The Slaying of Putana: A Tale of Deception and Deliverance

It was a night drenched in foreboding when the demoness Putana, an agent of the wicked King Kamsa, descended upon the sleepy village of Gokul. Sent to destroy the infant Krishna, she disguised herself as a beautiful woman, exuding warmth and affection. Her heart, however, brimmed with malice, and her touch carried the poison of death.

The people of Gokul welcomed her without suspicion. Who could resist a kind stranger offering to cradle their little one? With a serene smile masking her deadly intent, Putana entered Nanda’s home, her gaze settling on the child lying in the cradle—Krishna, a picture of innocence with a glow that seemed to pierce through her dark soul.

She leaned down, her poisoned breasts meant to bring instant death to the divine child. The demoness smiled as Krishna, playful and unafraid, latched onto her. But as he began to feed, something strange happened.

The venom that should have killed him had no effect. Instead, Krishna’s tiny fingers gripped her, and an unimaginable force surged through her body. She tried to pull away, but it was too late. The innocent child in her arms was no ordinary boy—he was the preserver of the universe.

As Krishna fed, he drew not just milk, but the very life force out of Putana. Her enchantress beauty faded, revealing her monstrous form. Her eyes widened in horror as she realized her fate. With a final, desperate scream, she collapsed, her enormous body crashing down like a fallen mountain. The earth trembled beneath the weight of her demise.

But the child Krishna? He sat unharmed, his lips curved into a mischievous smile. The villagers rushed to the scene, astonished to find the demoness lifeless before them and their beloved child untouched, as if nothing extraordinary had happened.

With the death of Putana, Krishna had delivered the first blow to the evil reign of Kamsa. Yet, in his divine compassion, even the demoness was granted liberation. For though she came with the intent to kill, she had given Krishna nourishment—even if in deceit—and in return, he blessed her with salvation. Her spirit, cleansed of all sin, found peace.

Thus, the child-god’s journey of vanquishing darkness began, not with swords or armies, but with the simple act of nursing from a demon. His message to the world was clear from this very first victory: even the greatest evil, when touched by divine grace, could find redemption.