PLATE ONE

One day the demoness Pitand came down from outer space into
Gokula, the home of Nanda Maharaja. Having been sent by the cruel
King Karnsa to kill all the babies in the Vrndavana area, Pitana dis-
played her mystic power and assumed the disguise of a very beautiful
woman. Taking courage, she immediately entered Krsna’s bedroom
without permission, but everyone was so overwhelmed by her beauty
that they did not protest. The baby Krsna, who resembled a fire covered
by ashes, looked upon Patana and thought that He would have to kill
her. Piitana could understand the great potency of Krsna, but, enchanted
by the influence of Krsna’s internal energy, she took Krsna upon her lap
anyway and offered Him her poison-smeared breast to suck. Suddenly,
baby Krsna became very angry at Pitana, and taking hold of her breast,
He squeezed it very hard with both hands and began to suck out both the
poison and her life. In unbearable agony, Pitana perspired heavily,
flailed her arms and legs wildly, and cried out, ‘“‘Please leave me, leave
me! Suck my breast no longer!” But Krsna persisted, and as the demon-
ess lost her life she assumed her original, huge form. Then, before the
amazed gopis, Krsna began fearlessly playing on the breast of Piitana’s
twelve-mile-long corpse. (pp. 1-16)
