The Atrocities of King Kamsa

Verse 1 (bhagavata.10.4.1)

श्रीशुक उवाच बहिरन्तःपुरद्वारः सर्वाः पूर्ववदावृताः । ततो बालध्वनिं श्रुत्वा गृहपालाः समुत्थिताः ॥ १ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca bahir-antaḥ-pura-dvāraḥ sarvāḥ pūrvavad āvṛtāḥ tato bāla-dhvaniṁ śrutvā gṛha-pālāḥ samutthitāḥ

Shri Shukadeva said: The doors of the inner apartments, both outer and inner, closed again just as before. Then, hearing the infant's cry, the guards awoke.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.10.4.2)

ते तु तूर्णमुपव्रज्य देवक्या गर्भजन्म तत् । आचख्युर्भोजराजाय यदुद्विग्नः प्रतीक्षते ॥ २ ॥

te tu tūrṇam upavrajya devakyā garbha-janma tat ācakhyur bhoja-rājāya yad udvignaḥ pratīkṣate

Hastening there, they carried the news of Devaki's childbirth to Kamsa, king of the Bhojas, who had been waiting anxiously for it.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.10.4.3)

स तल्पात् तूर्णमुत्थाय कालोऽयमिति विह्वलः । सूतीगृहमगात् तूर्णं प्रस्खलन् मुक्तमूर्धजः ॥ ३ ॥

sa talpāt tūrṇam utthāya kālo ’yam iti vihvalaḥ sūtī-gṛham agāt tūrṇaṁ praskhalan mukta-mūrdhajaḥ

Thinking, 'This is that very time of death,' Kamsa, distraught, rose at once from his bed and hurried, stumbling, his hair disheveled, straight to the birth-chamber.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.10.4.4)

तमाह भ्रातरं देवी कृपणा करुणं सती । स्नुषेयं तव कल्याण स्त्रियं मा हन्तुमर्हसि ॥ ४ ॥

tam āha bhrātaraṁ devī kṛpaṇā karuṇaṁ satī snuṣeyaṁ tava kalyāṇa striyaṁ mā hantum arhasi

The chaste and helpless Devaki spoke to her brother most piteously: All good fortune to you — this is your own future daughter-in-law; it is not fitting for you to kill this girl.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.10.4.5)

बहवो हिंसिता भ्रातः शिशवः पावकोपमाः । त्वया दैवनिसृष्टेन पुत्रिकैका प्रदीयताम् ॥ ५ ॥

bahavo hiṁsitā bhrātaḥ śiśavaḥ pāvakopamāḥ tvayā daiva-nisṛṣṭena putrikaikā pradīyatām

O brother, by the working of fate you have already killed so many of my children, each bright as fire. Now give me just this one daughter as your gift.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.10.4.6)

नन्वहं ते ह्यवरजा दीना हतसुता प्रभो । दातुमर्हसि मन्दाया अङ्गेमां चरमां प्रजाम् ॥ ६ ॥

nanv ahaṁ te hy avarajā dīnā hata-sutā prabho dātum arhasi mandāyā aṅgemāṁ caramāṁ prajām

My lord, I am your own younger sister, wretched now, having lost all my sons. It befits you to grant this luckless one her very last child.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.10.4.7)

श्रीशुक उवाच उपगुह्यात्मजामेवं रुदत्या दीनदीनवत् । याचितस्तां विनिर्भर्त्स्य हस्तादाचिच्छिदे खलः ॥ ७ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca upaguhyātmajām evaṁ rudatyā dīna-dīnavat yācitas tāṁ vinirbhartsya hastād ācicchide khalaḥ

Shri Shukadeva said: As Devaki, weeping in utter misery, clasped her daughter to her breast and begged in this way, that cruel man only rebuked her and tore the child from her hands by force.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.10.4.8)

तां गृहीत्वा चरणयोर्जातमात्रां स्वसुः सुताम् । अपोथयच्छिलापृष्ठे स्वार्थोन्मूलितसौहृदः ॥ ८ ॥

tāṁ gṛhītvā caraṇayor jāta-mātrāṁ svasuḥ sutām apothayac chilā-pṛṣṭhe svārthonmūlita-sauhṛdaḥ

That man, who had rooted out all bonds of kinship for his own selfish end, seized his sister's newborn daughter by the feet and made to dash her against a slab of stone.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.10.4.9)

सा तद्धस्तात् समुत्पत्य सद्यो देव्यम्बरं गता । अदृश्यतानुजा विष्णोः सायुधाष्टमहाभुजा ॥ ९ ॥

sā tad-dhastāt samutpatya sadyo devy ambaraṁ gatā adṛśyatānujā viṣṇoḥ sāyudhāṣṭa-mahābhujā

But she slipped from Kamsa's hands and rose at once into the sky — she was Vishnu's own younger sister, and there she appeared as the goddess, her eight great arms bearing weapons.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.10.4.10)

दिव्यस्रगम्बरालेपरत्नाभरणभूषिता । धनुःशूलेषुचर्मासिशङ्खचक्रगदाधरा ॥ १० ॥

divya-srag-ambarālepa- ratnābharaṇa-bhūṣitā dhanuḥ-śūleṣu-carmāsi- śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-dharā

Adorned with celestial garlands, garments, sandal paste and jeweled ornaments, bearing bow, trident, arrows, shield, sword, conch, discus and mace,

Verse 11 (bhagavata.10.4.11)

सिद्धचारणगन्धर्वैरप्सरःकिन्नरोरगैः । उपाहृतोरुबलिभिः स्तूयमानेदमब्रवीत् ॥ ११ ॥

siddha-cāraṇa-gandharvair apsaraḥ-kinnaroragaiḥ upāhṛtoru-balibhiḥ stūyamānedam abravīt

praised by the Siddhas, Charanas, Gandharvas, Apsaras, Kinnaras and serpents who offered her lavish gifts, that goddess spoke as follows.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.10.4.12)

किं मया हतया मन्द जातः खलु तवान्तकृत् । यत्र क्व वा पूर्वशत्रुर्मा हिंसीः कृपणान् वृथा ॥ १२ ॥

kiṁ mayā hatayā manda jātaḥ khalu tavānta-kṛt yatra kva vā pūrva-śatrur mā hiṁsīḥ kṛpaṇān vṛthā

O fool, what will you gain by killing me? Your true destroyer, your old enemy, has already been born elsewhere. Do not go on killing these helpless children in vain.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.10.4.13)

इति प्रभाष्य तं देवी माया भगवती भुवि । बहुनामनिकेतेषु बहुनामा बभूव ह ॥ १३ ॥

iti prabhāṣya taṁ devī māyā bhagavatī bhuvi bahu-nāma-niketeṣu bahu-nāmā babhūva ha

Having spoken thus to him, that divine Devi, Yogamaya, came to dwell upon the earth in many shrines under many names.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.10.4.14)

तयाभिहितमाकर्ण्य कंसः परमविस्मितः । देवकीं वसुदेवं च विमुच्य प्रश्रितोऽब्रवीत् ॥ १४ ॥

tayābhihitam ākarṇya kaṁsaḥ parama-vismitaḥ devakīṁ vasudevaṁ ca vimucya praśrito ’bravīt

Hearing her words, Kamsa, utterly astonished, freed Devaki and Vasudeva from their fetters and, humbled, spoke to them.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.10.4.15)

अहो भगिन्यहो भाम मया वां बत पाप्मना । पुरुषाद इवापत्यं बहवो हिंसिताः सुताः ॥ १५ ॥

aho bhaginy aho bhāma mayā vāṁ bata pāpmanā puruṣāda ivāpatyaṁ bahavo hiṁsitāḥ sutāḥ

Alas, my sister! Alas, my brother-in-law! In my sinfulness I have slain so many of your sons, as though I were a man-eating demon devouring his own offspring.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.10.4.16)

स त्वहं त्यक्तकारुण्यस्त्यक्तज्ञातिसुहृत् खलः । कान्लोकान् वै गमिष्यामि ब्रह्महेव मृतः श्वसन् ॥ १६ ॥

sa tv ahaṁ tyakta-kāruṇyas tyakta-jñāti-suhṛt khalaḥ kān lokān vai gamiṣyāmi brahma-heva mṛtaḥ śvasan

Cruel as I am, having cast off all kinsmen and friends, wicked that I am, like the slayer of a brahmin — to what world shall I go, whether living or dead?

Verse 17 (bhagavata.10.4.17)

दैवमप्यनृतं वक्ति न मर्त्या एव केवलम् । यद्विश्रम्भादहं पापः स्वसुर्निहतवाञ्छिशून् ॥ १७ ॥

daivam apy anṛtaṁ vakti na martyā eva kevalam yad-viśrambhād ahaṁ pāpaḥ svasur nihatavāñ chiśūn

It is not only mortals — even fate itself sometimes speaks falsely, for trusting in its word I, sinner that I am, went on killing my own sister's children.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.10.4.18)

मा शोचतं महाभागावात्मजान् स्वकृतंभुजः । जान्तवो न सदैकत्र दैवाधीनास्तदासते ॥ १८ ॥

mā śocataṁ mahā-bhāgāv ātmajān sva-kṛtaṁ bhujaḥ jāntavo na sadaikatra daivādhīnās tadāsate

O noble souls, do not grieve for your sons, who have only reaped the fruit of their own deeds. All beings are subject to fate, and so they cannot always remain together.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.10.4.19)

भुवि भौमानि भूतानि यथा यान्त्यपयान्ति च । नायमात्मा तथैतेषु विपर्येति यथैव भूः ॥ १९ ॥

bhuvi bhaumāni bhūtāni yathā yānty apayānti ca nāyam ātmā tathaiteṣu viparyeti yathaiva bhūḥ

As things made of earth arise from it and pass away back into it, so too this self does not change with the passing of these bodies, just as the earth itself remains unchanged.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.10.4.20)

यथानेवंविदो भेदो यत आत्मविपर्ययः । देहयोगवियोगौ च संसृतिर्न निवर्तते ॥ २० ॥

yathānevaṁ-vido bhedo yata ātma-viparyayaḥ deha-yoga-viyogau ca saṁsṛtir na nivartate

It is from not knowing this that such distinction and this misapprehension of the self arise, by which, through the body's union and separation, the wheel of worldly existence never comes to rest.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.10.4.21)

तस्माद् भद्रे स्वतनयान् मया व्यापादितानपि । मानुशोच यतः सर्वः स्वकृतं विन्दतेऽवशः ॥ २१ ॥

tasmād bhadre sva-tanayān mayā vyāpāditān api mānuśoca yataḥ sarvaḥ sva-kṛtaṁ vindate ’vaśaḥ

Therefore, O gracious one, do not grieve for your sons whom I have slain — for every being, helpless before it, reaps only what it has itself sown.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.10.4.22)

यावद्धतोऽस्मि हन्तास्मीत्यात्मानं मन्यतेऽस्वदृक् । तावत्तदभिमान्यज्ञो बाध्यबाधकतामियात् ॥ २२ ॥

yāvad dhato ’smi hantāsmī- ty ātmānaṁ manyate ’sva-dṛk tāvat tad-abhimāny ajño bādhya-bādhakatām iyāt

As long as a man without insight into his true self keeps thinking, 'I am slain' or 'I have slain,' so long, caught up in that false pride, does the ignorant man remain entangled in the roles of the bound and the binder both.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.10.4.23)

क्षमध्वं मम दौरात्म्यं साधवो दीनवत्सलाः । इत्युक्त्वाश्रुमुखः पादौ श्यालः स्वस्रोरथाग्रहीत् ॥ २३ ॥

kṣamadhvaṁ mama daurātmyaṁ sādhavo dīna-vatsalāḥ ity uktvāśru-mukhaḥ pādau śyālaḥ svasror athāgrahīt

O saintly ones, O compassionate to the humble, forgive my wickedness — saying this, his face streaming with tears, that brother-in-law fell at the feet of Vasudeva and Devaki.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.10.4.24)

मोचयामास निगडाद् विश्रब्धः कन्यकागिरा । देवकीं वसुदेवं च दर्शयन्नात्मसौहृदम् ॥ २४ ॥

mocayām āsa nigaḍād viśrabdhaḥ kanyakā-girā devakīṁ vasudevaṁ ca darśayann ātma-sauhṛdam

Fully trusting the maiden goddess's words, Kamsa, showing his true kinship, released Devaki and Vasudeva from their chains.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.10.4.25)

भ्रातुः समनुतप्तस्य क्षान्तरोषा च देवकी । व्यसृजद् वसुदेवश्च प्रहस्य तमुवाच ह ॥ २५ ॥

bhrātuḥ samanutaptasya kṣānta-roṣā ca devakī vyasṛjad vasudevaś ca prahasya tam uvāca ha

Seeing her brother truly repentant, Devaki's anger subsided, and Vasudeva too, releasing all resentment, laughed and spoke to him thus.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.10.4.26)

एवमेतन्महाभाग यथा वदसि देहिनाम् । अज्ञानप्रभवाहंधीः स्वपरेति भिदा यतः ॥ २६ ॥

evam etan mahā-bhāga yathā vadasi dehinām ajñāna-prabhavāhaṁ-dhīḥ sva-pareti bhidā yataḥ

O noble one, what you have said about embodied beings is quite true — it is from this notion of 'I,' born of ignorance, that the very distinction between 'mine' and 'another's' arises.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.10.4.27)

शोकहर्षभयद्वेषलोभमोहमदान्विताः । मिथो घ्नन्तं न पश्यन्ति भावैर्भावं पृथग्दृशः ॥ २७ ॥

śoka-harṣa-bhaya-dveṣa- lobha-moha-madānvitāḥ mitho ghnantaṁ na paśyanti bhāvair bhāvaṁ pṛthag-dṛśaḥ

Filled with grief, joy, fear, hatred, greed, delusion and pride, those who see only distinction do not perceive, in their mutual harming of one another, the deeper cause working through these very feelings.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.10.4.28)

श्रीशुक उवाच कंस एवं प्रसन्नाभ्यां विशुद्धं प्रतिभाषितः । देवकीवसुदेवाभ्यामनुज्ञातोऽविशद् गृहम् ॥ २८ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca kaṁsa evaṁ prasannābhyāṁ viśuddhaṁ pratibhāṣitaḥ devakī-vasudevābhyām anujñāto ’viśad gṛham

Shri Shukadeva said: Thus addressed with such pure sentiment by Devaki and Vasudeva, now reconciled, Kamsa, with their leave, returned to his own house.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.10.4.29)

तस्यां रात्र्यां व्यतीतायां कंस आहूय मन्त्रिणः । तेभ्य आचष्ट तत् सर्वं यदुक्तं योगनिद्रया ॥ २९ ॥

tasyāṁ rātryāṁ vyatītāyāṁ kaṁsa āhūya mantriṇaḥ tebhya ācaṣṭa tat sarvaṁ yad uktaṁ yoga-nidrayā

When that night had passed, Kamsa summoned his ministers and related to them all that Yoganidra had spoken.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.10.4.30)

आकर्ण्य भर्तुर्गदितं तमूचुर्देवशत्रवः । देवान् प्रति कृतामर्षा दैतेया नातिकोविदाः ॥ ३० ॥

ākarṇya bhartur gaditaṁ tam ūcur deva-śatravaḥ devān prati kṛtāmarṣā daiteyā nāti-kovidāḥ

Hearing their lord's words, those enemies of the gods, the daityas, filled with hatred toward the gods but not overly wise, said this to him.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.10.4.31)

एवं चेत्तर्हि भोजेन्द्र पुरग्रामव्रजादिषु । अनिर्दशान् निर्दशांश्च हनिष्यामोऽद्य वै शिशून् ॥ ३१ ॥

evaṁ cet tarhi bhojendra pura-grāma-vrajādiṣu anirdaśān nirdaśāṁś ca haniṣyāmo ’dya vai śiśūn

O king of the Bhojas, if this is so, then today itself we shall slay every child, whether under ten days old or older, in every town, village and cattle-station.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.10.4.32)

किमुद्यमैः करिष्यन्ति देवाः समरभीरवः । नित्यमुद्विग्नमनसो ज्याघोषैर्धनुषस्तव ॥ ३२ ॥

kim udyamaiḥ kariṣyanti devāḥ samara-bhīravaḥ nityam udvigna-manaso jyā-ghoṣair dhanuṣas tava

What can the gods, cowards before battle, ever accomplish with their striving, when they are forever unnerved by the very twang of your bow?

Verse 33 (bhagavata.10.4.33)

अस्यतस्ते शरव्रातैर्हन्यमानाः समन्ततः । जिजीविषव उत्सृज्य पलायनपरा ययुः ॥ ३३ ॥

asyatas te śara-vrātair hanyamānāḥ samantataḥ jijīviṣava utsṛjya palāyana-parā yayuḥ

Struck on every side by your showers of arrows, those who wished still to live simply fled, bent only on escape.

Verse 34 (bhagavata.10.4.34)

केचित् प्राञ्जलयो दीना न्यस्तशस्त्रा दिवौकसः । मुक्तकच्छशिखाः केचिद् भीताः स्म इति वादिनः ॥ ३४ ॥

kecit prāñjalayo dīnā nyasta-śastrā divaukasaḥ mukta-kaccha-śikhāḥ kecid bhītāḥ sma iti vādinaḥ

Some among those gods, humbled, stood with hands folded, weapons cast aside, while others, their garments and hair undone, cried out, 'We are afraid!'

Verse 35 (bhagavata.10.4.35)

न त्वं विस्मृतशस्त्रास्त्रान् विरथान् भयसंवृतान् । हंस्यन्यासक्तविमुखान् भग्नचापानयुध्यतः ॥ ३५ ॥

na tvaṁ vismṛta-śastrāstrān virathān bhaya-saṁvṛtān haṁsy anyāsakta-vimukhān bhagna-cāpān ayudhyataḥ

You do not strike down an enemy who has forgotten his weapons, who has lost his chariot, who is overcome with fear, whose face is turned elsewhere, or who has ceased fighting because his bow is broken.

Verse 36 (bhagavata.10.4.36)

किं क्षेमशूरैर्विबुधैरसंयुगविकत्थनैः । रहोजुषा किं हरिणा शम्भुना वा वनौकसा । किमिन्द्रेणाल्पवीर्येण ब्रह्मणा वा तपस्यता ॥ ३६ ॥

kiṁ kṣema-śūrair vibudhair asaṁyuga-vikatthanaiḥ raho-juṣā kiṁ hariṇā śambhunā vā vanaukasā kim indreṇālpa-vīryeṇa brahmaṇā vā tapasyatā

What fear have we of those toothless gods, who boast only while safely away from the field? What need we fear from Vishnu, who keeps to seclusion, from Shiva, dwelling in the forest, from Indra, of so little might, or from Brahma, forever absorbed in penance?

Verse 37 (bhagavata.10.4.37)

तथापि देवाः सापत्न्यान्नोपेक्ष्या इति मन्महे । ततस्तन्मूलखनने नियुङ्क्ष्वास्माननुव्रतान् ॥ ३७ ॥

tathāpi devāḥ sāpatnyān nopekṣyā iti manmahe tatas tan-mūla-khanane niyuṅkṣvāsmān anuvratān

Even so, our counsel is that hostile gods ought not to be ignored altogether. Set us, then, your loyal followers, to the task of digging out their very root.

Verse 38 (bhagavata.10.4.38)

यथामयोऽङ्गे समुपेक्षितो नृभि- र्न शक्यते रूढपदश्चिकित्सितुम् । यथेन्द्रियग्राम उपेक्षितस्तथा रिपुर्महान् बद्धबलो न चाल्यते ॥ ३८ ॥

yathāmayo ’ṅge samupekṣito nṛbhir na śakyate rūḍha-padaś cikitsitum yathendriya-grāma upekṣitas tathā ripur mahān baddha-balo na cālyate

As a disease, neglected in the body, takes root and becomes incurable, or as the array of senses, left unchecked, will not be governed, so too a great enemy, once ignored, grows strong and can no longer be dislodged.

Verse 39 (bhagavata.10.4.39)

मूलं हि विष्णुर्देवानां यत्र धर्मः सनातनः । तस्य च ब्रह्म गोविप्रास्तपो यज्ञाः सदक्षिणाः ॥ ३९ ॥

mūlaṁ hi viṣṇur devānāṁ yatra dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ tasya ca brahma-go-viprās tapo yajñāḥ sa-dakṣiṇāḥ

The root of the gods is Vishnu himself, and Vishnu dwells only where eternal dharma, the Veda, cows, brahmins, austerity and sacrifice with due offerings are found.

Verse 40 (bhagavata.10.4.40)

तस्मात् सर्वात्मना राजन् ब्राह्मणान् ब्रह्मवादिनः । तपस्विनो यज्ञशीलान् गाश्च हन्मो हविर्दुघाः ॥ ४० ॥

tasmāt sarvātmanā rājan brāhmaṇān brahma-vādinaḥ tapasvino yajña-śīlān gāś ca hanmo havir-dughāḥ

Therefore, O King, we, wholly devoted to your cause, shall slay the Veda-chanting brahmins, the ascetics, those given to sacrifice, and the milk-giving cows that supply its offerings.

Verse 41 (bhagavata.10.4.41)

विप्रा गावश्च वेदाश्च तपः सत्यं दमः शमः । श्रद्धा दया तितिक्षा च क्रतवश्च हरेस्तनूः ॥ ४१ ॥

viprā gāvaś ca vedāś ca tapaḥ satyaṁ damaḥ śamaḥ śraddhā dayā titikṣā ca kratavaś ca hares tanūḥ

Brahmins, cows, the Vedas, austerity, truth, self-control, calm of mind, faith, mercy, forbearance and sacrifice — all these are the very body of Hari.

Verse 42 (bhagavata.10.4.42)

स हि सर्वसुराध्यक्षो ह्यसुरद्विड् गुहाशयः । तन्मूला देवताः सर्वाः सेश्वराः सचतुर्मुखाः । अयं वै तद्वधोपायो यदृषीणां विहिंसनम् ॥ ४२ ॥

sa hi sarva-surādhyakṣo hy asura-dviḍ guhā-śayaḥ tan-mūlā devatāḥ sarvāḥ seśvarāḥ sa-catur-mukhāḥ ayaṁ vai tad-vadhopāyo yad ṛṣīṇāṁ vihiṁsanam

He alone is the overseer of all the gods, the enemy of the demons, dwelling hidden in every heart. All the gods, together with Shiva and four-faced Brahma, rest upon him alone. Therefore, doing violence to the sages is the only true means of destroying him.

Verse 43 (bhagavata.10.4.43)

श्रीशुक उवाच एवं दुर्मन्त्रिभिः कंसः सह सम्मन्त्र्य दुर्मतिः । ब्रह्महिंसां हितं मेने कालपाशावृतोऽसुरः ॥ ४३ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca evaṁ durmantribhiḥ kaṁsaḥ saha sammantrya durmatiḥ brahma-hiṁsāṁ hitaṁ mene kāla-pāśāvṛto ’suraḥ

Shri Shukadeva said: Thus taking counsel with these evil ministers, the ill-witted demon Kamsa, already caught in the noose of time, resolved that persecuting the brahmins would serve his own good.

Verse 44 (bhagavata.10.4.44)

सन्दिश्य साधुलोकस्य कदने कदनप्रियान् । कामरूपधरान् दिक्षु दानवान् गृहमाविशत् ॥ ४४ ॥

sandiśya sādhu-lokasya kadane kadana-priyān kāma-rūpa-dharān dikṣu dānavān gṛham āviśat

Sending forth in every direction those demons who delighted in tormenting the saintly and could take on any shape at will, he then withdrew into his own palace.

Verse 45 (bhagavata.10.4.45)

ते वै रजःप्रकृतयस्तमसा मूढचेतसः । सतां विद्वेषमाचेरुरारादागतमृत्यवः ॥ ४५ ॥

te vai rajaḥ-prakṛtayas tamasā mūḍha-cetasaḥ satāṁ vidveṣam ācerur ārād āgata-mṛtyavaḥ

Of a passionate nature and their minds bewildered by darkness, those demons, death already drawing near them, set about their persecution of the good.

Verse 46 (bhagavata.10.4.46)

आयुः श्रियं यशो धर्मं लोकानाशिष एव च । हन्ति श्रेयांसि सर्वाणि पुंसो महदतिक्रमः ॥ ४६ ॥

āyuḥ śriyaṁ yaśo dharmaṁ lokān āśiṣa eva ca hanti śreyāṁsi sarvāṇi puṁso mahad-atikramaḥ

O King, so great a transgression against noble souls destroys every blessing of a man — his length of life, his prosperity, his fame, his righteousness, his worlds to come, and every benediction besides.