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Canto 10 · The Summum Bonum · 90 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.

Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›

Canto 10 · Chapter 6: The Killing of the Demon Pūtanā

10.6.1 10.6.3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.6.2

Ūti· What drives us to act

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.6.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

कंसेन प्रहिता घोरा पूतना बालघातिनी ।

शिशूंश्चचार निघ्नन्ती पुरग्रामव्रजादिषु ॥ २ ॥

kaṁsena prahitā ghorā

pūtanā bāla-ghātinī

śiśūṁś cacāra nighnantī

pura-grāma-vrajādiṣu

Translation

While Nanda Mahārāja was returning to Gokula, the same fierce Pūtanā whom Kaṁsa had previously engaged to kill babies was wandering about in the towns, cities and villages, doing her nefarious duty.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Pūtanā Carries Out Kaṁsa’s Cruel Mission

1
While Nanda Mahārāja was returning to Gokula, Pūtanā was wandering through towns, cities and villages.
2
Kaṁsa had engaged the fierce Pūtanā to kill babies.
3
Her work was cruel and harmful. The translation describes it as her nefarious duty.

How it feels

Worry and play → Parental tenderness. The Supreme becomes the beloved child of His devotees.

Chapters 5–11 of Canto 10: Gokula, Yaśodā and the infant Lord. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Chapter 6: The Killing of the Demon Pūtanā

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Meanwhile, Kaṁsa sent to the village of Gokula a Rākṣasī named Pūtanā, who was wandering here and there killing small babies. Of course, wherever there is no Kṛṣṇa consciousness, there is the danger of such Rākṣasīs, but since the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself was in Gokula, Pūtanā could expect nothing there but her own death.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 10.6

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

kaṁsenaby King Kaṁsa
prahitāengaged previously
ghorāvery fierce
pūtanāby the name Pūtanā
bāla-ghātinīa Rākṣasī who killed
śiśūnsmall babies
cacārawandered
nighnantīkilling
pura-grāma-vraja-ādiṣuin towns, cities and villages here and there

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

Ūti · The creative impetus
Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10
Vātsalya · Parental affection
Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 10.6
In this verse: “nanda”
Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct
Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 10.6
In this verse: “duty”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does Pūtanā’s mission show about the harm of carrying out a cruel instruction?

Practice

Review one task you have been asked to do, and consider whether it could harm someone.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPūtanā Carries Out Kaṁsa’s Cruel MissionThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 10.6.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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