Text 41]
The Killing of the Demon Pūtanā
35
who constantly think of Kṛṣṇa in a particular relationship will never return to this material world. In this material world of  saṁsāra , there are the same relationships. One thinks, “Here is my son,” “Here is my wife,” “Here is my lover,” or “Here is my friend.” But these relationships are temporary illusions.  Ajñāna-sambhavaḥ : such a consciousness awakens in ignorance. But when the same relationships awaken in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one’s spiritual life is revived, and one is guaranteed to return home, back to Godhead. Even though the  gopīs  who were friends of Rohiṇī and mother Yaśodā and who allowed their breasts to be sucked by Kṛṣṇa were not directly Kṛṣṇa’s mothers, they all had the same chance as Rohiṇī and Yaśodā to go back to Godhead and act as Kṛṣṇa’s mothers-in-law, servants and so on. The word  saṁsāra  refers to attachment for one’s body, home, husband or wife, and children, but although the  gopīs  and all the other inhabitants of Vṛndāvana had the same affection and attachment for husband and home, their central affection was for Kṛṣṇa in some transcendental relationship, and therefore they were guaranteed to be promoted to Goloka Vṛndāvana in the next life, to live with Kṛṣṇa eternally in spiritual happiness. The easiest way to attain spiritual elevation, to be liberated from this material world, and to go back home, back to Godhead, is recommended by Bhaktivinoda Thākura:  kṛṣṇera saṁsāra kara chāḍi’ anācāra . One should give up all sinful activities and remain in the family of Kṛṣṇa. Then one’s liberation is guaranteed.
TEXT 41
कटधूमस्य सौरभ्यमवघ्राय त्रजौकसः । किमिदं कुत एवेति वदन्तो त्रजमाययुः ॥४१॥
kaṭa-dhūmasya saurabhyam avaghrāya vrajaukasaḥ kim idam kuta eveti vadanto vrajam āyayuḥ
kaṭa-dhūmasya —of the smoke emanating from the fire burning the different parts of Pūtanā’s body;  saurabhyam —the fragrance;  avaghrāya —when they smelled through their nostrils;  vraja-okasaḥ —the inhabitants of Vrajabhūmi in distant places;  kim idam —what is this