Shloka 3
Pūtanā-mokṣa — The Witch Pūtanā’s Attempt and Kṛṣṇa’s Deliverance
न यत्र श्रवणादीनि रक्षोघ्नानि स्वकर्मसु । कुर्वन्ति सात्वतां भर्तुर्यातुधान्यश्च तत्र हि ॥ ३ ॥
na yatra śravaṇādīni rakṣo-ghnāni sva-karmasu kurvanti sātvatāṁ bhartur yātudhānyaś ca tatra hi
ข้าแต่พระราชา ณ ที่ใดก็ตามที่ผู้คนปฏิบัติหน้าที่ด้วยการฟังและสวดสรรเสริญพระเจ้า ภัยอันตรายจากสิ่งชั่วร้ายย่อมไม่อาจกล้ำกราย ดังนั้นจึงไม่มีเหตุต้องกังวลเกี่ยวกับโกกุละในเมื่อพระผู้เป็นเจ้าทรงประทับอยู่ที่นั่น
Śukadeva Gosvāmī spoke this verse to mitigate the anxiety of Mahārāja Parīkṣit. Mahārāja Parīkṣit was a devotee of Kṛṣṇa, and therefore when he understood that Pūtanā was causing disturbances in Gokula, he was somewhat perturbed. Śukadeva Gosvāmī therefore assured him that there was no danger in Gokula. Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura has sung: nāmāśraya kari’ yatane tumi, thākaha āpana kāje. Everyone is thus advised to seek shelter in the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra and remain engaged in his own occupational duty. There is no loss in this, and the gain is tremendous. Even from a material point of view, everyone should take to chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra to be saved from all kinds of danger. This world is full of danger ( padaṁ padaṁ yad vipadām ). Therefore we should be encouraged to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra so that in our family, society, neighborhood and nation, everything will be smooth and free from danger.
FAQs
This verse says that śravaṇa and other bhakti practices are “rakṣo-ghna”—they destroy demonic influences—so neglecting them leaves one vulnerable to such forces.
He is setting the theological frame for Putanā’s attack: where devotion is absent, destructive forces can enter; where bhakti is present, they are checked.
Keep daily contact with bhakti—hearing Bhagavatam, chanting, and remembrance—so spiritual focus and discernment stay strong amid negative influences.