Chapter V

ON hearing of the birth of the infant, Kamsa trembling with fear arose, and taking a sword ran reeling along; his hair dishevelled, bathed in sweat, he came to his sister in extreme agitation. When he snatched away the child from her, she said, joining her hands, "O brother! this infant girl is thy niece, do not kill her, as she is my last child. You have put to death my sons, the loss of whom afflicts me greatly; why will you increase your crimes by killing this infant without cause?"

Kamsa replied, "I will not give the child alive to thee; that is; I will not let her live, because whoever marries her, will put me to death." Having said this, and gone outside, just as he was about to dash the child to pieces, she escaped from his hand, and ascended to heaven, and exclaimed, "O Kamsa! what have you gained by attempting to dash me to pieces, thy enemy has been born somewhere, and now thou shalt not escape with life?"

Having heard this, Kamsa filled with regret, came to where Vasudeva and Devaki were standing, and on his arrival, had their handcuffs and leg irons cut off; and submissively said, "I have committed a great crime in putting your sons to death; how will this stain be washed out, in what birth shall I obtain salvation? Your gods were false, who said, that in Devaki’s eighth pregnancy a boy should be born; this has not been the case, but a girl has been produced, and she too having escaped from my hands has ascended to heaven; exercise compassion, and do not allow your thoughts to dwell upon my sins; because no one can obliterate what has been written in fate. After having come into the world, a man cannot be free from life, death, good and bad fortune. They, who are wise, consider life and death alike, and the proud look upon them as friendly and hostile. You are great observers of truth in having brought your sons to me."

Having thus spoken, when Kamsa began repeatedly to entreat them, Vasudeva Jee said, "O great king! you say truly, that the fault is not your’s in this case, as God had written what has happened in our fate." Hearing this, Kamsa, being highly delighted, brought Vasudeva and Devaki in the most friendly manner to his house; and having entertained them, and presented them with robes, brought them back again with the greatest respect: and having sent for a counsellor, he said, "Devi has stated, that my enemy has been born; for which reason, put the gods to death wherever you find them; because they have spoken falsely to me, in stating, that my foe should be born in the eighth pregnancy of Devaki."—The counsellor said, "O great king! what great difficulty will there be in destroying them: they are beggars from birth; and whenever you show anger, they will run away. What power have they of opposing you? Brahma is engaged during the eight puhurs in reflection, and contemplation: Mahadeva eats bhang, and the thorn apple: Indra has no power over you—There remains Narayun, who does not understand war; he remains enjoying himself with Luchmee." Kamsa said, "Explain, how can we find Narayun, and conquer him?"—The counsellor replied, "If you wish to conquer Narayun, destroy all those in whose houses he dwells during the eight puhurs: Brahmins, worshippers of Vishnu, Jogees, devotees with matted hair, religious asceticks, Sunyasees, wandering religionists, and all the worshippers of Hari:—seize them all, from children to old men, so that not one may be left alive." On hearing this, Kamsa said to the counsellor, "Do you go, and destroy them all." Having obtained this order, the counsellor, taking with him all sorts of devils, departed, and having gone into the city began to search for cows, Brahmins, children, and the worshippers of Hari, and adopting treachery and violence, to put them to death.