Shloka 8
Pūtanā-mokṣa — The Witch Pūtanā’s Attempt and Kṛṣṇa’s Deliverance
विबुध्य तां बालकमारिकाग्रहं चराचरात्मा स निमीलितेक्षण: । अनन्तमारोपयदङ्कमन्तकं यथोरगं सुप्तमबुद्धिरज्जुधी: ॥ ८ ॥
vibudhya tāṁ bālaka-mārikā-grahaṁ carācarātmā sa nimīlitekṣaṇaḥ anantam āropayad aṅkam antakaṁ yathoragaṁ suptam abuddhi-rajju-dhīḥ
Tuhan Sri Krishna, Roh Yang Utama, memahami bahawa Putana telah datang untuk membunuh-Nya. Oleh itu, Krishna memejamkan mata-Nya. Putana meletakkan kematiannya sendiri di atas ribaannya, sama seperti orang bodoh yang meletakkan ular tidur di atas ribaannya kerana menyangka ular itu adalah tali.
In this verse there are two perplexities. When Kṛṣṇa saw that Pūtanā had come to kill Him, He thought that since this woman was present with motherly affection, although artificial, He had to offer her a benediction. Therefore He looked at her with a little perplexity and then closed His eyes again. Pūtanā Rākṣasī also was perplexed. She was not intelligent enough to understand that she was taking a sleeping snake on her lap; she thought the snake to be an ordinary rope. The two words antakam and anantam are contradictory. Because of not being intelligent, Pūtanā thought that she could kill her antakam, the source of her annihilation; but because He is ananta, unlimited, no one can kill Him.
FAQs
This verse describes Pūtanā as a deadly child-killing demoness, yet Kṛṣṇa—fully aware of her nature—allowed her onto His lap, demonstrating His supreme control over death and evil.
The verse states that the Lord closed His eyes while letting her take Him on her lap—highlighting His divine play (līlā) and complete fearlessness, as the Supreme Soul who is never endangered by demonic power.
Even when danger appears attractive or disguised, one should seek shelter of the Lord through bhakti; Kṛṣṇa’s protection is stronger than hidden harm, and devotion brings safety and purification.