Shloka 37
Pūtanā-mokṣa — The Witch Pūtanā’s Attempt and Kṛṣṇa’s Deliverance
पद्भ्यां भक्तहृदिस्थाभ्यां वन्द्याभ्यां लोकवन्दितै: । अङ्गं यस्या: समाक्रम्य भगवानपितत् स्तनम् ॥ ३७ ॥ यातुधान्यपि सा स्वर्गमवाप जननीगतिम् । कृष्णभुक्तस्तनक्षीरा: किमु गावोऽनुमातर: ॥ ३८ ॥
padbhyāṁ bhakta-hṛdi-sthābhyāṁ vandyābhyāṁ loka-vanditaiḥ aṅgaṁ yasyāḥ samākramya bhagavān api tat-stanam
Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa bersemayam di hati bhakta suci dan dipuji oleh Brahmā, Śiva serta para tokoh yang dimuliakan. Baginda menekan tubuh Pūtanā dengan kaki-Nya lalu menghisap susunya; walau dia ahli sihir, dia memperoleh kedudukan sebagai ibu di alam rohani. Maka betapa lebih mulianya lembu-lembu yang putingnya dihisap Kṛṣṇa dengan gembira dan yang mempersembahkan susu dengan kasih sayang seperti ibu!
These verses explain how devotional service rendered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whether directly or indirectly, knowingly or unknowingly, becomes successful. Pūtanā was neither a devotee nor a nondevotee; she was actually a demoniac witch instructed by Kaṁsa to kill Kṛṣṇa. Nonetheless, in the beginning she assumed the form of a very beautiful woman and approached Kṛṣṇa exactly like an affectionate mother, so that mother Yaśodā and Rohiṇī did not doubt her sincerity. The Lord took all this into consideration, and thus she was automatically promoted to a position like that of mother Yaśodā. As explained by Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, there are various roles one may play in such a position. Pūtanā was immediately promoted to Vaikuṇṭhaloka, which is also sometimes described as Svarga. The Svarga mentioned in this verse is not the material heavenly planet, but the transcendental world. In Vaikuṇṭhaloka, Pūtanā attained the position of a nurse ( dhātry-ucitām ), as described by Uddhava. Pūtanā was elevated to the position of a nurse and maidservant in Goloka Vṛndāvana to assist mother Yaśodā.
FAQs
This verse describes the Lord’s feet as ‘bhakta-hṛdi-stha’—ever situated in devotees’ hearts—showing that devotion makes the Lord intimately present within one’s consciousness.
To emphasize that Krishna remains the Supreme, worshipable Lord in every act—His dealings in Vraja are divine līlā, not ordinary human action.
Cultivate remembrance and devotion so that the Lord becomes ‘heart-present’; then even difficult events are seen through faith in divine purpose and protection.