kaṁsena - by King Kaṁsa; prahitā - engaged previously; ghorā - very fierce; pūtanā - by the name Pūtanā; bāla-ghātinī - a Rākṣasī who killed; śiśūn - small babies; cacāra - wandered; nighnantī - killing; pura-grāma-vraja-ādiṣu - in towns, cities and villages here and there.

While Nanda Mahārāja was returning to Gokula, the same fierce Pūtanā whom Kaṁsa had previously engaged to kill babies was wandering about in the towns, cities and villages, doing her nefarious duty.