Shloka 16

Pūtanā-mokṣa — The Witch Pūtanā’s Attempt and Kṛṣṇa’s Deliverance

Devanagari script

ईषामात्रोग्रदंष्ट्रास्यं गिरिकन्दरनासिकम् । गण्डशैलस्तनं रौद्रं प्रकीर्णारुणमूर्धजम् ॥ १५ ॥ अन्धकूपगभीराक्षं पुलिनारोहभीषणम् । बद्धसेतुभुजोर्वङ्‍‍घ्रि शून्यतोयह्रदोदरम् ॥ १६ ॥ सन्तत्रसु: स्म तद्वीक्ष्य गोपा गोप्य: कलेवरम् । पूर्वं तु तन्नि:स्वनितभिन्नहृत्कर्णमस्तका: ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

īṣā-mātrogra-daṁṣṭrāsyaṁ giri-kandara-nāsikam gaṇḍa-śaila-stanaṁ raudraṁ prakīrṇāruṇa-mūrdhajam

Translation

羅刹女の口は鋤の先のような歯で満たされ、鼻孔は山の洞窟のように深く、乳房は丘から落ちた巨石のようであった。乱れた髪は銅色をしていた。眼窩は深い古井戸のように見え、恐ろしい太腿は川岸のようであり、手足は大きな橋のように、腹部は干上がった湖のように見えた。

Synonyms

• ईषा-मात्र-उग्र-दंष्ट्रा-आस्यम्: a face with fierce fangs, only slightly (visible)
• ईषा-मात्र-उग्र-दंष्ट्रा-आस्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईषा (प्रातिपदिक) + मात्रा (प्रातिपदिक) + उग्र (प्रातिपदिक) + दंष्ट्रा (प्रातिपदिक) + आस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (descriptive): 'ईषामात्रा' (only a little) + 'उग्रदंष्ट्रा' (with fierce fangs) qualifying 'आस्यम्' (mouth/face)

• गिरि-कन्दर-नासिकम्: having a nose like a mountain cave
• गिरि-कन्दर-नासिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गिरि (प्रातिपदिक) + कन्दर (प्रातिपदिक) + नासिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय: 'गिरिकन्दर' (mountain-cave-like) qualifying 'नासिकम्' (nose)

• गण्ड-शैल-स्तनम्: with cheeks and breasts like rocks
• गण्ड-शैल-स्तनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + शैल (प्रातिपदिक) + स्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय: 'शैल' (rock-like) qualifying 'गण्ड' (cheek) and 'स्तन' (breast) as a descriptive cluster

• रौद्रम्: terrible, fierce
• रौद्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रौद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (adjectival)

• प्रकीर्ण-अरुण-मूर्धजम्: with scattered reddish hair
• प्रकीर्ण-अरुण-मूर्धजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रकीर्ण (कृदन्त; √कॄ/किर् 'to scatter' + क्त) + अरुण (प्रातिपदिक) + मूर्धज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय: 'अरुणमूर्धज' (reddish hair) qualified by 'प्रकीर्ण' (scattered/dishevelled)

Characters & Entities

• Pūtanā
• Gopas
• Gopīs

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Pūtanā’s terrifying form?

This verse describes Pūtanā’s dead body as monstrously huge—cave-like nostrils, rocky cheeks, boulder-like breasts, and wild reddish hair—showing the frightening reality of her demoniac nature.

Why is Pūtanā described with mountain and rock imagery in Bhagavatam?

The comparisons emphasize her enormous size after death and the sheer dread her presence caused in Vraja, highlighting how Kṛṣṇa protected the cowherd community from an overwhelming threat.

Practical application of the Pūtanā episode in modern life?

It teaches vigilance against hidden harm (poison disguised as care) and reinforces faith that sincere dependence on Kṛṣṇa brings protection even in seemingly impossible situations.