Chapter 59 - On the brith of Sri Krishna

In ancient times, Satrughna, who was the incarnation of Vishnu, killed a notorious demon who was named Madhu, and founded the city of Mathura.

This city, of Mathura was once ruled by a pious king known as Ugrasena. His younger brother was named Devaka.

Devaka had seven beautiful daughters who were all, by turn, married to Vasudeva, the son of Surasena. The youngest of the girls was named Surya, also known as Devaki (or daughter of Devaka). She was, in course of time, married with great pomp to Vasudeva.

Vasudeva was. taking his bride home in a golden car accompanied by a large retinue of musicians and soldiers on elephants and horses and on foot.

Ugrasena’s son, Kamsa, was driving the car as a matter of favour, when he heard a loud voice, coming from the sky which said,

“Kamsa, thou fool, know that the eighth issue of this cousin of thine whose chariot thou art driving so cheerfully will kill thee.”

Hearing this, Kamsa was struck with terror, and made up his mind to kill his cousin at once. Biting his lip he unsheathed his sword and caught hold of Devaki by the hair. All the attendants cried out through fear, but no one had the courage to stop Kamsa. Vasudeva, at last, ventured to interfere, and said respectfully,

“O ornament of learning and religion, O mighty Kamsa, it is unworthy of you to commit the sin of killing a sister. She is younger than you, and, therefore deserves to be protected by you. Moreover, this innocent young girl is in no way to blame. She has not yet sense enough to, distinguish between right and wrong. Look how her bright face has grown pale, and how anxiously she is watching the movements of your hands. You are renowned for your valour in fight. Will it be creditable for you to kill a poor helpless girl? Her son who has been declared to be the cause of your peril may be able to fight with you when the time comes. Moreover, think over the oracular voice carefully Who knows that the event foretold will happen in this life and not in the next? If she gives birth to your enemy in her next life, what is the use of killing her now. Even supposing that the event will happen in this life, do you think you can falsify a divine fiat? Whosoever is born is bound to die, and, therefore, you also will die some day, either sooner or later. Why then are you bent upon committing such a horrible sin? Desist from it, and place yourself under the protection of God who is the true friend and benefactor of all.

If, however, my pleadings in her favour do not carry any weight with you, spare her life on this condition that as soon as a child is born to her I shall bring it to you to be disposed of in any manner you like.”

As Kamsa knew Vasudeva to be a truthful man he agreed to the condition made by him, and let Devaki go.

In due time Devaki gave birth to a male child and Vasudeva presented it to Kamsa in accordance with his promise.

Kamsa was so deeply impressed with the truthfulness of Vasudeva that he exclaimed,

“Take back the child Vasudeva, yes take it back, for I have nothing to fear from it. It is your eighth issue only of whom it has been foretold that he will be the cause of my death.”

Vasudeva was preparing fox departure when the great sage Narada appeared before Kamsa and said,

“Prince, it is not like you to come to such a decision. You should not spare Vasudeva’s child. Every one of his offspring should be killed by you like an enemy, so that his eighth son, when be is born, will have no one to help him, and may not, therefore, be able to kill you.”

Saying so, Narada went away, and the cruel-hearted Kamsa approved of his counsel and forthwith killed the child.

When six sons of Vasudeva had been killed in this manner by Kamsa, the great Lord Vishnu became solicitous to save the seventh issue, and, with this end in view, invoked the Goddess Kali who appeared before him and asked why she was wanted?

Vishnu said,

“Mighty Goddess, I have determined to incarnate myself in order to exterminate sin from the earth, and I request you to help me.”

Bhagavati said,

“My Lord, you should descend on the earth as the eighth issue of Devaki.

I shall, at the same time, be born at Gokula as the daughter of Yasoda, the cowherdess, and wife of Nanda. You will be transferred to Gokula, to be brought up as Nanda’s child and I shall go to Mathura to outwit your enemy, Kamsa. In the meanwhile I shall withdraw your elder brother from Devaki’s womb and place him in that of Rohini at Gokula. Your exploits will always foe remembered in this world.”

With these words the Goddess disappeared.

Thus Devaki’s conception was duly transferred to Rohini by the Goddess, and people thought that Devaki had a miscarriage. Rohini, on the other hand, conceived in Nanda’s house, and gave birth to a son who was named Balabhadra. Thereafter, Vishnu, the Lord of the universe, entered Devaki’s womb, and her lustre began to increase like that of the morning sun.

All the gods used to come to worship Vishnu in the womb.

Kamsa was frightened at the daily increase of Devaki’s superhuman lustre during the poriod of her pregnancy, and wished to kill her; but was prevailed upon by better counsel not to do so. He fettered both Vasudeva and Devaki and imprisoned them in a locked room which was carefully guarded by sentinels.

In due time on the eighth day of the dark half of the month of Bhadra,^[1] at midnight, Lord Sri Krishna was born. His beauty was captivating. His complexion was dark-blue and he had four arms. He held a conch in one hand, a discus in another, a mace in the third and a lotus flower in the fourth. He was clothed in saffron and his neck was adorned with a garland and the Kaustubha^[2] gem. His radiance lighted the whole place. He wore a diadem on his head, and rings graced his ears. His countenance was cheerful and smiling, and his dark-blue complexion shone like a sapphire. He was surrounded by his attendants, Sunanda, Nandana, and others.

Vasudeva and Devaki prostrated themselves before Him and said,

“Lord of the universe, we have come to know who you are and why you have become incarnate, but we cannot endure your divine form and lustre. As you can accomplish your object whether in this or in human form, we humbly request you to assume the latter, and advise us what to do.”

The Lord said,

“You have guessed rightly who I am, and so I am now going to assume the form of an ordinary baby. Take me to Nandaraja’s house at Gokula. Just at the time I was born, Nanda’s wife, Yasoda, was also delivered of a beautiful female child. She should be brought here to be my substitute and to outwit Kamsa. I shall he brought up at Gokula where I shall destroy the wicked. The river Yamuna flows between Mathura and Gokula, but she shall make way for you. Every one is fast asleep just now, and you have, therefore, nothing to fear from Kamsa or from any other person. I have removed your fetters and opened the door. No one will molest you. I shall be known as your son and.called Vasudeva^[3].”

Vasudeva did as ordered. He went to Gokula, and, finding Yasoda in a swoon after delivery, placed his son by her side and took off her daughter to his prison-house. As soon as this work was finished, the fetters were re-adjusted, and the door was fastened. Immediately afterwards, the baby which was brought began to cry as if it had just been born. The sentinels awoke from sleep, and Kamsa was aroused. He ran immediately, sword in hand and bareheaded, and kicked open the door.

Entering the room he said to Vasudeva,

“O son of Sura, let me have your newly-born child to be killed. Vidhata^[4] has ordained that it should die as soon as it is born.”

Devaki looked at Kamsa with tearful eyes and said, “It is a female child;” but before she had finished these words, Kamsa. snatched away the child from her arms and began to laugh and dance with joy. After doing so, he took it off to the place where he had murdered the other children of Vasudeva. There he caught hold of the feet of the goddess in the form of the baby, and lifted her up with glee in order to dash her against a stone, when she slipped from his hands and. rose up to the skies. There, on high, she assumed a terrible, form and thundered forth, peals of laughter. Kamsa looked up and saw an. eight-armed goddess holding sword, shield, trident, clasp-knife bow, noose, axe and stick in her hands. The gods and other goddesses came to worship her, and conches blew and bells rang on every side. Her arrows went hissing through the air in all directions.

Addressing Kamsa who was struck dumb with surprise, she said laughingly,

“Fool! dost thou wish to kill me? Knowest thou not that a divine decree can never be averted? Thy destroyer has already been, born, and is growing up somewhere.”

Saying this she disappeared.

The evil-minded Kamsa was highly mortified and became more suspicious. He went, however, to Vasudeva and Devaki, and, after asking their pardon, released them from imprisonment. He then went back to his house and summoned his ministers to a consultation. It was decided that cows, Brahmanas and gods who were worshipped by the people should be killed and injured, and his spies should go out in search of newly born babies.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Corresponding to August—September.

[2]:

A gem obtained with thirteen others when the ocean was churned. It was allotted to Vishnu and is always worn by him.

[3]:

i.e., son of Vasudeva.

[4]:

Brahma who ordains the fate of every one at the time of birth.