The Tale of Putana

In the tranquil village of Gokul, where the cowherds lived peacefully amidst the lush green fields, a divine child was born—Lord Krishna, the incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He was no ordinary child but a beacon of hope destined to rid the world of evil, especially the tyrannical king Kamsa, who ruled with cruelty and fear. Kamsa, terrified of a prophecy that foretold his death at the hands of Krishna, made numerous attempts to kill the divine infant.

One of the most dangerous beings Kamsa sent to destroy Krishna was Putana, a fierce demoness skilled in witchcraft and deception. Putana had the ability to change her appearance at will, and she was known for her merciless cruelty. She had killed countless infants by feeding them her poisoned milk. Under Kamsa’s orders, she set out to find and kill Krishna.

Disguising herself as a beautiful woman with a nurturing aura, Putana arrived in Gokul, her eyes set on the innocent baby Krishna. Her appearance was so enchanting that the villagers, unaware of her true identity, welcomed her without suspicion. She approached Yashoda, Krishna’s foster mother, and asked to hold the child in her arms.

Yashoda, trusting the seemingly kind woman, allowed Putana to cradle baby Krishna. Holding the infant lovingly, Putana smiled as she prepared to execute her deadly plan. She offered her breast to the child, which was laced with deadly poison, intending to end his life in an instant.

However, as Krishna latched onto her, something unimaginable happened. Instead of being harmed by the poison, the baby Krishna began to suck not only the poisoned milk but also the very life force from Putana herself. The demoness, unable to resist the divine power of the infant, felt her strength being drained. She tried to pull away, but Krishna held on with an unyielding grip.

Putana’s illusion of beauty began to fade, and her true monstrous form was revealed. Her eyes bulged with terror, her skin darkened, and her enormous, hideous body stretched across the village as she writhed in agony. With each passing second, Krishna continued to drain her life force until finally, with a final, earth-shaking cry, Putana fell to the ground, dead.

Though she came with the intent to kill, Putana was, in her final moments, granted salvation by the touch of the divine. Her body was purified, and her soul, released from its evil, attained peace. The villagers of Gokul, witnessing the incredible event, marveled at the divine power of the child Krishna, who had vanquished yet another evil without lifting a finger.

The Moral of the Tale

The story of Putana illustrates the profound truth that evil cannot harm the divine or the righteous. Though Putana came with malice in her heart, she was powerless in the face of Krishna’s purity and divine energy. The poison she intended for the innocent child became her own undoing, and her encounter with Krishna purified her, granting her redemption in death.

This tale also teaches that those who harbor ill intentions and seek to harm others will ultimately face the consequences of their own actions. Putana’s life of deceit and cruelty was cut short when she attempted to harm the divine, reminding us that our evil deeds will eventually return to us.

On a deeper level, Krishna’s act of giving Putana salvation shows that even the most corrupt souls can find redemption when touched by divinity. In this way, the story of Putana inspires us to seek the path of goodness and recognize that grace and forgiveness are possible, even for those who have gone astray.