When news of Putana’s defeat reached Mathura, Kansa became furious. “How could such a tiny child escape someone as powerful as Putana?” he wondered.

Putana’s defeat had deeply shaken Kansa. Sometime later, he summoned the air-bodied demon Shakatasura to his palace. “Go to Gokul and destroy that child!” he commanded.

Shakatasura laughed proudly. “No one can even see me.” “The child will never know that danger has arrived!”

In the next moment, Shakatasura rushed from Mathura like a fierce gust. But why did he have to wander without a body? An old story held the answer.

Long ago, he was Utkacha, the powerful son of Hiranyaksha. He was immensely proud of his great strength.

One day, Utkacha entered the peaceful hermitage of Lomasha Muni. Proud of his strength, he deliberately crushed its trees and tender plants.

“You are far too proud of your mighty body!” Lomasha Muni declared. “Now you will wander bodiless, moving only like the wind.”

Realizing his mistake, Utkacha begged the sage for forgiveness. “One day, the touch of Shri Hari’s foot will set you free,” the sage promised.

The bodiless Utkacha later became known as Shakatasura. He had forgotten the sage’s promise, but Shri Hari had forgotten nothing.

On one side, Shakatasura swept toward Gokul like the wind. On the other, baby Krishna’s happy sounds filled Braj with joy.

Three-month-old Krishna giggled as He tried to roll over in His cradle. Yashoda Maiya’s face lit up—this joyful stage of a baby learning to turn was celebrated as the Utthana festival.

Yashoda’s face lit up when she saw Krishna trying to turn over. The happy news soon filled Nanda Bhavan with festive excitement.

Flowers, mango leaves, and bright rangoli decorated Nanda Bhavan. The gopis of Braj arrived with gifts, singing joyful songs.

Yashoda Maiya lovingly bathed her little Krishna. Sacred chants and cheerful music echoed through the courtyard.

After His bath, Krishna was dressed in lovely clothes and tiny ornaments. Everyone smiled. “How beautiful our little Kanha looks today!”

Nanda Baba honored the brahmanas with food, garments, garlands, and cows. The brahmanas and gopis lovingly blessed baby Krishna.

A heavily loaded shakata stood in one corner of the courtyard. A shakata was a large cart used for keeping household goods.

The cart held metal vessels and pots filled with milk and yogurt. Tired after the celebration, Krishna’s little eyes began to close.

As the sunlight grew stronger, Yashoda Maiya moved Krishna’s cradle into the cool shade beneath the cart. Once Kanha was resting comfortably, she returned to welcome the guests.

Just then, a strange gust slipped silently into Nanda Bhavan. Leaves trembled, and flower petals lifted from the rangoli.

Krishna slowly opened His eyes and glanced toward the unseen wind. A knowing smile appeared, as if He had recognized the visitor at once.

Shakatasura could not understand Krishna’s mysterious little smile. Still unseen, he quietly slipped inside the heavy cart.

“Now this cart will fall upon the child,” he thought proudly. Using his air-like power, he began pressing the heavy cart downward.

Hungry Krishna began crying for His mother’s milk, yet His bright eyes turned toward the cart. It seemed little Shri Hari had decided to call Maiya in His own wonderfully playful way.

Yashoda Maiya was busy caring for the guests gathered at the festival. Amid the joyful songs and music, she could not hear Krishna calling for her.

Shakatasura began tipping the heavy cart onto little Krishna. But he did not know that the tender foot of Shri Hari—whose touch he had been blessed to receive long ago—was now rising toward him.

Krishna kicked His tiny feet as if He had found a new way to call Maiya. One tender foot, soft as a fresh leaf, slowly rose toward the heavy cart.

Krishna’s tiny foot barely touched the cart. It overturned at once, sending its wheels and vessels crashing to the ground.

Golden light rose from the shattered cart as Shakatasura’s frightening form vanished. A radiant celestial being appeared within the glow. “I am free!”

For a moment, he saw within baby Krishna the four-armed form of Shri Hari, holding the conch, disc, mace, and lotus. He bowed with folded hands. “Lord, I came to harm You, yet You have set me free!”

Shakatasura bowed before little Krishna and departed on a radiant chariot drawn by a hundred horses toward Goloka—the divine realm where Radha and Krishna eternally reside. Shakatasura had come to harm Him, but the tender touch of His foot granted him eternal

Hearing the terrible crash, Yashoda Maiya, Nanda Baba, and the people of Braj rushed into the courtyard. They were amazed to see little Kanha lying safely among the shattered pieces of the cart.

Yashoda Maiya hurriedly lifted Kanha into her arms and held Him lovingly against her heart. Safe in Maiya’s embrace, Kanha smiled as though nothing had happened at all.