> > S'rîmad Bhâgavatam - Canto 10
> > Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupâda
> > (for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)

> > Canto 10: 'Summum Bonum'

> > **************

> > Chapter Six: The Killing of the Demon Pûtanâ

> > ******

> > TEXT 1

> > s'rî-s'uka uvâca

> > nandah pathi vacah s'aurer

> > na mrisheti vicintayan

> > harim jagâma s'aranam

> > utpâtâgama-s'ankitah

> > s'rî-s'ukah uvâca - S'rî S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said; nandah - Nanda Mahârâja; pathi - on his way back home; vacah - the words; s'aureh - of Vasudeva; na - not; mrishâ - without purpose or cause; iti - thus; vicintayan - while thinking about inauspiciousness for his little son, Krishna; harim - unto the Supreme Lord, the controller; jagâma - took; s'aranam - shelter; utpâta - of disturbances; âgama - with the expectation; s'ankitah - thus being afraid.

> > TRANSLATION

> > S'ukadeva Gosvâmî continued: My dear King, while Nanda Mahârâja was on the way home, he considered that what Vasudeva had said could not be false or useless. There must have been some danger of disturbances in Gokula. As Nanda Mahârâja thought about the danger for his beautiful son, Krishna, he was afraid, and he took shelter at the lotus feet of the supreme controller.

> > ******

> > TEXT 2

> > kamsena prahitâ ghorâ

> > pûtanâ bâla-ghâtinî

> > s'is'ûms' cacâra nighnantî

> > pura-grâma-vrajâdishu

> > kamsena - by King Kamsa; prahitâ - engaged previously; ghorâ - very fierce; pûtanâ - by the name Pûtanâ; bâla-ghâtinî - a Râkshasî who killed; s'is'ûn - small babies; cacâra - wandered; nighnantî - killing; pura-grâma-vraja-âdishu - in towns, cities and villages here and there.

> > TRANSLATION

> > While Nanda Mahârâja was returning to Gokula, the same fierce Pûtanâ whom Kamsa had previously engaged to kill babies was wandering about in the towns, cities and villages, doing her nefarious duty.

> > ******

> > TEXT 3

> > na yatra s'ravanâdîni

> > raksho-ghnâni sva-karmasu

> > kurvanti sâtvatâm bhartur

> > yâtudhânyas' ca tatra hi

> > na - not; yatra - wherever; s'ravana-âdîni - the activities of bhakti-yoga, beginning with hearing and chanting; rakshah-ghnâni - the sound vibration to kill all danger and bad elements; sva-karmasu - if one is engaged in his own occupational duty; kurvanti - such things are done; sâtvatâm bhartuh - of the protector of the devotees; yâtudhânyah - disturbing elements, bad elements; ca - also; tatra hi - there must be.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My dear King, wherever people in any position perform their occupational duties of devotional service by chanting and hearing [s'ravanam kîrtanam vishnoh SB 7.5.23], there cannot be any danger from bad elements. Therefore there was no need for anxiety about Gokula while the Supreme Personality of Godhead was personally present.

> > ******

> > TEXT 4

> > sâ khe-cary ekadotpatya

> > pûtanâ nanda-gokulam

> > yoshitvâ mâyayâtmânam

> > prâvis'at kâma-cârinî

> > sâ - that (Pûtanâ); khe-carî - who traveled in outer space; ekadâ - once upon a time; utpatya - was flying; pûtanâ - the demon Pûtanâ; nanda-gokulam - at the place of Nanda Mahârâja, Gokula; yoshitvâ - converting into a very beautiful woman; mâyayâ - by mystic power; âtmânam - herself; prâvis'at - entered; kâma- cârinî - one who could move according to her own desire.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Once upon a time, Pûtanâ Râkshasî, who could move according to her desire and was wandering in outer space, converted herself by mystic power into a very beautiful woman and thus entered Gokula, the abode of Nanda Mahârâja.

> > ******

> > TEXTS 5 - 6

> > tâm kes'a-bandha-vyatishakta-mallikâm

> > brihan-nitamba-stana-kricchra-madhyamâm

> > suvâsasam kalpita-karna-bhûshana-

> > tvishollasat-kuntala-manditânanâm

> > valgu-smitâpânga-visarga-vîkshitair

> > mano harantîm vanitâm vrajaukasâm

> > amamsatâmbhoja-karena rûpinîm

> > gopyah s'riyam drashthum ivâgatâm patim

> > tâm - her; kes'a-bandha-vyatishakta-mallikâm - whose arrangement of hair was decorated with a garland of mallikâ flowers; brihat - very, very big; nitamba- stana - by her hips and firm breasts; kricchra-madhyamâm - whose slim waist was overburdened; su-vâsasam - nicely painted or very attractively dressed; kalpita-karna-bhûshana - of the earrings arranged on her ears; tvishâ - by the brilliance; ullasat - very attractive; kuntala-mandita-ânanâm - whose beautiful face was surrounded by black hair;

> > valgu-smita-apânga-visarga-vîkshitaih - by her casting her smiling glance on everyone very attractively; manah harantîm - everyone's attention was attracted (by her); vanitâm - an especially attractive woman; vraja-okasâm - of the inhabitants of Gokula; amamsata - thought; ambhoja - holding a lotus flower; karena - with her hand; rûpinîm - very beautiful; gopyah - the gopî inhabitants of Gokula; s'riyam - the goddess of fortune; drashthum - to see; iva - as if; âgatâm - had come; patim - her husband.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Her hips were full, her breasts were large and firm, seeming to overburden her slim waist, and she was dressed very nicely. Her hair, adorned with a garland of mallikâ flowers, was scattered about her beautiful face. Her earrings were brilliant, and as she smiled very attractively, glancing upon everyone, her beauty drew the attention of all the inhabitants of Vraja, especially the men. When the gopîs saw her, they thought that the beautiful goddess of fortune, holding a lotus flower in her hand, had come to see her husband, Krishna.

> > ******

> > TEXT 7

> > bâla-grahas tatra vicinvatî s'is'ûn

> > yadricchayâ nanda-grihe 'sad-antakam

> > bâlam praticchanna-nijoru-tejasam

> > dadars'a talpe 'gnim ivâhitam bhasi

> > bâla-grahah - the witch, whose business was to kill small babies; tatra - standing there; vicinvatî - thinking of, searching for; s'is'ûn - children; yadricchayâ - independently; nanda-grihe - in the house of Nanda Mahârâja; asat- antakam - who could kill all demons; bâlam - the child; praticchanna - covered; nija-uru-tejasam - whose unlimited power; dadars'a - she saw; talpe - (lying) on the bed; agnim - fire; iva - just like; âhitam - covered; bhasi - within ashes.

> > TRANSLATION

> > While searching for small children, Pûtanâ, whose business was to kill them, entered the house of Nanda Mahârâja unobstructed, having been sent by the superior potency of the Lord. Without asking anyone's permission, she entered Nanda Mahârâja's room, where she saw the child sleeping in bed, His unlimited power covered like a powerful fire covered by ashes. She could understand that this child was not ordinary, but was meant to kill all demons.

> > ******

> > TEXT 8

> > vibudhya tâm bâlaka-mârikâ-graham

> > carâcarâtmâ sa nimîlitekshanah

> > anantam âropayad ankam antakam

> > yathoragam suptam abuddhi-rajju-dhîh

> > vibudhya - understanding; tâm - her (Pûtanâ); bâlaka-mârikâ-graham - a witch very expert in killing small babies; cara-acara-âtmâ - Krishna, the all-pervading Supersoul; sah - He; nimîlita-îkshanah - closed His eyes; anantam - the Unlimited; âropayat - she placed; ankam - on her lap; antakam - for her own annihilation; yathâ - as; uragam - a snake; suptam - while sleeping; abuddhi - a person who has no intelligence; rajju-dhîh - one who thinks a snake to be a rope.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Lord S'rî Krishna, the all-pervading Supersoul, lying on the bed, understood that Pûtanâ, a witch who was expert in killing small children, had come to kill Him. Therefore, as if afraid of her, Krishna closed His eyes. Thus Pûtanâ took upon her lap Him who was to be her own annihilation, just as an unintelligent person places a sleeping snake on his lap, thinking the snake to be a rope.

> > ******

> > TEXT 9

> > tâm tîkshna-cittâm ativâma-ceshthitâm

> > vîkshyântarâ kosha-paricchadâsivat

> > vara-striyam tat-prabhayâ ca dharshite

> > nirîkshyamâne jananî hy atishthhatâm

> > tâm - that (Pûtanâ Râkshasî); tîkshna-cittâm - having a very fierce heart for killing the child; ati-vâma-ceshthitâm - although she was trying to treat the child better than a mother; vîkshya antarâ - seeing her within the room; kosha- paricchada-asi-vat - like a sharp sword within a soft sheath; vara- striyam - the very beautiful woman; tat-prabhayâ - by her influence; ca - also; dharshite - being overwhelmed; nirîkshyamâne - were seeing; jananî - the two mothers; hi - indeed; atishthhatâm - they remained silent, without prohibiting.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Pûtanâ Râkshasî's heart was fierce and cruel, but she looked like a very affectionate mother. Thus she resembled a sharp sword in a soft sheath. Although seeing her within the room, Yas'odâ and Rohinî, overwhelmed by her beauty, did not stop her, but remained silent because she treated the child like a mother.

> > ******

> > TEXT 10

> > tasmin stanam durjara-vîryam ulbanam

> > ghorânkam âdâya s'is'or dadâv atha

> > gâdham karâbhyâm bhagavân prapîdya tat-

> > prânaih samam rosha-samanvito 'pibat

> > tasmin - in that very spot; stanam - the breast; durjara-vîryam - a very powerful weapon mixed with poison; ulbanam - which was fierce; ghorâ - the most ferocious Pûtanâ; ankam - on her lap; âdâya - placing; s'is'oh - in the mouth of the child; dadau - pushed; atha - thereupon; gâdham - very hard; karâbhyâm - with both hands; bhagavân - the Supreme Personality of Godhead; prapîdya - giving her great pain; tat-prânaih - her life; samam - along with; rosha- samanvitah - being very angry at her; apibat - sucked the breast.

> > TRANSLATION

> > On that very spot, the fiercely dangerous Râkshasî took Krishna on her lap and pushed her breast into His mouth. The nipple of her breast was smeared with a dangerous, immediately effective poison, but the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, becoming very angry at her, took hold of her breast, squeezed it very hard with both hands, and sucked out both the poison and her life.

> > ******

> > TEXT 11

> > sâ mun'ca mun'câlam iti prabhâshinî

> > nishpîdyamânâkhila-jîva-marmani

> > vivritya netre caranau bhujau muhuh

> > prasvinna-gâtrâ kshipatî ruroda ha

> > sâ - she (Pûtanâ Râkshasî); mun'ca - give up; mun'ca - give up; alam - suck my breast no longer; iti - thus; prabhâshinî - crying; nishpîdyamânâ - being pressed severely; akhila-jîva-marmani - in every center of her vitality; vivritya - opening wide; netre - her two eyes; caranau - two legs; bhujau - two hands; muhuh - again and again; prasvinna-gâtrâ - with her body perspiring; kshipatî - throwing; ruroda - cried severely; ha - indeed.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Unbearably pressed in every vital point, the demon Pûtanâ began to cry, "Please leave me, leave me! Suck my breast no longer!" Perspiring, her eyes wide open and her arms and legs flailing, she cried very loudly again and again.

> > ******

> > TEXT 12

> > tasyâh svanenâtigabhîra-ramhasâ

> > sâdrir mahî dyaus' ca cacâla sa-grahâ

> > rasâ dis'as' ca pratinedire janâh

> > petuh kshitau vajra-nipâta-s'ankayâ

> > tasyâh - of the great Râkshasî Pûtanâ; svanena - by the vibration of the sound; ati - very; gabhîra - deep; ramhasâ - forceful; sa-adrih - with the mountains; mahî - the surface of the world; dyauh ca - and outer space; cacâla - trembled; sa-grahâ - with the stars; rasâ - below the planet earth; dis'ah ca - and all directions; pratinedire - vibrated; janâh - people in general; petuh - fell down; kshitau - on the surface of the world; vajra-nipâta-s'ankayâ - by suspecting that thunderbolts were falling.

> > TRANSLATION

> > As Pûtanâ screamed loudly and forcefully, the earth with its mountains, and outer space with its planets, trembled. The lower planets and all directions vibrated, and people fell down, fearing that thunderbolts were falling upon them.

> > ******

> > TEXT 13

> > nis'â-carîttham vyathita-stanâ vyasur

> > vyâdâya kes'âms' caranau bhujâv api

> > prasârya goshthhe nija-rûpam âsthitâ

> > vajrâhato vritra ivâpatan nripa

> > nis'â-carî - the Râkshasî; ittham - in this way; vyathita-stanâ - being severely aggrieved because of pressure on her breast; vyasuh - lost her life; vyâdâya - opening her mouth wide; kes'ân - bunch of hairs; caranau - her two legs; bhujau - her two hands; api - also; prasârya - expanding; goshthhe - in the pasturing ground; nija-rûpam âsthitâ - remained in her original demoniac form; vajra- âhatah - killed by the thunderbolt of Indra; vritrah - Vritrâsura; iva - as if; apatat - fell down; nripa - O King.

> > TRANSLATION

> > In this way the demon Pûtanâ, very much aggrieved because her breast was being attacked by Krishna, lost her life. O King Parîkchit, opening her mouth wide and spreading her arms, legs and hair, she fell down in the pasturing ground in her original form as a Râkshasî, as Vritrâsura had fallen when killed by the thunderbolt of Indra.

> > ******

> > TEXT 14

> > patamâno 'pi tad-dehas

> > tri-gavyûty-antara-drumân

> > cûrnayâm âsa râjendra

> > mahad âsît tad adbhutam

> > patamânah api - even while falling down; tat-dehah - her gigantic body; tri- gavyûti-antara - within a limit of twelve miles; drumân - all kinds of trees; cûrnayâm âsa - smashed; râjendra - O King Parîkchit; mahat âsît - was quite gigantic; tat - that body; adbhutam - and very, very wonderful.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O King Parîkchit, when the gigantic body of Pûtanâ fell to the ground, it smashed all the trees within a limit of twelve miles. Appearing in a gigantic body, she was certainly extraordinary.

> > ******

> > TEXTS 15 - 17

> > îshâ-mâtrogra-damshthrâsyam

> > giri-kandara-nâsikam

> > ganda-s'aila-stanam raudram

> > prakîrnâruna-mûrdhajam

> > andha-kûpa-gabhîrâksham

> > pulinâroha-bhîshanam

> > baddha-setu-bhujorv-anghri

> > s'ûnya-toya-hradodaram

> > santatrasuh sma tad vîkshya

> > gopâ gopyah kalevaram

> > pûrvam tu tan-nihsvanita-

> > bhinna-hrit-karna-mastakâh

> > îshâ-mâtra - like the front of a plow; ugra - fierce; damshthra - the teeth; âsyam - having a mouth in which; giri-kandara - like mountain caves; nâsikam - the nostrils of whom; ganda-s'aila - like big slabs of stone; stanam - the breasts of whom; raudram - very fierce; prakîrna - scattered; aruna- mûrdha-jam - whose hair was the color of copper;

> > andha-kûpa - like blind wells; gabhîra - deep; aksham - eye sockets; pulina-âroha-bhîshanam - whose thighs were fearful like the banks of a river; baddha-setu-bhuja-uru-anghri - whose arms, thighs and feet were strongly built bridges; s'ûnya-toya-hrada-udaram - whose abdomen was like a lake without water;

> > santatrasuh sma - became frightened; tat - that; vîkshya - seeing; gopâh - the cowherd men; gopyah - and the cowherd women; kalevaram - such a gigantic body; pûrvam tu - before that; tat- nihsvanita - because of her loud vibration; bhinna - were shocked; hrit - whose hearts; karna - ears; mastakâh - and heads.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Râkshasî's mouth was full of teeth, each resembling the front of a plow, her nostrils were deep like mountain caves, and her breasts resembled big slabs of stone fallen from a hill. Her scattered hair was the color of copper. The sockets of her eyes appeared like deep blind wells, her fearful thighs resembled the banks of a river, her arms, legs and feet seemed like big bridges, and her abdomen appeared like a dried-up lake. The hearts, ears and heads of the cowherd men and women were already shocked by the Râkshasî's screaming, and when they saw the fierce wonder of her body, they were even more frightened.

> > ******

> > TEXT 18

> > bâlam ca tasyâ urasi

> > krîdantam akutobhayam

> > gopyas tûrnam samabhyetya

> > jagrihur jâta-sambhramâh

> > bâlam ca - the child also; tasyâh - of that (Râkshasî Pûtanâ); urasi - on the upper portion of the breast; krîdantam - engaged in playing; akutobhayam - without fear; gopyah - all the cowherd women; tûrnam - immediately; samabhyetya - coming near; jagrihuh - picked up; jâta-sambhramâh - with the same affection and respect they always maintained.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Without fear, the child Krishna was playing on the upper portion of Pûtanâ Râkshasî's breast, and when the gopîs saw the child's wonderful activities, they immediately came forward with great jubilation and picked Him up.

> > ******

> > TEXT 19

> > yas'odâ-rohinîbhyâm tâh

> > samam bâlasya sarvatah

> > rakshâm vidadhire samyag

> > go-puccha-bhramanâdibhih

> > yas'odâ-rohinîbhyâm - with mother Yas'odâ and mother Rohinî, who principally took charge of the child; tâh - the other gopîs; samam - equally as important as Yas'odâ and Rohinî; bâlasya - of the child; sarvatah - from all dangers; rakshâm - protection; vidadhire - executed; samyak - completely; go-puccha- bhramana-âdibhih - by waving around the switch of a cow.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thereafter, mother Yas'odâ and Rohinî, along with the other elderly gopîs, waved about the switch of a cow to give full protection to the child S'rî Krishna.

> > ******

> > TEXT 20

> > go-mûtrena snâpayitvâ

> > punar go-rajasârbhakam

> > rakshâm cakrus' ca s'akritâ

> > dvâdas'ângeshu nâmabhih

> > go-mûtrena - with the urine of the cows; snâpayitvâ - after thoroughly washing; punah - again; go-rajasâ - with the dust floating because of the movements of the cows; arbhakam - unto the child; rakshâm - protection; cakruh - executed; ca - also; s'akritâ - with the cow dung; dvâdas'a-angeshu - in twelve places (dvâdas'a- tilaka); nâmabhîh - by imprinting the holy names of the Lord.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The child was thoroughly washed with cow urine and then smeared with the dust raised by the movements of the cows. Then different names of the Lord were applied with cow dung on twelve different parts of His body, beginning with the forehead, as done in applying tilaka. In this way, the child was given protection.

> > ******

> > TEXT 21

> > gopyah samsprishtha-salilâ

> > angeshu karayoh prithak

> > nyasyâtmany atha bâlasya

> > bîja-nyâsam akurvata

> > gopyah - the gopîs; samsprishtha-salilâh - touching a cup of water and drinking; angeshu - on their bodies; karayoh - on their two hands; prithak - separately; nyasya - after placing the letters of the mantra; âtmani - on their own; atha - then; bâlasya - of the child; bîja-nyâsam - the process of mantra-nyâsa; akurvata - executed.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The gopîs first executed the process of âcamana, drinking a sip of water from the right hand. They purified their bodies and hands with the nyâsa- mantra and then applied the same mantra upon the body of the child.

> > ******

> > TEXTS 22 - 23

> > avyâd ajo 'nghri manimâms tava jânv athorû

> > yajn'o 'cyutah kathi-tatham jathharam hayâsyah

> > hrit kes'avas tvad-ura îs'a inas tu kanthham

> > vishnur bhujam mukham urukrama îs'varah kam

> > cakry agratah saha-gado harir astu pas'cât

> > tvat-pârs'vayor dhanur-asî madhu-hâjanas' ca

> > koneshu s'ankha urugâya upary upendras

> > târkshyah kshitau haladharah purushah samantât

> > avyât - may protect; ajah - Lord Aja; anghri - legs; manimân - Lord Manimân; tava - Your; jânu - knees; atha - thereafter; urû - thighs; yajn'ah - Lord Yajn'a; acyutah - Lord Acyuta; kathi-tatham - the upper part of the waist; jathharam - abdomen; hayâsyah - Lord Hayagrîva; hrit - the heart; kes'avah - Lord Kes'ava; tvat - Your; urah - chest; îs'ah - the supreme controller, Lord Îs'a; inah - Sûrya, the sun-god; tu - but; kanthham - neck; vishnuh - Lord Vishnu; bhujam - arms; mukham - the mouth; urukramah - Lord Urukrama; îs'varah - Lord Îs'vara; kam - head;

> > cakrî - the carrier of the disc; agratah - in front; saha- gadah - the carrier of the club; harih - Lord Hari; astu - may He remain; pas'cât - on the back; tvat-pârs'vayoh - on both sides; dhanuh-asî - the carrier of the bow and the sword; madhu-hâ - the killer of the demon Madhu; ajanah - Lord Vishnu; ca - and; koneshu - in the corners; s'ankhah - the carrier of the conchshell; urugâyah - who is well worshiped; upari - above; upendrah - Lord Upendra; târkshyah - Garuda; kshitau - on the surface; haladharah - Lord Haladhara; purushah - the Supreme Person; samantât - on all sides.

> > TRANSLATION

> > [S'ukadeva Gosvâmî informed Mahârâja Parîkchit that the gopîs, following the proper system, protected Krishna, their child, with this mantra.] May Aja protect Your legs, may Manimân protect Your knees, Yajn'a Your thighs, Acyuta the upper part of Your waist, and Hayagrîva Your abdomen. May Kes'ava protect Your heart, Îs'a Your chest, the sun-god Your neck, Vishnu Your arms, Urukrama Your face, and Îs'vara Your head. May Cakrî protect You from the front; may S'rî Hari, Gadâdharî, the carrier of the club, protect You from the back; and may the carrier of the bow, who is known as the enemy of Madhu, and Lord Ajana, the carrier of the sword, protect Your two sides. May Lord Urugâya, the carrier of the conchshell, protect You from all corners; may Upendra protect You from above; may Garuda protect You on the ground; and may Lord Haladhara, the Supreme Person, protect You on all sides.

> > ******

> > TEXT 24

> > indriyâni hrishîkes'ah

> > prânân nârâyano 'vatu

> > s'vetadvîpa-patis' cittam

> > mano yoges'varo 'vatu

> > indriyâni - all the senses; hrishîkes'ah - Lord Hrishîkes'a, the proprietor of all the senses; prânân - all kinds of life air; nârâyanah - Lord Nârâyana; avatu - may He give protection; s'vetadvîpa-patih - the master of S'vetadvîpa, Vishnu; cittam - the core of the heart; manah - the mind; yoges'varah - Lord Yoges'vara; avatu - may He give protection.

> > TRANSLATION

> > May Hrishîkes'a protect Your senses, and Nârâyana Your life air. May the master of S'vetadvîpa protect the core of Your heart, and may Lord Yoges'vara protect Your mind.

> > ******

> > TEXTS 25 - 26

> > pris'nigarbhas tu te buddhim

> > âtmânam bhagavân parah

> > krîdantam pâtu govindah

> > s'ayânam pâtu mâdhavah

> > vrajantam avyâd vaikunthha

> > âsînam tvâm s'riyah patih

> > bhun'jânam yajn'abhuk pâtu

> > sarva-graha-bhayankarah

> > pris'nigarbhah - Lord Pris'nigarbha; tu - indeed; te - Your; buddhim - intelligence; âtmânam - Your soul; bhagavân - the Supreme Personality of Godhead; parah - transcendental; krîdantam - while playing; pâtu - may He protect; govindah - Lord Govinda; s'ayânam - while sleeping; pâtu - may He protect; mâdhavah - Lord Mâdhava; vrajantam - while walking; avyât - may He protect; vaikunthhah - Lord Vaikunthha; âsînam - while sitting down; tvâm - unto You; s'riyah patih - Nârâyana, the husband of the goddess of fortune (may protect); bhun'jânam - while enjoying life; yajn'abhuk - Yajn'abhuk; pâtu - may He protect; sarva-graha-bhayam-karah - who is fearful to all evil planets.

> > TRANSLATION

> > May Lord Pris'nigarbha protect Your intelligence, and the Supreme Personality of Godhead Your soul. While You are playing, may Govinda protect You, and while You are sleeping may Mâdhava protect You. May Lord Vaikunthha protect You while You are walking, and may Lord Nârâyana, the husband of the goddess of fortune, protect You while You are sitting. Similarly, may Lord Yajn'abhuk, the fearful enemy of all evil planets, always protect You while You enjoy life.

> > ******

> > TEXTS 27 - 29

> > dâkinyo yâtudhânyas' ca

> > kushmândâ ye 'rbhaka-grahâh

> > bhûta-preta-pis'âcâs' ca

> > yaksha-raksho-vinâyakâh

> > kotharâ revatî jyeshthhâ

> > pûtanâ mâtrikâdayah

> > unmâdâ ye hy apasmârâ

> > deha-prânendriya-druhah

> > svapna-drishthâ mahotpâtâ

> > vriddhâ bâla-grahâs' ca ye

> > sarve nas'yantu te vishnor

> > nâma-grahana-bhîravah

> > dâkinyah yâtudhânyah ca kushmândâh - witches and devils, enemies of children; ye - those who are; arbhaka-grahâh - like evil stars for children; bhûta - evil spirits; preta - evil hobgoblins; pis'âcâh - similar bad spirits; ca - also; yaksha - the living entities known as Yakshas; rakshah - those known as Râkshasas; vinâyakâh - those by the name Vinâyaka;

> > kotharâ - by the name Kotharâ; revatî - by the name Revatî; jyeshthhâ - by the name Jyeshthhâ; pûtanâ - by the name Pûtanâ; mâtrikâ-âdayah - and evil women like Mâtrikâ; unmâdâh - those who cause madness; ye - which others; hi - indeed; apasmârâh - causing loss of memory; deha-prâna- indriya - to the body, life air and senses; druhah - give trouble;

> > svapna- drishthâh - the evil spirits that cause bad dreams; mahâ-utpâtâh - those causing great disturbances; vriddhâh - the most experienced; bâla-grahâh ca - and those attacking children; ye - who; sarve - all of them; nas'yantu - let be vanquished; te - those; vishnoh - of Lord Vishnu; nâma-grahana - by the chanting of the name; bhîravah - become afraid.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The evil witches known as Òâkinîs, Yâtudhânîs and Kushmândas are the greatest enemies of children, and the evil spirits like Bhûtas, Pretas, Pis'âcas, Yakshas, Râkshasas and Vinâyakas, as well as witches like Kotharâ, Revatî, Jyeshthhâ, Pûtanâ and Mâtrikâ, are always ready to give trouble to the body, the life air and the senses, causing loss of memory, madness and bad dreams. Like the most experienced evil stars, they all create great disturbances, especially for children, but one can vanquish them simply by uttering Lord Vishnu's name, for when Lord Vishnu's name resounds, all of them become afraid and go away.

> > ******

> > TEXT 30

> > s'rî-s'uka uvâca

> > iti pranaya-baddhâbhir

> > gopîbhih krita-rakshanam

> > pâyayitvâ stanam mâtâ

> > sannyaves'ayad âtmajam

> > s'rî-s'ukah uvâca - S'rî S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said; iti - in this way; pranaya- baddhâbhih - who were bound with maternal affection; gopîbhih - by the elderly gopîs, headed by mother Yas'odâ; krita-rakshanam - all measures were taken to protect the child; pâyayitvâ - and after that, feeding the child; stanam - the nipple; mâtâ - mother Yas'odâ; sannyaves'ayat - made to lie down on the bed; âtmajam - her son.

> > TRANSLATION

> > S'rîla S'ukadeva Gosvâmî continued: All the gopîs, headed by mother Yas'odâ, were bound by maternal affection. After they thus chanted mantras to protect the child, mother Yas'odâ gave the child the nipple of her breast to suck and then got Him to lie down on His bed.

> > ******

> > TEXT 31

> > tâvan nandâdayo gopâ

> > mathurâyâ vrajam gatâh

> > vilokya pûtanâ-deham

> > babhûvur ativismitâh

> > tâvat - in the meantime; nanda-âdayah - headed by Nanda Mahârâja; gopâh - all the cowherd men; mathurâyâh - from Mathurâ; vrajam - to Vrindâvana; gatâh - came back; vilokya - when they saw; pûtanâ-deham - the gigantic body of Pûtanâ lying dead; babhûvuh - became; ati - very much; vismitâh - struck with wonder.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Meanwhile, all the cowherd men, headed by Nanda Mahârâja, returned from Mathurâ, and when they saw on the way the gigantic body of Pûtanâ lying dead, they were struck with great wonder.

> > ******

> > TEXT 32

> > nûnam batarshih san'jâto

> > yoges'o vâ samâsa sah

> > sa eva drishtho hy utpâto

> > yad âhânakadundubhih

> > nûnam - certainly; bata - O my friends; rishih - a great saintly person; san'jâtah - has become; yoga-îs'ah - a master of mystic power; vâ - or; samâsa - has become; sah - he (Vasudeva); sah - that; eva - indeed; drishthah - has been seen (by us); hi - because; utpâtah - kind of disturbance; yat - that which; âha - predicted; ânakadundubhih - Ânakadundubhi (another name of Vasudeva).

> > TRANSLATION

> > Nanda Mahârâja and the other gopas exclaimed: My dear friends, you must know that Ânakadundubhi, Vasudeva, has become a great saint or a master of mystic power. Otherwise how could he have foreseen this calamity and predicted it to us?

> > ******

> > TEXT 33

> > kalevaram paras'ubhis'

> > chittvâ tat te vrajaukasah

> > dûre kshiptvâvayavas'o

> > nyadahan kâshthha-veshthitam

> > kalevaram - the gigantic body of Pûtanâ; paras'ubhih - with the aid of axes; chittvâ - after cutting to pieces; tat - that (body); te - all of those; vraja- okasah - inhabitants of Vraja; dûre - far, far away; kshiptvâ - after throwing; avayavas'ah - different parts of the body, piece by piece; nyadahan - burned to ashes; kâshthha-veshthitam - covered by wood.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The inhabitants of Vraja cut the gigantic body of Pûtanâ into pieces with the help of axes. Then they threw the pieces far away, covered them with wood and burned them to ashes.

> > ******

> > TEXT 34

> > dahyamânasya dehasya

> > dhûmas' câguru-saurabhah

> > utthitah krishna-nirbhukta-

> > sapady âhata-pâpmanah

> > dahyamânasya - while being burnt to ashes; dehasya - of the body of Pûtanâ; dhûmah - the smoke; ca - and; aguru-saurabhah - turned into saintly scented smoke of the aguru herb; utthitah - emanating from her body; krishna- nirbhukta - because of Krishna's having sucked her breast; sapadi - immediately; âhata-pâpmanah - her material body became spiritualized or relieved of all material conditions.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Because of Krishna's having sucked the breast of the Râkshasî Pûtanâ, when Krishna killed her she was immediately freed of all material contamination. Her sinful reactions automatically vanished, and therefore when her gigantic body was being burnt, the smoke emanating from her body was fragrant like aguru incense.

> > ******

> > TEXTS 35 - 36

> > pûtanâ loka-bâla-ghnî

> > râkshasî rudhirâs'anâ

> > jighâmsayâpi haraye

> > stanam dattvâpa sad-gatim

> > kim punah s'raddhayâ bhaktyâ

> > krishnâya paramâtmane

> > yacchan priyatamam kim nu

> > raktâs tan-mâtaro yathâ

> > pûtanâ - Pûtanâ, the professional Râkshasî; loka-bâla-ghnî - who used to kill human children; râkshasî - the she-demon; rudhira-as'anâ - simply hankering for blood; jighâmsayâ - with the desire to kill Krishna (being envious of Krishna and having been instructed by Kamsa); api - still; haraye - unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; stanam - her breast; dattvâ - after offering; âpa - obtained; sat-gatim - the most elevated position of spiritual existence;

> > kim - what to speak of; punah - again; s'raddhayâ - with faith; bhaktyâ - by devotion; krishnâya - unto Lord Krishna; paramâtmane - who is the Supreme Person; yacchan - offering; priya-tamam - the dearmost; kim - something; nu - indeed; raktâh - those who have an affinity; tat-mâtarah - Krishna's affectionate mothers (offering the beloved child their breasts); yathâ - exactly like.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Pûtanâ was always hankering for the blood of human children, and with that desire she came to kill Krishna; but because she offered her breast to the Lord, she attained the greatest achievement. What then is to be said of those who had natural devotion and affection for Krishna as mothers and who offered Him their breasts to suck or offered something very dear, as a mother offers something to a child?

> > ******

> > TEXTS 37 - 38

> > padbhyâm bhakta-hridi-sthâbhyâm

> > vandyâbhyâm loka-vanditaih

> > angam yasyâh samâkramya

> > bhagavân api tat-stanam

> > yâtudhâny api sâ svargam

> > avâpa jananî-gatim

> > krishna-bhukta-stana-kshîrâh

> > kim u gâvo 'numâtarah

> > padbhyâm - by the two lotus feet; bhakta-hridi-sthâbhyâm - which are always thought of by pure devotees, in whose heart the Lord is therefore situated constantly; vandyâbhyâm - which are always to be praised; loka-vanditaih - by Lord Brahmâ and Lord S'iva, who are praised by all the inhabitants of the three worlds; angam - the body; yasyâh - of whom (Pûtanâ); samâkramya - embracing; bhagavân - the Supreme Personality of Godhead; api - also; tat-stanam - that breast;

> > yâtudhânî api - although she was a witch (whose only business was to kill small children and who had tried to kill Krishna also); sâ - she; svargam - the transcendental abode; avâpa - achieved; jananî-gatim - the position of a mother; krishna-bhukta-stana-kshîrâh - therefore, because their breasts were sucked by Krishna, who drank the milk flowing from their bodies; kim u - what to speak of; gâvah - the cows; anumâtarah - exactly like mothers (who allowed their nipples to be sucked by Krishna).

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, is always situated within the core of the heart of the pure devotee, and He is always offered prayers by such worshipable personalities as Lord Brahmâ and Lord S'iva. Because Krishna embraced Pûtanâ's body with great pleasure and sucked her breast, although she was a great witch, she attained the position of a mother in the transcendental world and thus achieved the highest perfection. What then is to be said of the cows whose nipples Krishna sucked with great pleasure and who offered their milk very jubilantly with affection exactly like that of a mother?

> > ******

> > TEXTS 39 - 40

> > payâmsi yâsâm apibat

> > putra-sneha-snutâny alam

> > bhagavân devakî-putrah

> > kaivalyâdy-akhila-pradah

> > tâsâm aviratam krishne

> > kurvatînâm sutekshanam

> > na punah kalpate râjan

> > samsâro 'jn'âna-sambhavah

> > payâmsi - milk (coming from the body); yâsâm - of all of whom; apibat - Lord Krishna drank; putra-sneha-snutâni - that milk coming from the bodies of the gopîs, not artificially but because of maternal affection; alam - sufficiently; bhagavân - the Supreme Personality of Godhead; devakî- putrah - who appeared as the son of Devakî; kaivalya-âdi - like liberation or merging into the Brahman effulgence; akhila-pradah - the bestower of all similar blessings;

> > tâsâm - of all of them (of all the gopîs); aviratam - constantly; krishne - unto Lord Krishna; kurvatînâm - making; suta- îkshanam - as a mother looks upon her child; na - never; punah - again; kalpate - can be imagined; râjan - O King Parîkchit; samsârah - the material bondage of birth and death; ajn'âna-sambhavah - which is to be accepted by foolish persons ignorantly trying to become happy.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, is the bestower of many benedictions, including liberation [kaivalya], or oneness with the Brahman effulgence. For that Personality of Godhead, the gopîs always felt maternal love, and Krishna sucked their breasts with full satisfaction. Therefore, because of their relationship as mother and son, although the gopîs were engaged in various family activities, one should never think that they returned to this material world after leaving their bodies.

> > ******

> > TEXT 41

> > katha-dhûmasya saurabhyam

> > avaghrâya vrajaukasah

> > kim idam kuta eveti

> > vadanto vrajam âyayuh

> > katha-dhûmasya - of the smoke emanating from the fire burning the different parts of Pûtanâ's body; saurabhyam - the fragrance; avaghrâya - when they smelled through their nostrils; vraja-okasah - the inhabitants of Vrajabhûmi in distant places; kim idam - what is this fragrance; kutah - where does it come from; eva - indeed; iti - in this way; vadantah - speaking; vrajam - the place of Nanda Mahârâja, Vrajabhûmi; âyayuh - reached.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Upon smelling the fragrance of the smoke emanating from Pûtanâ's burning body, many inhabitants of Vrajabhûmi in distant places were astonished. "Where is this fragrance coming from?" they asked. Thus they went to the spot where Pûtanâ's body was being burnt.

> > ******

> > TEXT 42

> > te tatra varnitam gopaih

> > pûtanâgamanâdikam

> > s'rutvâ tan-nidhanam svasti

> > s'is'os' câsan suvismitâh

> > te - all those persons who arrived; tatra - there (in the vicinity of Nanda Mahârâja's estate); varnitam - described; gopaih - by the cowherd men; pûtanâ- âgamana-âdikam - everything about how Pûtanâ the witch had come there and played havoc; s'rutvâ - after hearing; tat-nidhanam - and about how Pûtanâ had died; svasti - all auspiciousness; s'is'oh - for the baby; ca - and; âsan - offered; su-vismitâh - being struck with great wonder because of what had happened.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When the inhabitants of Vraja who had come from distant places heard the whole story of how Pûtanâ had come and then been killed by Krishna, they were certainly astonished, and they offered their blessings to the child for His wonderful deed of killing Pûtanâ. Nanda Mahârâja, of course, was very much obliged to Vasudeva, who had foreseen the incident, and simply thanked him, thinking how wonderful Vasudeva was.

> > ******

> > TEXT 43

> > nandah sva-putram âdâya

> > pretyâgatam udâra-dhîh

> > mûrdhny upâghrâya paramâm

> > mudam lebhe kurûdvaha

> > nandah - Mahârâja Nanda; sva-putram âdâya - taking his son Krishna on his lap; pretya-âgatam - as if Krishna had returned from death (no one could even imagine that from such danger a child could be saved); udâra-dhîh - because he was always liberal and simple; mûrdhni - on the head of Krishna; upâghrâya - formally smelling; paramâm - highest; mudam - peace; lebhe - achieved; kuru-udvaha - O Mahârâja Parîkchit.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O Mahârâja Parîkchit, best of the Kurus, Nanda Mahârâja was very liberal and simple. He immediately took his son Krishna on his lap as if Krishna had returned from death, and by formally smelling his son's head, Nanda Mahârâja undoubtedly enjoyed transcendental bliss.

> > ******

> > TEXT 44

> > ya etat pûtanâ-moksham

> > krishnasyârbhakam adbhutam

> > s'rinuyâc chraddhayâ martyo

> > govinde labhate ratim

> > yah - anyone who; etat - this; pûtanâ-moksham - salvation of Pûtanâ; krishnasya - of Krishna; ârbhakam - the childhood pastimes; adbhutam - wonderful; s'rinuyât - should hear; s'raddhayâ - with faith and devotion; martyah - any person within this material world; govinde - for the Supreme Person, Govinda, Âdi-purusha; labhate - gains; ratim - attachment.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Any person who hears with faith and devotion about how Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, killed Pûtanâ, and who thus invests his hearing in such childhood pastimes of Krishna, certainly attains attachment for Govinda, the supreme, original person.

> > Back to the running text