Shloka 41
Pūtanā-mokṣa — The Witch Pūtanā’s Attempt and Kṛṣṇa’s Deliverance
कटधूमस्य सौरभ्यमवघ्राय व्रजौकस: । किमिदं कुत एवेति वदन्तो व्रजमाययु: ॥ ४१ ॥
kaṭa-dhūmasya saurabhyam avaghrāya vrajaukasaḥ kim idaṁ kuta eveti vadanto vrajam āyayuḥ
Ngửi thấy hương thơm từ làn khói bốc lên từ thân xác Pūtanā đang bị thiêu, dân Vraja ở xa đều kinh ngạc. “Hương này từ đâu đến?” họ hỏi, rồi cùng đi đến nơi đang hỏa thiêu Pūtanā.
The aroma of the smoke emanating from a burning fire is not always very favorable. Therefore upon smelling such a wonderful fragrance, the inhabitants of Vraja were astonished.
FAQs
It refers to the extraordinary fragrance arising from the smoke of Pūtanā’s funeral pyre—an effect of her contact with Kṛṣṇa—astonishing the Vrajavāsīs and drawing them back to Vraja.
They sensed something unusual and divine in the air; wondering what it was and where it came from, they rushed toward Vraja to understand the cause in the unfolding events around Kṛṣṇa.
Even indirect contact with the sacred can transform consciousness; staying close to bhakti—holy places, holy names, and saintly association—draws one toward spiritual clarity and protection.