Thought the previous episodes were Darker and Edgier? Strap in, for this episode of Mahabharata ramps that darkness up further, by killing more babies.
The episode begins with the citizens of Gokul village dancing and singing to celebrate a sudden blooming of flora that coincided with the “birth” of Yashodha’s baby.
Kansa storms into Devaki and Vasudev’s cell, upon hearing that the eighth child was born. To his surprise, the baby is a girl! Kansa gloats that the prophecy was false, and therefore he is immortal. However, back at his palace, Kansa appears to undergo a bit of regret over needlessly imprisoning his sister and friend and murdering six babies. But then he places the blame on the sage for scaring him with a false prophecy and orders the sage brought before him to proclaim a death sentence. However, when brought before Kansa, the sage insists that the eighth son has been born, so his end is at hand. A paranoid Kansa storms back into Devaki’s cell, grabs the baby girl and prepares to kill her too. But then the baby vanishes and a female voice booms from the heavens proclaiming that she isn’t who he is looking for.
A mortified Kansa returns to the palace, sends for his prime minister and orders him to massacre all babies born the previous day. The prime minister advises Kansa that such an action will only ferment a revolt, and suggests sending spies out instead to discover any births that were unusual.
A spy eventually reports back that the village of Gokul has experienced an uncharacteristic spurt of floral growth. Kansa suspects divine machinations and prepares to send his army to massacre all babies born that day in Gokul alone. The prime minister says that it is too blunt a solution and suggests sending for Puthana instead. Puthana is a rakshasi (demoness) who was Kansa’s childhood nursemaid. She plots to kill all newborns of Gokul by breastfeeding them while her breasts are laced with poison.
And then babies in Gokul start dying one after another. After all of the other newborns are dead, Puthana gets her hands on Krishna. But he may have a trick up his own sleeve to defeat her.
Tropes found here
- Breast Attack: Infant Krishna grabs Puthana’s nipple instead of suckling it, and squeezes it so hard that she dies.
- Death of a Child: All newborns in the village of Gokul are poisoned to death except for Krishna.
- Master Poisoner / Poisonous Person. Puthana applies a lineament to her breasts that poisons any infant she breastfeeds.
- Pragmatic Villainy: Kansa’s prime minister warns him that openly massacring newborns in the general populace will only lead to a revolt. Which is why Puthana is sent.
- Wake-Up Call Boss: In a manner of speaking, Puthana is the first truly dangerous foe that Krishna faces, before he receives his signature spinning discus.
- Wicked Witch: Puthana.
