Synopsis:

 

This story is based on a well-known episode from the epic Bhagavatha.

This "attakatha" was written by Aswathithirunal Maharaja around 1779.

 

 

Scenes 11 and 12 are the most popular scenes from this story.

 

Scene 11:

 

King Kamsa, after hearing that a child has been born to kill him, decides to kill

all infants. He orders Demoness Poothana to slay Infant Krishna at Ambadi.

 

The scene starts with Demoness Poothana, disguised as a beautiful woman –

known as Lalita in Kathakali -- entering Ambadi and describing the beautiful

sights and smells of the place.

 

Scene 12:

 

Then she enters Krishna’s abode and is

fascinated by the divine child. She starts playing with him. She can't bring

herself to kill such a beautiful baby. But she remembers the cruel Kamsa's

orders and shudders at her fate if she refuses to carry out the king's orders.

She is in a dilemma -- the mother in her won't let her kill a child but her survival

instinct tells her she has no choice. Reluctantly she decides she has to kill

Krishna.

 

Poothana smears poison on her breasts and starts suckling the baby. But after

a while she finds that the baby doesn't stop feeding; she feels cramped,

breathless; feels life oozing out of her little by little. The baby sucking at her

breasts is sucking out her life!

In the agony of her death throes, the beautiful Poothana is transformed into

her devilish form. Lord Krishna appears to her in his cosmic form or

"vishwaroopa" and Poothana attains salvation.

 

Translated by Achuthan TK