Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 10 Chapter 6 Verses 35-36

Canto 10: The Summum Bonum | Chapter 6: The Killing of the Demon Pūtanā

Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 10.6.35-36

pūtanā loka-bāla-ghnī

rākṣasī rudhirāśanā

jighāḿsayāpi haraye

stanaḿ dattvāpa sad-gatim

kiḿ punaḥ śraddhayā bhaktyā

kṛṣṇāya paramātmane

yacchan priyatamaḿ kiḿ nu

raktās tan-mātaro yathā

SYNONYMS

pūtanā — Pūtanā, the professional Rākṣasī; loka-bāla-ghnī — who used to kill human children; rākṣasī — the she-demon; rudhira-aśanā — simply hankering for blood; jighāḿsayā — with the desire to kill Kṛṣṇa (being envious of Kṛṣṇa and having been instructed by Kaḿsa); api — still; haraye — unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; stanam — her breast; dattvā — after offering; āpa — obtained; sat-gatim — the most elevated position of spiritual existence; kim — what to speak of; punaḥ — again; śraddhayā — with faith; bhaktyā — by devotion; kṛṣṇāya — unto Lord Kṛṣṇa; paramātmane — who is the Supreme Person; yacchan — offering; priya-tamam — the dearmost; kim — something; nu — indeed; raktāḥ — those who have an affinity; tat-mātaraḥ — Kṛṣṇa's affectionate mothers (offering the beloved child their breasts); yathā — exactly like.

TRANSLATION

Pūtanā was always hankering for the blood of human children, and with that desire she came to kill Kṛṣṇa; 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 Kṛṣṇa as mothers and who offered Him their breasts to suck or offered something very dear, as a mother offers something to a child?

PURPORT

Pūtanā had no affection for Kṛṣṇa; rather, she was envious and wanted to kill Him. Nonetheless, because with or without knowledge she offered her breast, she attained the highest achievement in life. But the offerings of devotees attracted to Kṛṣṇa in parental love are always sincere. A mother likes to offer something to her child with affection and love; there is no question of envy. So here we can make a comparative study. If Pūtanā could attain such an exalted position in spiritual life by neglectfully, enviously making an offering to Kṛṣṇa, what is to be said of mother Yaśodā and the other gopīs, who served Kṛṣṇa with such great affection and love, offering everything for Kṛṣṇa's satisfaction? The gopīs automatically achieved the highest perfection. Therefore Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu recommended the affection of the gopīs, either in maternal affection or in conjugal love, as the highest perfection in life (ramyā kācid upāsanā vrajavadhū-vargeṇa yā kalpitā).

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