Krishna ExperienceA stranger in Gokul
After the goddess's warning, Kansa ordered his demons to kill every newborn in the region. Putana, who killed infants, took the form of a beautiful young woman and walked into Gokul. No one stopped her. She found the baby Krishna in Nanda's house, took him on her lap and offered him her breast, which she had smeared with poison.
The feeding
Krishna drank, and with the milk drew out her life. Putana screamed, ran out of the house, and fell dead in her true form, a giant whose body crushed the trees for miles. The cowherds hurried the baby away from her, bathed him and performed protective rites, and the women of Gokul trembled at what had nearly happened.
Why the story ends kindly
The Bhagavata Purana adds a surprising detail: Putana's body gave off a sweet fragrance when it was burned, because Krishna had drunk from her. Since she had offered him milk, even with murderous intent, she was granted the place of a mother. Teachers in the bhakti traditions read this as a lesson in Krishna's generosity: if even a poisoner who touched him was liberated, what must he give to those who come with love?
Where it happened
Pilgrims to Gokul and Mahavan are shown places associated with Krishna's infancy and with Putana. The episode is among the first of the bal leelas, the childhood pastimes, and is often told at Janmashtami.
Questions people ask
Who was Putana?
A demoness sent by Kansa to kill newborn babies. She came to Gokul as a beautiful woman and tried to poison Krishna with her breast milk.
What happened to Putana?
Krishna drew out her life as he fed. According to the Bhagavata Purana, she was liberated and attained the position of a mother because she had offered him milk.