Shloka 35
Pūtanā-mokṣa — The Witch Pūtanā’s Attempt and Kṛṣṇa’s Deliverance
पूतना लोकबालघ्नी राक्षसी रुधिराशना । जिघांसयापि हरये स्तनं दत्त्वाप सद्गतिम् ॥ ३५ ॥ किं पुन: श्रद्धया भक्त्या कृष्णाय परमात्मने । यच्छन् प्रियतमं किं नु रक्तास्तन्मातरो यथा ॥ ३६ ॥
pūtanā loka-bāla-ghnī rākṣasī rudhirāśanā jighāṁsayāpi haraye stanaṁ dattvāpa sad-gatim
കുഞ്ഞുങ്ങളെ കൊല്ലുന്ന രാക്ഷസിയായിരുന്നിട്ടും പൂതനയ്ക്ക് കൃഷ്ണന് മുലപ്പാൽ നൽകിയതിലൂടെ മോക്ഷം ലഭിച്ചു. അങ്ങനെയെങ്കിൽ ഭക്തിയോടെ കൃഷ്ണനെ സ്നേഹിക്കുന്ന അമ്മമാരുടെ കാര്യം പറയേണ്ടതുണ്ടോ?
Pūtanā had no affection for Kṛṣṇa; rather, she was envious and wanted to kill Him. Nonetheless, because with or without knowledge she offered her breast, she attained the highest achievement in life. But the offerings of devotees attracted to Kṛṣṇa in parental love are always sincere. A mother likes to offer something to her child with affection and love; there is no question of envy. So here we can make a comparative study. If Pūtanā could attain such an exalted position in spiritual life by neglectfully, enviously making an offering to Kṛṣṇa, what is to be said of mother Yaśodā and the other gopīs, who served Kṛṣṇa with such great affection and love, offering everything for Kṛṣṇa’s satisfaction? The gopīs automatically achieved the highest perfection. Therefore Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu recommended the affection of the gopīs, either in maternal affection or in conjugal love, as the highest perfection in life ( ramyā kācid upāsanā vrajavadhū-vargeṇa yā kalpitā ).
FAQs
It states that although Pūtanā came to kill Kṛṣṇa, she still attained an auspicious destination because she offered Him her breast—showing the extraordinary liberating power of contact with Hari.
To emphasize Kṛṣṇa’s boundless mercy and the spiritual potency of even unintended service or contact with the Supreme Lord in the Pūtanā episode.
Even imperfect beginnings can become spiritually transformative—approach Kṛṣṇa through sincere devotion, hearing, chanting, and service, trusting that divine grace purifies and uplifts.