King Kamsa, haunted by the prophecy of his downfall, dispatched the demoness Putana to eliminate all newborn infants in Braj. Putana, a powerful shapeshifter, assumed the form of a breathtakingly beautiful woman and entered the village of Gokul. She approached the house of Nanda and Yashoda, where she found the infant Krishna. Disguising her murderous intent with feigned maternal affection, she took the child in her arms and offered him her breast, which was smeared with the deadly Kalakuta poison. The divine infant, fully aware of her true nature, began to suckle. However, Krishna did not just drink the milk; he drew out Putana's very life force through his breath. As she gasped in agony, her beautiful disguise dissolved, revealing a massive, hideous demoness. She fell dead with a roar that shook the earth, her giant body covering miles, yet the baby Krishna remained unharmed, playing peacefully atop her chest, signaling his first great triumph over the forces of evil.
Evil intentions, no matter how beautifully disguised, cannot overcome divine purity and truth.
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Questions about this story
What is the moral of The Killing of Putana?
The story teaches that evil can never overcome divine purity, even when hidden behind a mask of beauty. It also shows that God offers ultimate liberation to those who cross His path, regardless of their initial intent.
Who sent Putana to kill Krishna?
Putana was sent by the wicked King Kamsa, Krishna's maternal uncle. He lived in constant fear of a prophecy that stated the eighth child of his sister Devaki would be his slayer.
How did baby Krishna kill the demoness Putana?
Krishna accepted her poisoned milk but used his divine power to suck the life force out of her body. This caused her to scream in pain and revert to her giant, monstrous form before collapsing.
What happened to Putana's soul after death?
According to the Puranas, because she acted as a nurse to Krishna, her soul was purified of all sins. She was granted the status of a mother in the spiritual sky, a form of liberation called 'Moksha'.
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