Shloka 30
Pūtanā-mokṣa — The Witch Pūtanā’s Attempt and Kṛṣṇa’s Deliverance
श्रीशुक उवाच इति प्रणयबद्धाभिर्गोपीभि: कृतरक्षणम् । पाययित्वा स्तनं माता सन्न्यवेशयदात्मजम् ॥ ३० ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca iti praṇaya-baddhābhir gopībhiḥ kṛta-rakṣaṇam pāyayitvā stanaṁ mātā sannyaveśayad ātmajam
శ్రీశుకుడు పలికెను—ఇలా మాతృస్నేహంతో బంధింపబడిన గోపీలు బాలుని రక్షణార్థం మంత్రాలు జపించారు. ఆపై తల్లి యశోద ఆయనకు స్తనపానం చేయించి, తన కుమారుని మంచంపై పడుకోబెట్టింది.
When a baby drinks milk from the breast of his mother, this is a good sign of health. So the elderly gopīs were not satisfied with chanting mantras to give protection to Kṛṣṇa; they also tested whether their child’s health was in order. When the child sucked the breast, this confirmed that He was healthy, and when the gopīs were fully satisfied, they had the child lie down on His bed.
FAQs
This verse says the gopīs, out of intense loving attachment, performed protective rites (rakṣaṇa) for the child Kṛṣṇa, expressing Vraja’s practical, affectionate devotion.
After the elders ensured the child’s safety through customary protections, Yaśodā naturally expressed vātsalya-bhakti by feeding Him and then laying Him down to rest.
Offer loving care and protection to what supports bhakti—your sādhana, home altar, and devotional habits—combining heartfelt affection with responsible, steady practice.