Krishna Leelas: When Beauty Hides Poison - The Story of Putana
In the Bhagavat Mahapurana, we encounter one of the most striking Leelas of Krishna, the story of Putana.
She entered Gokula cloaked in beauty and grace.
Her form radiant, her smile nurturing, her presence soothing, she appeared like a divine mother come to bless the children of the village.
But beneath this gentle disguise, she hid a deadly secret. Her breasts were smeared with poison, and her heart carried the dark intent to destroy the infant Krishna.
She lifted the Divine Child tenderly, as if with affection, and nursed him, convinced this would end the prophecy that haunted her master, Kamsa.
But Krishna’s response was beyond imagination.
He did not reject her.
He accepted her offering.
He drew out the poison, along with her very life, and in doing so, transformed her fate.
The demoness who came to kill was granted liberation. Krishna accepted even her distorted act as an offering of motherhood, and Putana, remembered not as a slayer, but as a mother, attained grace.
This is the power of Krishna’s play: what was meant to kill became a doorway to grace.
Reflections for Us
These stories are not mere myths. They are meditative mirrors, teaching us how to progress, grow, and find liberation in the most unexpected places. When seen with acceptance and gratitude, they bring clarity, joy, and inner freedom.
In our lives, too, don’t we meet “Putanas”?
They may not come as demonesses in disguise, but their essence is familiar:
Opportunities that glitter on the outside but drain our energy, leaving us restless instead of fulfilled.
Relationships that seem caring, yet quietly pull us into dependency, negativity, or self-doubt.
Habits that give momentary pleasure but eat away at our well-being.
Ambitions that look rewarding from afar but hollow us out when achieved.
On the surface, they look nurturing, promising, irresistible, but beneath lies exhaustion, emptiness, or harm. Like Putana, they wear the mask of affection but conceal poison.
And like Krishna, our calling is not only to protect ourselves, but to transform these encounters into wisdom. To see through the mask, to draw out the lesson, and to emerge with deeper clarity.
The Lesson of Putana
Discernment
Not everything that shines is nourishing. Learning to see beyond appearances is the first step to inner peace. Judge not by how things look, but by their intention and the fruit they bear in your life.Transformation
Challenges are not always enemies. Every poison we meet can be reshaped into wisdom, strength, and awakening. The Divine allows certain storms so that hidden strength may awaken. Trust that plan, even when it feels unclear.Grace
If even Putana, who approached Krishna with hatred, was liberated, then none of us is beyond healing. Grace is vast, boundless, and compassionate. It can touch the darkest parts of us and transform poison into nectar.
Closing Thought
At YourSukoon, we hold on to this truth:
Life is not about avoiding every shadow, but about letting the light of the Divine transform even the darkest poison into a pathway of peace.
✨ May this reflection remind us to look deeper, to trust in grace, and to welcome every challenge as an invitation to grow.
“Even poison, when offered to the Divine, becomes nectar.”
