Śrī Kṛṣṇa's Līlās – Baby Kṛṣṇa Kills Pūtanā the Rākśasi

The Story So Far

Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Lord, has appeared in Gokula as the son of Yaśodā and Nanda, while His elder brother Balarāma, the avatāra of Ādiśeṣa, is already growing in the family. Kaṁsa, alarmed by prophecy and fueled by his asura advisers, has begun sending demons to destroy dharma, leading to Pūtanā's arrival in Vraja.

Yaśoda, Nanda Mahārāja and Gokula's Joy

In Gokula, joy overflowed. Yaśoda and Nanda Mahārāja celebrated the birth of his son with a great festival, giving cows, grain, clothes, and ornaments in charity. The houses were washed and decorated, the cows were adorned, drums and conches sounded, and all the gopas and gopīs came dressed beautifully to bless the child who was named Kṛṣṇa, the dark, beautiful Lord. In the same family, Rohiṇī's son Balarāma, the avatāra of Ādiśeṣa, was already growing up.

Kamas's fear and cruelty

Far away in Mathurā, however, Kaṁsa was growing more cruel. Listening to his asura ministers, he decided that to harm Viṣṇu, he must attack all that is dear to Him - brāhmaṇas, cows, sacrifice, and devotees. He sent out demons in many forms to disturb dharma everywhere. Among them was a terrible rākśasi named Pūtanā, expert in killing babies.

Baby Krishna kills Pūtanā the Rākśasi

One day, Pūtanā flew through the sky to Gokula. Using her mystic power, she took the form of a noble woman . By Kṛṣṇa's own will, no one stopped her as she entered Nanda's home and walked straight into the room where baby Kṛṣṇa lay shining. Pūtanā's heart was cruel, but on the outside she looked like a loving mother. She lifted baby Kṛṣṇa and set Him on her lap. Her breast was smeared with deadly poison, and she tried to kill Him by feeding him the poison. But Kṛṣṇa is Bhagavān. Becoming angry with her evil intent, He held her tightly and sucked not only the milk and the poison, but her very life.

In agony, Pūtanā screamed and revealed her true gigantic rākṣasī form, knocking down trees as she fell. The earth shook, the sky echoed with her cries, and everyone in Vraja ran in fear—until they saw a wondrous sight: tiny baby Kṛṣṇa sitting happily on the huge demoness's chest, playing as if nothing had happened. Yaśodā rushed forward, heart pounding, and snatched Kṛṣṇa up, covering Him with blessings and protective mantras.

Meaning for Devotional Hearts

By Kṛṣṇa's touch, all of Pūtanā's sins were burnt away. When her body was cut up and burned, the smoke smelled fragrant, like fine incense. This teaches a deep truth for older listeners: even someone who comes to Kṛṣṇa with the wrong mood, but offers Him some relationship, receives great mercy. Pūtanā wanted to kill Him, yet because she unconsciously acted like a mother, Kṛṣṇa gave her a mother's place in His spiritual abode. What then of the loving gopīs, mothers, and cows who serve Him with pure affection? Anyone who hears with faith how baby Kṛṣṇa killed Pūtanā and protected Gokula gains deeper love for Govinda, the original Lord, who turns even an enemy into a recipient of His boundless compassion.