Vasudeva and Devaki

Vasudeva and Devaki

The thunderous voice from the clouds had taken everyone by surprise. Prince Vasudeva, son of Surasena, was astonished by the violence of his brother-in-law.

One moment they had been happily riding in the wedding chariot, surrounded by royal family members and invited guests. The incense perfumed the air as they rode along with trumpet conch fanfares and showers of flowers and now this!

Kamsa had attacked his own sister. His razor-sharp sword was raised over her head. and tried to stop him. "Are you mad?" he said, grappling with his sword arm.

Kamsa was powerful and pushed him away. He was prepared to slay both Vasudeva and Devaki on the spot, in their wedding chariot.
"What happened to you?" said Vasudeva. "How could you be so angry  that you are ready to kill your sister on her wedding day?"

Kamsa fixed his eyes on Vasudeva and held his sword high. Devaki held Vasudeva close to her.
he said, "You heard the voice. Her child will kill me. What do you have to say?"
"Well as long as there's no child, there's no threat, Kamsa. Devaki's not going to kill you. There's no reason for violence now. Think it through."

"Think it through."

Kamsa lowered his sword a bit. His brother-in-law was right.

"You are a great and powerful warrior. Why should you be afraid of death? Death is already born along with your birth. From the very day you took your birth, you began to die. Suppose you are sixteen years old; that means you have alreadt been dying for sixteen years. Every moment, every second, you are dying. Why then should you be so much afraid of death? You may die now, on the battlefield or in years. Are you a coward that you should be afraid of your sister? What if her eighth child brings your death? It may take years for Devaki to have eight children. Why not wait and see? After all, the soul is eternal. Nothing can kill you. You will live on, but in another body. Why such a terrible reaction simply because you hear a voice from the sky?"



"Maybe so," said the demonic Kamsa, gritting his teeth, "but it's better to kill you both on the spot." He again raised his sword, prepared to put them both to death.



 Vasudeva said to Kamsa, "My dear brother-in-law, son of Ugrasena. kill me if you like, but spare your sister. She is no threat to you. Where is your warrior's code? Wait and see if she has eight children. We will give you the eighth child, if there is one. Look. We can bring all her children to you when they are born and you can decide their fate. You have my word as the son of Surasena, but spare Devaki's life."

"You have my word."

Kamsa thought it over. Vasudeva was right. He lowered his sword. "Yes," he said. "You are a man of honor. See to it that you keep your promises. After all, Devaki is my sister. All right. I will spare your life, as I am a great man. Let us wait and see."

In time, Vasudeva and Devaki gave birth to seven sons and a daughter. When the first son was born, Vasudeva kept his word and brought the child to 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 see him. He could see that Vasudeva meant to keep his promises. "Keep this one," he said. "He's a nice little boy. He's no threat to me. The voice said the eighth child. Tell your wife I'm not the devil she thinks I am. We'll wait for number eight."

Six years passed and in this way there was a newborn boy every year. And every year Vasudeva would take the newborn infant to the terrible king Kamsa. The king would smile his gruesome grin and curl his mustache and say, "He's a nice little boy. He's no threat. Tell you're wife I'm no devil." He would chuckle his satanic laugh and pat the little baby on his bottom. "Send him on his way, ha ha."

"I'm no devil!"

Around this time, the great sage Narada came to visit the court of king Kamsa. He was welcomed with honor and seated close to the king. He played his transcendental vina and spoke on the eternal soul and the meaning of life. Now Narada wanted Krishna to appear soon.  He provoked Kamsa to act, so that Krishna's appearance would be assured.

"Be careful with family members who make promises."

Narada warned Kamsa: "Be careful with family members who make promises."
But Kamsa, being a bit thick-headed didn't understand his meaning.
"I don't follow you, O sage among the gods. Please explain your meaning."

"Explain your meaning."

"Soon, among the Yadus will appear one who will challenge your authority. The gods are taking birth in the family of the Yadu dynasty and soon Mathura will be theirs. In your former life you are a demon called Kalanemi and you committed great crimes. These crimes will be avenged by the devas. They will annihilate you and all the demonic kings who are your allies. You have many demonic friends: Keshi, Putana, Jarasandha, the king of Magadha and many others. All these will be destroyed by the son of Devaki. Beware the son of Devaki."

"Beware the son of Devaki"

Soon after Narada left, Kamsa thought about his words and decided he had been too patient. He had been cheated by Vasudeva. He had allowed the sweet faces of his innocent children to seduce him into inactivity. It was time to act. He summoned  his brother-in-law Vasudeva and his sister Devaki and told them, "I have been too kind with you. Soon your eighth child will be born. I'm sorry, but my death was foretold. I can no longer trust the two of you. Guards!"
And so Devaki and Vasudeva were imprisoned. Kamsa locked them up in the dungeons of his palace.



The reign of terror had begun. Kamsa began a murderous purge, killing all who were suspected of having been born of gods. His murderous campaign took many lives. He killed many innocent children. He summoned the children of Vasudeva, the boys whose lives he had formerly spared, and condemned them to death. He personally smashed them against the rocks with his own demonic hands.

Kamsa's Reign of Terror

Kamsa 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 the land. He imprisoned and murdered all the opposing princes and members of royal families. Kamsa was on a murderous rampage. Where would it end?

Mathura on the Yamuna River