SB 10.6.33

TEXT 33

TEXT

k(laevarM" par"zAuiBazA,
iC$ÔvaA taÔae ˜ajaAEk(s$a:
aU"re" iºaptvaAvayavazAAe
nyad"h"na, k(An"vaeií"tama,

kalevaram parasubhis

chittva tat te vrajaukasah

dure ksiptvavayavaso

nyadahan kastha-vestitam

kalevaram-the gigantic body of Putana; parasubhih-with the aid of axes; chittva-after cutting to pieces; tat-that (body); te-all of those; vraja-okasah-inhabitants of Vraja; dure-far, far away; ksiptva-after throwing; avayavasah-different parts of the body, piece by piece; nyadahan-burned to ashes; kastha-vestitam-covered by wood.

TRANSLATION

The inhabitants of Vraja cut the gigantic body of Putana into pieces with the help of axes. Then they threw the pieces far away, covered them with wood and burned them to ashes.

PURPORT

It is the practice that after a snake has been killed, its body is cut into various pieces for fear that it may come to life again simply by interacting with air. Merely killing a serpent is not sufficient; after it is killed, it must be cut to pieces and burned, and then the danger will be over. Putana resembled a great serpent, and therefore the cowherd men took the same precautions by burning her body to ashes.