Gokula · II. Birth in the Prison

Verse 21

नन्दाघ्रातशिरोमध्यः पूतनासुगतिप्रदः ।बालः पर्यङ्कनिद्रालुर् मुखार्पितपदाङ्गुलिः॥

nandāghrātaśiromadhyaḥ pūtanāsugatipradaḥ ·bālaḥ paryaṅkanidrālur mukhārpitapadāṅguliḥ

The Names in This Verse (5)

104 nandāghrātaśiromadhyaḥ

the crown of whose head Nanda kissed by smelling

S.B.G 10.7.4

Nanda lifts the child and smells the crown of his head in the traditional paternal gesture of blessing; the Supreme receives a father's kiss on his head.

105 pūtanāsugatipradaḥ

who granted Pūtanā a blessed destiny

liberation, despite her murderous intent

S.B.G 10.6.37

Despite coming as an assassin, Pūtanā attains liberation because she offered her breast to Kṛṣṇa even with deadly intent; S.B.G marvels: if enemies attain this, what of his lovers?

106 bālaḥ

the infant

S.B.G 10.7.1

'The child' — the Bhāgavata's early chapters celebrate the paradox of the Infinite as the helpless bāla; this name is a meditational anchor for vātsalya-bhakti.

107 paryaṅkanidrāluḥ

drowsing upon his little cot

S.B.G 10.7.1

The infant Kṛṣṇa lying asleep on the little bed becomes the occasion for the Śakaṭa-demon's attack; S.B.G 10.7.7 sets this scene as the mother goes about her chores.

108 mukhārpitapadāṅguliḥ

who set his toe into his mouth

S.B.G 10.7.1

The image of the baby Kṛṣṇa sucking his own toe while lying on the little bed is one of the Bhāgavata's most intimate infant portraits; devotees meditate on this form.