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ARTICLE : Advent of Lord Krsna (2/2)
Vasudeva, after deliberating on how to save his wife,
began to speak to Kamsa with great respect, although Kamsa
was the most sinful man. Sometimes it happens that a most
virtuous person like Vasudeva has to flatter a person
like Kamsa, a most vicious person. That is the way of all
diplomatic transactions. Although Vasudeva was deeply
aggrieved, he presented himself outwardly as cheerful. He
addressed the shameless Kamsa in that way because he was
so atrocious. Vasudeva said to Kamsa, "My dear brother in
law, please consider that you have no dagner from your
sister. You are awaiting some danger because you have heard
a prophetic voice in the sky. But the danger is to come from
the sons of your sister, who are not present now. And who
knows? There may or may not be sons in the future.
Considering all this, you are safe for the present. Nor is
there cause of fear from your sister. If there are any sons
born of her, I promise that I shall present all of them to
you for necessary action."
Kamsa knew the value of Vasudeva's word of honor, and he
was convinced by his argument. for the time being, he
desisted from the heinous killing of his sister. Thus Vasudeva
was pleased and praised the decision of Kamsa. In this
way, he returned to his home.
After due course of time, Vasudeva and Devaki gave birth
to eight male children, as well as one daughter. When the
first son was born, Vasudeva kept his word of honour
and immediately brought the child before Kamsa. It is said
that Vasudeva was very much elevated and famous for his word
of honor, and he wanted to maintain this fame. Although it
was very painful for Vasudeva to hand over the newly born
child, Kamsa was very glad to receive him. But he became a
little compassionate with the behavior of Vasudeva. This
event is very exemplary. For a great soul like Vasudeva,
there is nothing considered to be painful in the course of
disharging one's duty. A learned person like Vasudeva
carries out his duties without hesitation. On the other hand,
a demon like Kamsa never hesitates in committing any
abominable action. It is said, therefore, that a saintly
person can tolerate all kinds of miserable conditions of
life, a learned man can disccharge his duties without
awaiting favorable circumstances, a heinous person like
Kamsa can act in any sinful way, and a devotee can sacrifice
everything to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Kamsa became satisfied by the action of Vasudeva. He was
surprised to see Vasudeva keeping his promise, and being
compassionate upon him and pleased, he began to speak as
follows: "My dear Vasudeva, you need not present this child
to me. I am not danger from this child. O have heard that
the eighth child born oof you and Devaki will kill me. Why
should I accept this child unnecessaryily? You can take
him back."
When Vasudeva was returning home with his first born child,
although he was pleased by the behaviour of Kamsa, he could
not believe in him because he knew that Kamsa was uncontrolled.
An atheistic person cannot be steady in determination. The
great politician, Canakya Pandit, said, "Never put your
trust in a diplomat or in a woman." those who are addicted
to unrestricted sense gratification can never be truthful,
nor can they be trusted with any faith.
At that time the great sage Narada came to Kamsa. He was
informed of Kamsa's becoming compassionate to Vasudeva and
returning his first born child. Narada was very anxious to
accelerate the descent of Lord Krsna as soon as possible.
He therefore informed Kamsa that personalities like Nanda
Maharaja and all the cowherd men and girls and the wives of
the cowherd men in Vrndavana, and, on the other side, Vasudeva,
his father Surasena and all his relatives born in the family
of Vrsni of the Yadu Dynasty, were preparing for the
appearance of the Lord. Narada warned Kamsa to be careful
of the friends and well wishers and all the demigods
taking birth in those families. Kamsa and his friends and
advisors were all demons. Demons are always afraid of
demigods. Afrer being thus informed by Narada about the
appearance of the demigods in different families. Kamsa at
once became alert. He understood that since the demigods
had already appeared, Lord Visnu must be coming soon. He at
once arrested both his brother in law Vasudeva and Devaki
and put them behind prison bars.
Within the prison, shakled in iron chains, Vasudeva and
Devaki gave birth to a male child year after year, and Kamsa,
thinking each of the babies to be the incarnation of Visnu,
killed them one after another. He was particularly afraid of the
eighth child, but after the visit of Narada, he came to the
conclusion that any child might be Krsna. Therefore, it was
better to kill all the babies who took birht of Devaki and
Vasudeva.
This action of Kamsa is not very difficult to understand. There
are many instances in the history of the world of persons in
the royal order who have killed father, brother, or a whole
family and friends for the satisfaction of their ambitions.
There is nothing astonishing about this, for the demoniac
can kill anyone for their nefarious ambitions.
Kamsa was made aware of his previous birth by the grace of
Narada. He learned that in his previous birth he was a demon of
the name Kalanemi and that he was killed by Visnu. Having taken
his birht in athe Bhoja family, he decided to become the deadly
enemy of the Yadu dynasty. Krsna was going th take birth in
that family, and Kamsa was very much afraid that he would be
killed by Krsna, just as he was killed in his last birth.
He first of all imprisoned his father Ugrasena because he was
the chief king among the Yadu, Bhoja, and Andhaka dynasties, and
he also occupied the kingdom of Surasena, Vasudeva's father.
He declared himself the king of all such places.
Thus ends the Bhaktivedanta purport of the First Chapter of Krsna.
"Advent of Lord Krsna".
ravanari@mail.public.net
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"Always think of Me, become My devotee, worship Me and offer
your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail.
I promise you this because you are My very dear friend.
Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me.
I shall deliver you from all sinfull reactions. Do not fear".
(Bhagavad Gita ch.18 txt.65-66).
