛtrāsura was felled by Indra’s vajra.
Even great danger is overcome when one takes shelter of the Supreme; the Bhagavatam emphasizes seeking divine protection through sincere devotion rather than fear.