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was plenty in Vraja. The time came for payment of the year's dues
to Kansa. So Nanda left Gokula (i. e. Vraja) in charge of the
Gopas and himself went with the dues to Mathura. Vasudeva learned
of Nanda's arrival and went to meet him. Nanda stood up to receive
him and embraced him heartily. Said Vasudeva:
"Brother, you grew old and gave up all hopes of having a child.
Luckily a son is now born unto you. It is indeed a new birth to you,
that you are blessed with the sight of a lovely son. Friends cannot
live pleasantly together as their manifold Karma, like a strong wind,
forces them asunder. Is it all right with the big forest, with the
pasture lands where you now dwell with friends? Is it all right with
my son (Balarama) who lives at your place with her mother, and who
looks upon you as his parent?"
Nanda replied:
"Alas! your sons by Devaki were all killed by Kansa; even the
daughter that was born last has ascended to the heavens. Surely
man is governed by the unseen. Those that know are not deluded."
Said Vasudeva:
"You have paid your yearly dues and have also met me. Now
do not remain here any longer. For evils befall Gokula."
Nanda left Mathura for Gokula.
PUTANA
SKANDHA X. CHAP. 6.
With evil forebodings, Nanda made his way to Vraja, for he
thought Vasudeva would not tell a lie. And he was right. By
Kansa's orders, the fierce Putana went about killing children in towns,
villages and pasture lands, for verily she was a killer of children.
That wanderer of the skies entered Gokula at will, assuming the form
of a woman most beautiful to look at. So no one stopped her pass-
age. She moved freely here and there and at last entered the house
of Nanda. She looked like a kind mother and YasodA and Rohini
were so much struck by her fine exterior that they did not stop her
access to Krishna. Putana placed the child on her lap and gave him
milk from her breast full of deadly poison. The divine child knew who
Putana was and what she was about. He held fast her breast with
both hands and in anger drank in the very life juice of the Asura
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