Kamsa Kills Devaki's First Son

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.4.21.1)

व्यास उवाच । अथ काले तु सम्प्राप्ते देवकी देवरूपिणी । गर्भं दधार विधिवद्वसुदेवेन सङ्गता ॥

vyāsa uvāca | atha kāle tu samprāpte devakī devarūpiṇī | garbhaṁ dadhāra vidhivadvasudevena saṅgatā ||

Vyasa said: Then, when the time had come, Devaki, of divine form, having united with Vasudeva according to rite, conceived.

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.4.21.2)

पूर्णेऽथ दशमे मासे सुषुवे सुतमुत्तमम् । रूपावयवसम्पन्नं देवकी प्रथमं यदा ॥

pūrṇe'tha daśame māse suṣuve sutamuttamam | rūpāvayavasampannaṁ devakī prathamaṁ yadā ||

When the tenth month was complete, Devaki gave birth to an excellent son, first, perfect in form and limb.

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.4.21.3)

तदाऽऽह वसुदेवस्तां सत्यवाक्यानुमोदितः । भावित्वाच्च महाभागो देवकीं देवमातरम् ॥

tadā''ha vasudevastāṁ satyavākyānumoditaḥ | bhāvitvācca mahābhāgo devakīṁ devamātaram ||

Then Vasudeva, most fortunate, being bound by his truthful word, and mindful of what was to come, said to Devaki, mother of the god—

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.4.21.4)

वरोरु समयं मे त्वं जानासि स्वसुतार्पणे । मोचिता त्वं महाभागे शपथेन मया तदा ॥

varoru samayaṁ me tvaṁ jānāsi svasutārpaṇe | mocitā tvaṁ mahābhāge śapathena mayā tadā ||

"O fair-thighed one, you know my vow made at the giving over of your son; you were freed then by my oath, O most fortunate one."

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.4.21.5)

इमं पुत्रं सुकेशान्ते दास्यामि भ्रातृसूनवे । (खले कंसे विनाशार्थं दैवे किं वा करिष्यसि ।)॥ विचित्रकर्मणां पाको दुर्ज्ञेयो ह्यकृतात्मभिः ॥

imaṁ putraṁ sukeśānte dāsyāmi bhrātṛsūnave | (khale kaṁse vināśārthaṁ daive kiṁ vā kariṣyasi |)|| vicitrakarmaṇāṁ pāko durjñeyo hyakṛtātmabhiḥ ||

"This son, O fair-tressed one, I shall give to my brother's son. (What indeed can be done against fate, for the destruction wrought by the wicked Kamsa?) The maturing of varied deeds is indeed hard to know for those of unrestrained self."

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.4.21.6)

सर्वेषां किल जीवानां कालपाशानुवर्तिनाम् । भोक्तव्यं स्वकृतं कर्म शुभ वा यदि वाशुभम् ॥

sarveṣāṁ kila jīvānāṁ kālapāśānuvartinām | bhoktavyaṁ svakṛtaṁ karma śubha vā yadi vāśubham ||

"All beings indeed, subject to the noose of Time, must experience their own deeds, whether good or ill."

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.4.21.7)

प्रारब्धं सर्वथैवात्र जीवस्य विधिनिर्मितम् । देवक्युवाच । स्वामिन् पूर्वं कृतं कर्म भोक्तव्यं सर्वथा नृभिः ॥

prārabdhaṁ sarvathaivātra jīvasya vidhinirmitam | devakyuvāca | svāmin pūrvaṁ kṛtaṁ karma bhoktavyaṁ sarvathā nṛbhiḥ ||

"What is ordained here for a soul is entirely fashioned by fate." Devaki said: "My lord, deeds done in the past must be experienced by men in every way—"

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.4.21.8)

तीर्थैस्तपोभिर्दानैर्वा किं न याति क्षयं हि तत् । लिखितो धर्मशास्त्रेषु प्रायश्चित्तविधिर्नृप ॥

tīrthaistapobhirdānairvā kiṁ na yāti kṣayaṁ hi tat | likhito dharmaśāstreṣu prāyaścittavidhirnṛpa ||

"— does that not indeed come to an end through holy places, austerities, or gifts? The rule of expiation is written in the scriptures of dharma, O king,"

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.4.21.9)

पूर्वार्जितानां पापानां विनाशाय महात्मभिः । ब्रह्महा हेमहारी च सुरापो गुरुतल्पगः ॥

pūrvārjitānāṁ pāpānāṁ vināśāya mahātmabhiḥ | brahmahā hemahārī ca surāpo gurutalpagaḥ ||

"— for the destruction, by great souls, of previously accumulated sins. The slayer of a Brahmin, the thief of gold, the drinker of liquor, the violator of his guru's bed—"

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.4.21.10)

द्वादशाब्दव्रते चीर्णे शुद्धिं याति यतस्ततः । मन्वादिभिर्यथोद्दिष्टं प्रायश्चित्तं विधानतः ॥

dvādaśābdavrate cīrṇe śuddhiṁ yāti yatastataḥ | manvādibhiryathoddiṣṭaṁ prāyaścittaṁ vidhānataḥ ||

"— when a twelve-year vow has been observed, attains purity thereby; the expiation, as prescribed by Manu and the others, according to the ordained procedure—"

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.4.21.11)

तथा कृत्वा नरः पापान्मुच्यते वा न वानघ । विगीतवचनास्ते किं मुनयस्तत्त्वदर्शिनः ॥

tathā kṛtvā naraḥ pāpānmucyate vā na vānagha | vigītavacanāste kiṁ munayastattvadarśinaḥ ||

"— thus done, is a man freed from sin, or not? Are the sages, seers of truth, speakers of contradictory words then?"

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.4.21.12)

याज्ञवल्क्यादयः सर्वे धर्मशास्त्रप्रवर्तकाः । भवितव्यं भवत्येव यद्येवं निश्चयः प्रभो ॥

yājñavalkyādayaḥ sarve dharmaśāstrapravartakāḥ | bhavitavyaṁ bhavatyeva yadyevaṁ niścayaḥ prabho ||

"Yajnavalkya and all the other founders of the dharma-shastras — say 'what is destined shall surely come to pass' — if this is the settled conclusion, O lord,"

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.4.21.13)

आयुर्वेदः स मिथ्यैव मन्त्रवादास्तथाखिलाः । उद्यमस्तु वृथा सर्वमेवं चेद्दैवनिर्मितम् ॥

āyurvedaḥ sa mithyaiva mantravādāstathākhilāḥ | udyamastu vṛthā sarvamevaṁ ceddaivanirmitam ||

"— then the science of Ayurveda is simply false, and all the mantra-workings likewise; and effort itself is entirely useless, if everything is thus predetermined by fate."

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.4.21.14)

भवितव्यं भवत्येव प्रवृत्तिस्तु निरर्थिका । अग्निष्टोमादिकं व्यर्थं नियतं स्वर्गसाधनम् ॥

bhavitavyaṁ bhavatyeva pravṛttistu nirarthikā | agniṣṭomādikaṁ vyarthaṁ niyataṁ svargasādhanam ||

"'What is destined shall surely come to pass' — then activity itself is meaningless; the Agnishtoma and other sacrifices, ordained as means to heaven, become useless."

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.4.21.15)

यदा तदा प्रमाणं हि वृथैव परिभाषितम् । वितथे तत्प्रमाणे तु धर्मोच्छेदः कुतो न हि ॥

yadā tadā pramāṇaṁ hi vṛthaiva paribhāṣitam | vitathe tatpramāṇe tu dharmocchedaḥ kuto na hi ||

"If fate alone is always the authority, then scriptural injunctions are stated in vain; and if that authority proves false, then why would the destruction of dharma not follow?"

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.4.21.16)

उद्यमे च कृते सिद्धिः प्रत्यक्षेणैव साध्यते । तस्मादत्र प्रकर्तव्यः प्रपञ्चश्चित्तकल्पितः ॥

udyame ca kṛte siddhiḥ pratyakṣeṇaiva sādhyate | tasmādatra prakartavyaḥ prapañcaścittakalpitaḥ ||

"When effort is made, success is indeed achieved, as directly witnessed. Therefore, here too, the undertaking devised by the mind must be carried through—"

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.4.21.17)

यथायं बालकः क्षेमं प्राप्नोति मम पुत्रकः । मिथ्या यदि प्रकर्तव्यं वचनं शुभमिच्छता ॥

yathāyaṁ bālakaḥ kṣemaṁ prāpnoti mama putrakaḥ | mithyā yadi prakartavyaṁ vacanaṁ śubhamicchatā ||

"— so that this child, my little son, may attain safety. Even if a falsehood must be spoken by one who desires good—"

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.4.21.18)

न तत्र दूषणं किञ्चित्पवदन्ति मनीषिणः । वसुदेव उवाच । निशामय महाभागे सत्यमेतद् ब्रवीमि ते ॥

na tatra dūṣaṇaṁ kiñcitpavadanti manīṣiṇaḥ | vasudeva uvāca | niśāmaya mahābhāge satyametad bravīmi te ||

"— the wise declare that there is no fault whatsoever in it." Vasudeva said: "Listen, O most fortunate one; I speak this truth to you—"

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.4.21.19)

उद्यमः खलु कर्तव्यः फलं दैववशानुगम् । त्रिविधानीह कर्माणि संसारेऽत्र पुराविदः ॥

udyamaḥ khalu kartavyaḥ phalaṁ daivavaśānugam | trividhānīha karmāṇi saṁsāre'tra purāvidaḥ ||

"— effort indeed must be made; the fruit follows the sway of fate. Deeds are threefold here in this world, as the ancients—"

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.4.21.20)

प्रवदन्तीह जीवानां पुराणेष्वागमेषु च । सञ्चितानि च जीर्णानि प्रारब्धानि सुमध्यमे ॥

pravadantīha jīvānāṁ purāṇeṣvāgameṣu ca | sañcitāni ca jīrṇāni prārabdhāni sumadhyame ||

"— declare here, of living beings, in the Puranas and Agamas: the accumulated, the spent, and the ripened karmas, O fair one of slender waist—"

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.4.21.21)

वर्तमानानि वामोरु विविधानीह देहिनाम् । शुभाशुभानि कर्माणि बीजभूतानि यानि च ॥

vartamānāni vāmoru vividhānīha dehinām | śubhāśubhāni karmāṇi bījabhūtāni yāni ca ||

"— and the present, currently-accruing ones, O fair-thighed one, are various here, for embodied beings; the deeds, auspicious and inauspicious, which are seed-like—"

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.4.21.22)

बहुजन्मसमुत्थानि काले तिष्ठन्ति सर्वथा । पूर्वदेहं परित्यज्य जीवः कर्मवशानुगः ॥

bahujanmasamutthāni kāle tiṣṭhanti sarvathā | pūrvadehaṁ parityajya jīvaḥ karmavaśānugaḥ ||

"— arising from many births, remain stored up over time, in every way. Abandoning his former body, the soul, subject to the sway of karma—"

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.4.21.23)

स्वर्गं वा नरकं वापि प्राप्नोति स्वकृतेन वै । दिव्यं देहञ्च सम्प्राप्य यातनादेहमर्थजम् ॥

svargaṁ vā narakaṁ vāpi prāpnoti svakṛtena vai | divyaṁ dehañca samprāpya yātanādehamarthajam ||

"— obtains heaven or hell, by his own deeds; and having attained a celestial body, or a body made for suffering—"

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.4.21.24)

भुनक्ति विविधान् भोगान्स्वर्गे वा नरकेऽथवा । भोगान्ते च यदोत्पत्तेः समयस्तस्य जायते ॥

bhunakti vividhān bhogānsvarge vā narake'thavā | bhogānte ca yadotpatteḥ samayastasya jāyate ||

"— he enjoys various experiences, whether in heaven or in hell. At the end of that enjoyment, when the time of his next birth arrives—"

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.4.21.25)

लिङ्गदेहेन सहितं जायते जीवसंज्ञितम् । तदैव सञ्चितेभ्यश्च कर्मभ्यः कर्मभिः पुनः ॥

liṅgadehena sahitaṁ jāyate jīvasaṁjñitam | tadaiva sañcitebhyaśca karmabhyaḥ karmabhiḥ punaḥ ||

"— he is born, called a 'jiva,' together with his subtle body. Then, from the accumulated deeds, by further deeds again—"

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.4.21.26)

योजयत्येव तं कालं कर्माणि प्राक्कृतानि च । देहेनानेन भाव्यानि शुभानि चाशुभानि च ॥

yojayatyeva taṁ kālaṁ karmāṇi prākkṛtāni ca | dehenānena bhāvyāni śubhāni cāśubhāni ca ||

"— that time joins him to the deeds done before; by this body, deeds, good and bad, must come to fruition—"

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.4.21.27)

प्रारब्धानि च जीवेन भोक्तव्यानि सुलोचने । प्रायश्चित्तेन नश्यन्ति वर्तमानानि भामिनि ॥

prārabdhāni ca jīvena bhoktavyāni sulocane | prāyaścittena naśyanti vartamānāni bhāmini ||

"— these are called Prarabdha, and must be experienced by the soul, O fair-eyed one. The currently-accruing ones are destroyed through expiation, O radiant one—"

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.4.21.28)

सञ्चितानि तथैवाशु यथार्थं विहितेन च । प्रारब्धकर्मणां भोगात्सङ्क्षयो नान्यथा भवेत् ॥

sañcitāni tathaivāśu yathārthaṁ vihitena ca | prārabdhakarmaṇāṁ bhogātsaṅkṣayo nānyathā bhavet ||

"— and the accumulated ones too, swiftly, through properly ordained rites. But the exhaustion of ripened Prarabdha karmas comes about only through their experience, never otherwise."

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.4.21.29)

तेनायं ते कुमारो वै देयः कंसाय सर्वथा । न मिथ्या वचनं मेऽस्ति लोकनिन्दाभिदूषितम् ॥

tenāyaṁ te kumāro vai deyaḥ kaṁsāya sarvathā | na mithyā vacanaṁ me'sti lokanindābhidūṣitam ||

"Therefore this child of yours must in every way be given to Kamsa; there is no falsehood in my word, tainted by the world's censure."

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.4.21.30)

अनित्येऽस्मिंस्तु संसारे धर्मसारे महात्मनाम् । दैवाधीनं हि सर्वेषां मरणं जननं तथा ॥

anitye'smiṁstu saṁsāre dharmasāre mahātmanām | daivādhīnaṁ hi sarveṣāṁ maraṇaṁ jananaṁ tathā ||

"In this impermanent world, wherein dharma is the essence for great souls, death and birth alike are subject to fate for all."

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.4.21.31)

तस्माच्छोको न कर्तव्यो देहिना हि निरर्थकः । सत्यं यस्य गतं कान्ते वृथा तस्यैव जीवितम् ॥

tasmācchoko na kartavyo dehinā hi nirarthakaḥ | satyaṁ yasya gataṁ kānte vṛthā tasyaiva jīvitam ||

"Therefore sorrow ought not to be indulged by an embodied being, for it is indeed useless. For one whose truth is lost, O beloved, his very life is in vain."

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.4.21.32)

इहलोको गतो यस्मात्परलोकः कुतस्ततः । अतो देहि सुतं सुभ्रु कंसाय प्रददाम्यहम् ॥

ihaloko gato yasmātparalokaḥ kutastataḥ | ato dehi sutaṁ subhru kaṁsāya pradadāmyaham ||

"This world is lost the moment truth departs — then whence comes the next world? Therefore, O fair-browed one, give me the son; I shall give him to Kamsa."

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.4.21.33)

सत्यसंस्तरणाद्देवि शुभमग्रे भविष्यति । कर्तव्यं सुकृतं पुम्भिः सुखे दुःखे सति प्रिये ॥

satyasaṁstaraṇāddevi śubhamagre bhaviṣyati | kartavyaṁ sukṛtaṁ pumbhiḥ sukhe duḥkhe sati priye ||

"Through the preservation of truth, O Devi, good fortune shall come in the end. Good deeds must be done by men whether in happiness or in sorrow, O beloved—"

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.4.21.34)

(सत्यसंरक्षणाद्देवि शुभमेव भविष्यति)॥ व्यास उवाच । इत्युक्तवति कान्ते सा देवकी शोकसंयुता । ददौ पुत्रं प्रसूतं च वेपमाना मनस्विनी ॥

(satyasaṁrakṣaṇāddevi śubhameva bhaviṣyati)|| vyāsa uvāca | ityuktavati kānte sā devakī śokasaṁyutā | dadau putraṁ prasūtaṁ ca vepamānā manasvinī ||

"(Through the protection of truth, O Devi, only good shall come.)" Vyasa said: When her beloved had spoken thus, Devaki, overcome with sorrow, gave up her newborn son, trembling, though of resolute mind.

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.4.21.35)

वसुदेवोऽपि धर्मात्मा आदाय स्वसुतं शिशुम् । जगाम कंससदनं मार्गे लोकैरभिष्टुतः ॥

vasudevo'pi dharmātmā ādāya svasutaṁ śiśum | jagāma kaṁsasadanaṁ mārge lokairabhiṣṭutaḥ ||

Vasudeva too, the righteous-souled one, taking his infant son, went to Kamsa's palace, praised by the people along the way.

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.4.21.36)

लोका ऊचुः । पश्यन्तु वसुदेवं भो लोका एवं मनस्विनम् । स्ववाक्यमनुरुध्यैव बालमादाय यात्यसौ ॥

lokā ūcuḥ | paśyantu vasudevaṁ bho lokā evaṁ manasvinam | svavākyamanurudhyaiva bālamādāya yātyasau ||

The people said: "Behold Vasudeva, of such resolute mind! Adhering strictly to his own word, he goes, carrying his infant."

Verse 37 (devibhagavatam.4.21.37)

मृत्यवे दातुकामोऽद्य सत्यवागनसूयकः । सफलं जीवितं चास्य धर्मं पश्यन्तु चाद्भुतम् ॥

mṛtyave dātukāmo'dya satyavāganasūyakaḥ | saphalaṁ jīvitaṁ cāsya dharmaṁ paśyantu cādbhutam ||

"Today he wishes to give him over to death, being truthful in speech and free of malice; behold his life made fruitful, and his wondrous dharma—"

Verse 38 (devibhagavatam.4.21.38)

यः पुत्रं याति कंसाय दातुं कालात्मनेऽपि हि । व्यास उवाच । इति संस्तूयमानस्तु प्राप्तः कंसालयं नृप ॥

yaḥ putraṁ yāti kaṁsāya dātuṁ kālātmane'pi hi | vyāsa uvāca | iti saṁstūyamānastu prāptaḥ kaṁsālayaṁ nṛpa ||

"— who goes to give his son even to Kamsa, that very embodiment of Death." Vyasa said: Thus being praised, O king, he arrived at Kamsa's dwelling.

Verse 39 (devibhagavatam.4.21.39)

ददावस्मै कुमारं तं जातमात्रममानुषम् । कंसोऽपि विस्मयं प्राप्तो दृष्ट्वा धैर्यं महात्मनः ॥

dadāvasmai kumāraṁ taṁ jātamātramamānuṣam | kaṁso'pi vismayaṁ prāpto dṛṣṭvā dhairyaṁ mahātmanaḥ ||

He gave that infant, just born, to him — though the child was more than human; Kamsa too became astonished, seeing the great-souled one's steadfastness.

Verse 40 (devibhagavatam.4.21.40)

गृहीत्वा बालकं प्राह स्मितपूर्वमिदं वचः । धन्यस्त्वं शूरपुत्राद्य ज्ञातः पुत्रसमर्पणात् ॥

gṛhītvā bālakaṁ prāha smitapūrvamidaṁ vacaḥ | dhanyastvaṁ śūraputrādya jñātaḥ putrasamarpaṇāt ||

Taking the infant, he spoke this word, preceded by a smile: "Blessed are you, O son of Shura, now known for the surrender of your son."

Verse 41 (devibhagavatam.4.21.41)

मम मृत्युर्न चायं वै गिरा प्रोक्तस्तु चाष्टमः । न हन्तव्यो मया कामं बालोऽयं यातु ते गहम् ॥

mama mṛtyurna cāyaṁ vai girā proktastu cāṣṭamaḥ | na hantavyo mayā kāmaṁ bālo'yaṁ yātu te gaham ||

"This is not indeed the cause of my death — it was declared by the voice to be the eighth. This child need not be slain by me; let him go to your house."

Verse 42 (devibhagavatam.4.21.42)

अष्टमस्तु प्रदातव्यस्त्वया पुत्रो महामते । इत्युक्त्वा वसुदेवाय ददावाशु खलः शिशुम् ॥

aṣṭamastu pradātavyastvayā putro mahāmate | ityuktvā vasudevāya dadāvāśu khalaḥ śiśum ||

"The eighth son alone must be given by you, O great-minded one." Having said this, the wicked one swiftly gave the infant back to Vasudeva.

Verse 43 (devibhagavatam.4.21.43)

गच्छत्वयं गृहे बालः क्षेमं व्याहृतवान्नृपः । तमादाय तदा शौरिर्जगाम स्वगृहं मुदा ॥

gacchatvayaṁ gṛhe bālaḥ kṣemaṁ vyāhṛtavānnṛpaḥ | tamādāya tadā śaurirjagāma svagṛhaṁ mudā ||

"Let this child go home safely," the king declared; taking him then, Shauri went home with joy.

Verse 44 (devibhagavatam.4.21.44)

कंसोऽपि सचिवानाह वृथा किं घातये शिशुम् । अष्टमाद्देवकीपुत्रान्मम मृत्युरुदाहृतः ॥

kaṁso'pi sacivānāha vṛthā kiṁ ghātaye śiśum | aṣṭamāddevakīputrānmama mṛtyurudāhṛtaḥ ||

Kamsa then said to his ministers: "Why should I slay the infant in vain? My death was declared to come from Devaki's eighth son."

Verse 45 (devibhagavatam.4.21.45)

अतः किं प्रथमं बालं हत्वा पापं करोम्यहम् । साधुसाध्विति तेऽप्युक्त्वा संस्थिता मन्त्रिसत्तमाः ॥

ataḥ kiṁ prathamaṁ bālaṁ hatvā pāpaṁ karomyaham | sādhusādhviti te'pyuktvā saṁsthitā mantrisattamāḥ ||

"Therefore, why should I commit the sin of slaying the firstborn child?" They too said, "Well said, well said!" and remained silent — those best of ministers.

Verse 46 (devibhagavatam.4.21.46)

विसर्जितास्तु कंसेन जग्मुस्ते स्वगृहान्प्रति । गतेषु तेषु सम्प्राप्तो नारदो मुनिसत्तमः ॥

visarjitāstu kaṁsena jagmuste svagṛhānprati | gateṣu teṣu samprāpto nārado munisattamaḥ ||

Dismissed by Kamsa, they went to their own homes. When they had gone, Narada, the best of sages, arrived.

Verse 47 (devibhagavatam.4.21.47)

अभ्युत्थानार्घ्यपाद्यादि चकारोग्रसुतस्तदा । पप्रच्छ कुशलं राजा तत्रागमनकारणम् ॥

abhyutthānārghyapādyādi cakārograsutastadā | papraccha kuśalaṁ rājā tatrāgamanakāraṇam ||

The son of Ugrasena then performed the proper rising in respect, offering water for guest and feet; the king inquired after his welfare, and the reason for his coming there.

Verse 48 (devibhagavatam.4.21.48)

नारदस्तं तदोवाच स्मितपूर्वमिदं वचः । कंस कंस महाभाग गतोऽहं हेमपर्वतम् ॥

nāradastaṁ tadovāca smitapūrvamidaṁ vacaḥ | kaṁsa kaṁsa mahābhāga gato'haṁ hemaparvatam ||

Narada then said to him, preceded by a smile: "O Kamsa, Kamsa, great one, I have gone to the Golden Mountain."

Verse 49 (devibhagavatam.4.21.49)

तत्र ब्रह्मादयो देवा मन्त्रं चक्रुः समाहिताः । देवक्यां वसुदेवस्य भार्यायां सुरसत्तमः ॥

tatra brahmādayo devā mantraṁ cakruḥ samāhitāḥ | devakyāṁ vasudevasya bhāryāyāṁ surasattamaḥ ||

"There, Brahma and the other gods, gathered and composed, held counsel: regarding Devaki, the wife of Vasudeva, O best of gods—"

Verse 50 (devibhagavatam.4.21.50)

वधार्थं तव विष्णुश्च जन्म चात्र करिष्यति । तत्कथं न हतः पुत्रस्त्वया नीतिं विजानता ॥

vadhārthaṁ tava viṣṇuśca janma cātra kariṣyati | tatkathaṁ na hataḥ putrastvayā nītiṁ vijānatā ||

"— Vishnu, for the sake of your destruction, shall take birth here through her. How then was your son not slain by you, though you understand statecraft?"

Verse 51 (devibhagavatam.4.21.51)

कंस उवाच । अष्टमं च हनिष्येऽहं मृत्युं मे देवभाषितम् । नारद उवाच । न जानासि नृपश्रेष्ठ राजनीतिं शुभाशुभा ।

kaṁsa uvāca | aṣṭamaṁ ca haniṣye'haṁ mṛtyuṁ me devabhāṣitam | nārada uvāca | na jānāsi nṛpaśreṣṭha rājanītiṁ śubhāśubhā |

Kamsa said: "I shall slay the eighth; that alone was declared by the gods' voice to be my death." Narada said: "You do not know, O best of kings, the subtleties of good and ill statecraft."

Verse 52 (devibhagavatam.4.21.52)

मायाबलं च देवानां न त्वं वेत्सि वदामि किम् । रिपुरल्पोऽपि शूरेण नोपेक्ष्यः शुभमिच्छता ॥

māyābalaṁ ca devānāṁ na tvaṁ vetsi vadāmi kim | ripuralpo'pi śūreṇa nopekṣyaḥ śubhamicchatā ||

"Nor do you know the power of the gods' Maya — what shall I say? A foe, even a small one, must not be disregarded by a hero who desires his own good."

Verse 53 (devibhagavatam.4.21.53)

सम्मेलनक्रियायां तु सर्वे ते ह्यष्टमाः स्मृताः । मूर्खस्त्वमरिसन्त्यागः कृतोऽयं जानता त्वया ॥

sammelanakriyāyāṁ tu sarve te hyaṣṭamāḥ smṛtāḥ | mūrkhastvamarisantyāgaḥ kṛto'yaṁ jānatā tvayā ||

"In reckoning the tally, every one of them can indeed be counted as 'the eighth.' You are a fool — knowingly, you have let your enemy go."

Verse 54 (devibhagavatam.4.21.54)

इत्युक्त्वाशु गतः श्रीमान्नारदो देवदर्शनः । गतेऽथ नारदे कंसः समाहूयाथ बालकम् । पाषाणे पोथयामास सुखं प्राप च मन्दधीः ॥

ityuktvāśu gataḥ śrīmānnārado devadarśanaḥ | gate'tha nārade kaṁsaḥ samāhūyātha bālakam | pāṣāṇe pothayāmāsa sukhaṁ prāpa ca mandadhīḥ ||

Having said this, the glorious Narada, seer of the gods, swiftly departed. When Narada had gone, Kamsa then, summoning back the infant, dashed it upon a stone — and, dull-witted, felt satisfaction.