dahyamānasya dehasya
dhūmaś cāguru-saurabhaḥ
utthitaḥ kṛṣṇa-nirbhukta-
sapady āhata-pāpmanaḥ
dhūmaś cāguru-saurabhaḥ
utthitaḥ kṛṣṇa-nirbhukta-
sapady āhata-pāpmanaḥ
Synonyms
dahyamānasya-while being burnt to ashes; dehasya-of the body of Pūtanā; dhūmaḥ-the smoke; ca-and; aguru-saurabhaḥ-turned into saintly scented smoke of the aguru herb; utthitaḥ-emanating from her body; kṛṣṇa-nirbhukta-because of Kṛṣṇa's having sucked her breast; sapadi-immediately; āhata-pāpmanaḥ-her material body became spiritualized or relieved of all material conditions.
Because of Kṛṣṇa's having sucked the breast of the Rākṣasī Pūtanā, when Kṛṣṇa 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.
Such are the effects of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. If one somehow or other becomes Kṛṣṇa conscious by applying his senses in the service of the Lord, one is immediately freed from material contamination. Śṛṇvatāṁ sva-kathāḥ kṛṣṇaḥ puṇya-śravaṇa-kīrtanaḥ (Bhāg. 1.2.17). Hearing about the activities of Kṛṣṇa is the beginning of purified life. Puṇya-śravaṇa-kīrtanaḥ: simply by hearing and chanting, one becomes purified. Therefore, in discharging devotional service, śravaṇa-kīrtana (hearing and chanting) is most important. Then, with purified senses, one begins to render service to the Lord (hṛṣīkeṇa hṛṣīkeśa-sevanam [Cc. Madhya 19.170]). Bhaktir ucyate: this is called bhakti. When Pūtanā was somehow or other, directly or indirectly, induced to render some service to the Lord by feeding Him with her breast, she was immediately purified, so much so that when her nasty material body was burnt to ashes, it gave off the fragrance of aguru, the most agreeably scented herb.
TEXTS 35–36
pūtanā loka-bāla-ghnī
rākṣasī rudhirāśanā
jighāṁsayāpi haraye
stanaṁ dattvāpa sad-gatim
kiṁ punaḥ śraddhayā bhaktyā
kṛṣṇāya paramātmane
yacchan priyatamaṁ kiṁ 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; jighāṁsayā-with the desire to kill Kṛṣṇa (being envious of Kṛṣṇa and having been instructed by Kaṁsa); 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.
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?
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).
TEXTS 37–38
padbhyāṁ bhakta-hṛdi-sthābhyāṁ
vandyābhyāṁ loka-vanditaiḥ
aṅgaṁ yasyāḥ samākramya
bhagavān api tat-stanam
yātudhāny api sā svargam
avāpa jananī-gatim
kṛṣṇa-bhukta-stana-kṣīrāḥ
kim u gāvo 'numātaraḥ
SYNONYMS
padbhyām-by the two lotus feet; bhakta-hṛdi-sthābhyām-which are always thought of by pure devotees, in whose heart the Lord is therefore situated constantly; vandyābhyām-which are always to be praised; loka-vanditaiḥ-by Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva, who are praised by all the inhabitants of the three worlds; aṅgam-the body; yasyāḥ-of whom (Pūtanā); samākramya-embracing; bhagavān-the Supreme Personality of Godhead; api-also; tat-stanam-that breast; yātudhānī api-although she was a witch (whose only business was to kill small children and who had tried to kill Kṛṣṇa also); sā-she; svargam-the transcendental abode; avāpa-achieved; jananī-gatim-the position of a mother; kṛṣṇa-bhukta-stana-kṣīrāḥ-therefore, because their breasts were sucked by Kṛṣṇa, who drank the milk flowing from their bodies; kim u-what to speak of; gāvaḥ-the cows; anumātaraḥ-exactly like mothers (who allowed their nipples to be sucked by Kṛṣṇa).
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, 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 Brahmā and Lord Śiva. Because Kṛṣṇa embraced Pūtanā'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 Kṛṣṇa sucked with great pleasure and who offered their milk very jubilantly with affection exactly like that of a mother?
These verses explain how devotional service rendered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whether directly or indirectly, knowingly or unknowingly, becomes successful. Pūtanā was neither a devotee nor a nondevotee; she was actually a demoniac witch instructed by Kaṁsa to kill Kṛṣṇa. Nonetheless, in the beginning she assumed the form of a very beautiful woman and approached Kṛṣṇa exactly like an affectionate mother, so that mother Yaśodā and Rohiṇī did not doubt her sincerity. The Lord took all this into consideration, and thus she was automatically promoted to a position like that of mother Yaśodā. As explained by Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, there are various roles one may play in such a position. Pūtanā was immediately promoted to Vaikuṇṭhaloka, which is also sometimes described as Svarga. The Svarga mentioned in this verse is not the material heavenly planet, but the transcendental world. In Vaikuṇṭhaloka, Pūtanā attained the position of a nurse (dhātry-ucitām), as described by Uddhava. Pūtanā was elevated to the position of a nurse and maidservant in Goloka Vṛndāvana to assist mother Yaśodā.
TEXTS 39–40
payāṁsi yāsām apibat
putra-sneha-snutāny alam
bhagavān devakī-putraḥ
kaivalyādy-akhila-pradaḥ
tāsām avirataṁ kṛṣṇe
kurvatīnāṁ sutekṣaṇam
na punaḥ kalpate rājan
saṁsāro 'jñāna-sambhavaḥ
SYNONYMS
payāṁsi-milk (coming from the body); yāsām-of all of whom; apibat-Lord Kṛṣṇa drank; putra-sneha-snutāni-that milk coming from the bodies of the gopīs, not artificially but because of maternal affection; alam-sufficiently; bhagavān-the Supreme Personality of Godhead; devakī-putraḥ-who appeared as the son of Devakī; kaivalya-ādi-like liberation or merging into the Brahman effulgence; akhila-pradaḥ-the bestower of all similar blessings; tāsām-of all of them (of all the gopīs); aviratam-constantly; kṛṣṇe-unto Lord Kṛṣṇa; kurvatīnām-making; suta-īkṣaṇam-as a mother looks upon her child; na-never; punaḥ-again; kalpate-can be imagined; rājan-O King Parīkṣit; saṁsāraḥ-the material bondage of birth and death; ajñāna-sambhavaḥ-which is to be accepted by foolish persons ignorantly trying to become happy.
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, is the bestower of many benedictions, including liberation [kaivalya], or oneness with the Brahman effulgence. For that Personality of Godhead, the gopīs always felt maternal love, and Kṛṣṇa sucked their breasts with full satisfaction. Therefore, because of their relationship as mother and son, although the gopīs were engaged in various family activities, one should never think that they returned to this material world after leaving their bodies.
The advantage of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is described herein. Kṛṣṇa consciousness gradually develops on the transcendental platform. One may think of Kṛṣṇa as the supreme personality, one may think of Kṛṣṇa as the supreme master, one may think of Kṛṣṇa as the supreme friend, one may think of Kṛṣṇa as the supreme son, or one may think of Kṛṣṇa as the supreme conjugal lover. If one is connected with Kṛṣṇa in any of these transcendental relationships, the course of one's material life is understood to have already ended. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (4.9), tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti mām eti: for such devotees, going back home, back to Godhead, is guaranteed. Na punaḥ kalpate rājan saṁsāro jñāna-sambhavaḥ. This verse also guarantees that devotees who constantly think of Kṛṣṇa in a particular relationship will never return to this material world. In this material world of saṁsāra, there are the same relationships. One thinks, "Here is my son," "Here is my wife," "Here is my lover," or "Here is my friend." But these relationships are temporary illusions. Ajñāna-sambhavaḥ: such a consciousness awakens in ignorance. But when the same relationships awaken in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one's spiritual life is revived, and one is guaranteed to return home, back to Godhead. Even though the gopīs who were friends of Rohiṇī and mother Yaśodā and who allowed their breasts to be sucked by Kṛṣṇa were not directly Kṛṣṇa's mothers, they all had the same chance as Rohiṇī and Yaśodā to go back to Godhead and act as Kṛṣṇa's mothers-in-law, servants and so on. The word saṁsāra refers to attachment for one's body, home, husband or wife, and children, but although the gopīs and all the other inhabitants of Vṛndāvana had the same affection and attachment for husband and home, their central affection was for Kṛṣṇa in some transcendental relationship, and therefore they were guaranteed to be promoted to Goloka Vṛndāvana in the next life, to live with Kṛṣṇa eternally in spiritual happiness. The easiest way to attain spiritual elevation, to be liberated from this material world, and to go back home, back to Godhead, is recommended by Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura: kṛṣṇera saṁsāra kara chāḍi' anācāra. One should give up all sinful activities and remain in the family of Kṛṣṇa. Then one's liberation is guaranteed.
Because of Kṛṣṇa's having sucked the breast of the Rākṣasī Pūtanā, when Kṛṣṇa 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.
Such are the effects of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. If one somehow or other becomes Kṛṣṇa conscious by applying his senses in the service of the Lord, one is immediately freed from material contamination. Śṛṇvatāṁ sva-kathāḥ kṛṣṇaḥ puṇya-śravaṇa-kīrtanaḥ (Bhāg. 1.2.17). Hearing about the activities of Kṛṣṇa is the beginning of purified life. Puṇya-śravaṇa-kīrtanaḥ: simply by hearing and chanting, one becomes purified. Therefore, in discharging devotional service, śravaṇa-kīrtana (hearing and chanting) is most important. Then, with purified senses, one begins to render service to the Lord (hṛṣīkeṇa hṛṣīkeśa-sevanam [Cc. Madhya 19.170]). Bhaktir ucyate: this is called bhakti. When Pūtanā was somehow or other, directly or indirectly, induced to render some service to the Lord by feeding Him with her breast, she was immediately purified, so much so that when her nasty material body was burnt to ashes, it gave off the fragrance of aguru, the most agreeably scented herb.
TEXTS 35–36
pūtanā loka-bāla-ghnī
rākṣasī rudhirāśanā
jighāṁsayāpi haraye
stanaṁ dattvāpa sad-gatim
kiṁ punaḥ śraddhayā bhaktyā
kṛṣṇāya paramātmane
yacchan priyatamaṁ kiṁ 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; jighāṁsayā-with the desire to kill Kṛṣṇa (being envious of Kṛṣṇa and having been instructed by Kaṁsa); 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.
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?
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).
TEXTS 37–38
padbhyāṁ bhakta-hṛdi-sthābhyāṁ
vandyābhyāṁ loka-vanditaiḥ
aṅgaṁ yasyāḥ samākramya
bhagavān api tat-stanam
yātudhāny api sā svargam
avāpa jananī-gatim
kṛṣṇa-bhukta-stana-kṣīrāḥ
kim u gāvo 'numātaraḥ
SYNONYMS
padbhyām-by the two lotus feet; bhakta-hṛdi-sthābhyām-which are always thought of by pure devotees, in whose heart the Lord is therefore situated constantly; vandyābhyām-which are always to be praised; loka-vanditaiḥ-by Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva, who are praised by all the inhabitants of the three worlds; aṅgam-the body; yasyāḥ-of whom (Pūtanā); samākramya-embracing; bhagavān-the Supreme Personality of Godhead; api-also; tat-stanam-that breast; yātudhānī api-although she was a witch (whose only business was to kill small children and who had tried to kill Kṛṣṇa also); sā-she; svargam-the transcendental abode; avāpa-achieved; jananī-gatim-the position of a mother; kṛṣṇa-bhukta-stana-kṣīrāḥ-therefore, because their breasts were sucked by Kṛṣṇa, who drank the milk flowing from their bodies; kim u-what to speak of; gāvaḥ-the cows; anumātaraḥ-exactly like mothers (who allowed their nipples to be sucked by Kṛṣṇa).
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, 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 Brahmā and Lord Śiva. Because Kṛṣṇa embraced Pūtanā'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 Kṛṣṇa sucked with great pleasure and who offered their milk very jubilantly with affection exactly like that of a mother?
These verses explain how devotional service rendered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whether directly or indirectly, knowingly or unknowingly, becomes successful. Pūtanā was neither a devotee nor a nondevotee; she was actually a demoniac witch instructed by Kaṁsa to kill Kṛṣṇa. Nonetheless, in the beginning she assumed the form of a very beautiful woman and approached Kṛṣṇa exactly like an affectionate mother, so that mother Yaśodā and Rohiṇī did not doubt her sincerity. The Lord took all this into consideration, and thus she was automatically promoted to a position like that of mother Yaśodā. As explained by Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, there are various roles one may play in such a position. Pūtanā was immediately promoted to Vaikuṇṭhaloka, which is also sometimes described as Svarga. The Svarga mentioned in this verse is not the material heavenly planet, but the transcendental world. In Vaikuṇṭhaloka, Pūtanā attained the position of a nurse (dhātry-ucitām), as described by Uddhava. Pūtanā was elevated to the position of a nurse and maidservant in Goloka Vṛndāvana to assist mother Yaśodā.
TEXTS 39–40
payāṁsi yāsām apibat
putra-sneha-snutāny alam
bhagavān devakī-putraḥ
kaivalyādy-akhila-pradaḥ
tāsām avirataṁ kṛṣṇe
kurvatīnāṁ sutekṣaṇam
na punaḥ kalpate rājan
saṁsāro 'jñāna-sambhavaḥ
SYNONYMS
payāṁsi-milk (coming from the body); yāsām-of all of whom; apibat-Lord Kṛṣṇa drank; putra-sneha-snutāni-that milk coming from the bodies of the gopīs, not artificially but because of maternal affection; alam-sufficiently; bhagavān-the Supreme Personality of Godhead; devakī-putraḥ-who appeared as the son of Devakī; kaivalya-ādi-like liberation or merging into the Brahman effulgence; akhila-pradaḥ-the bestower of all similar blessings; tāsām-of all of them (of all the gopīs); aviratam-constantly; kṛṣṇe-unto Lord Kṛṣṇa; kurvatīnām-making; suta-īkṣaṇam-as a mother looks upon her child; na-never; punaḥ-again; kalpate-can be imagined; rājan-O King Parīkṣit; saṁsāraḥ-the material bondage of birth and death; ajñāna-sambhavaḥ-which is to be accepted by foolish persons ignorantly trying to become happy.
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, is the bestower of many benedictions, including liberation [kaivalya], or oneness with the Brahman effulgence. For that Personality of Godhead, the gopīs always felt maternal love, and Kṛṣṇa sucked their breasts with full satisfaction. Therefore, because of their relationship as mother and son, although the gopīs were engaged in various family activities, one should never think that they returned to this material world after leaving their bodies.
The advantage of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is described herein. Kṛṣṇa consciousness gradually develops on the transcendental platform. One may think of Kṛṣṇa as the supreme personality, one may think of Kṛṣṇa as the supreme master, one may think of Kṛṣṇa as the supreme friend, one may think of Kṛṣṇa as the supreme son, or one may think of Kṛṣṇa as the supreme conjugal lover. If one is connected with Kṛṣṇa in any of these transcendental relationships, the course of one's material life is understood to have already ended. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (4.9), tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti mām eti: for such devotees, going back home, back to Godhead, is guaranteed. Na punaḥ kalpate rājan saṁsāro jñāna-sambhavaḥ. This verse also guarantees that devotees who constantly think of Kṛṣṇa in a particular relationship will never return to this material world. In this material world of saṁsāra, there are the same relationships. One thinks, "Here is my son," "Here is my wife," "Here is my lover," or "Here is my friend." But these relationships are temporary illusions. Ajñāna-sambhavaḥ: such a consciousness awakens in ignorance. But when the same relationships awaken in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one's spiritual life is revived, and one is guaranteed to return home, back to Godhead. Even though the gopīs who were friends of Rohiṇī and mother Yaśodā and who allowed their breasts to be sucked by Kṛṣṇa were not directly Kṛṣṇa's mothers, they all had the same chance as Rohiṇī and Yaśodā to go back to Godhead and act as Kṛṣṇa's mothers-in-law, servants and so on. The word saṁsāra refers to attachment for one's body, home, husband or wife, and children, but although the gopīs and all the other inhabitants of Vṛndāvana had the same affection and attachment for husband and home, their central affection was for Kṛṣṇa in some transcendental relationship, and therefore they were guaranteed to be promoted to Goloka Vṛndāvana in the next life, to live with Kṛṣṇa eternally in spiritual happiness. The easiest way to attain spiritual elevation, to be liberated from this material world, and to go back home, back to Godhead, is recommended by Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura: kṛṣṇera saṁsāra kara chāḍi' anācāra. One should give up all sinful activities and remain in the family of Kṛṣṇa. Then one's liberation is guaranteed.