“Destiny alone determines one’s association or separation with a particular body”- Vasudeva, the son of Sura, using his wisdom and intelligence to the best of his abilities, pondered over the pros and cons of his decision.

Thereafter with great respect and humbleness, he addressed the sinful, wicked Kamsa and showered copious praises upon him. Although internally agitated, externally he was calm and composed and his face resembled a blooming lotus. Wanting to please the vile, shameless Kamsa, who was on the verge of committing a gruesome sin, Vasudeva smiled pleasantly and said,

‘O gentle-one! My dear Kamsa! You do not have to fear Devaki as the celestial voice only forewarned you against her yet-to-be born sons. Since it is her sons whom you fear, I promise to hand them over to you upon their birth’.

Accepting the truth in Vasudeva’s statement, Kamsa at once abandoned the idea of killing sister Devaki. ‘If you promise to hand over your sons to me at birth, I shall set you free’, he said. Vasudeva further praised and pacified Kamsa and then entered his home with his bride.

Time passed by. Devaki was loved and revered by one and all. She was in that supreme state wherein she could perceive the Supreme Lord as existing in every living entity. This revered mother every year gave birth to a child. In this way she bore eight sons and a daughter.

What to say of Vasudeva’s supremacy! At the moment of his birth, celestials beat drums and kettle-drums signaling auspiciousness. This revered Vasudeva intensely feared untruthfulness. Hence even though he was internally agitated and disturbed, he truthfully handed over his first-born son, Kīrtiman to Kamsa.

Kiṁ duḥsahaṁ nu sādhūnāṁ viduṣāṁ kim apekṣitam

Kim akāryaṁ kadaryāṇāṁ dustyajaṁ kiṁ dhṛtātmanām

What is it that noble, saintly persons consider intolerable? Nothing. They have in them the capacity to withstand the worst suffering. What is it that wise, knowledgeable persons aspire to obtain? Is there any deed which nasty people dread to commit? They stoop to the lowest levels to accomplish their degraded goals. What is it that Mahatmas who have totally conquered their mind, body and senses are afraid to give up? Nothing!

Vasudeva was one such Mahatma who treated joys and sorrows with equal-mindedness! He was totally bound by the vow of truthfulness. Kamsa, who observed these qualities in Vasudeva, was very pleased. Laughingly he addressed Vasudeva and said,

‘Take your infant back home. Didn’t the celestial voice predict that I would die only in the hands of your eighth son? Why then should I fear this boy?’

Pleased with this reply, Vasudeva returned home with his son, although deep within he lacked faith in the words of Kamsa, a degraded wretch who lacked mind control. He had reservations in Kamsa’s ability to live up to his promise.

Nanda and other cowherds of Gokula, Yashoda and other Gopikas who resided of Gokula, Vasudeva and others members of the Vrṣṭi clan, Devaki and other women who belonged to the Yadu lineage were in reality Devatas who had incarnated on earth. Both Nanda and Vasudeva were all-knowing. They were relatives as well as intimate friends. Some of these Devatas had also incarnated as Kamsa’s followers.

One morning, Maharishi Nārada visited Kamsa and informed that Devatas had incarnated in the guise of Vasudeva and other kinsmen of his tribe. He also warned Kamsa of the efforts being put in by them to reduce demonic forces on Earth.

The gravity of the situation now dawned upon Kamsa. Upon knowing that the Yadavas were none other than Devatas and that the Supreme Lord would incarnate as the son of Devaki in order to eliminate him, the angered Kamsa straightaway arrested Vasudeva and Devaki and bound them with iron chains. Suspecting every child born to them to be the incarnation of Srihari, he mercilessly killed them all.

In this world, greedy rulers who chase sensory pleasures and who kill others in order to fulfill their desires, at times unhesitatingly kill their father, mother, siblings and friends. In his previous birth Kamsa was the dreaded demon Kalanemi. Coming to know that Srihari was the cause for his death in his previous birth, Kamsa began to despise all the Yadavas.

Ugrasena, the father of Kamsa, was the ruler for the Yadava, Andhaka and Bhoja clans. Kamsa chained his father Ugrasena and began to rule the Surasena provinces”.

With this the first chapter of the tenth canto comes to an end.

Narayana