The demons overburdened Mother Earth. The people had no other shelter except for Lord Krishna....
When His devotees call out to Him, He is forced to come, along with His eternal associates.
Lord Krishna and Lord Balrama stepped on this Earth to kill...
Those who are free from false prestige, illusion and false association, who understand the eternal, who are done with material lust, who are freed from the dualities of happiness and distress, and who, unbewildered, know how to surrender unto the Supreme Person attain to that eternal kingdom.
Vasudeva was the son of Surasena. He belonged to Sura dynasty.
Whereas Devaki was the beloved daughter of Devaka. Mother Devaki belonged to Bhoja dynasty.
There were celebrations everywhere!!
Bugles trilled, everyone was enjoying the party.
But, now the time came for the bride to go to the in-laws. They newly married couple mounted on a chariot.
Kamsa was very affectionate to her sister. So, he decided to drive the chariot. He grabbed the reins of the horses and was ready to become a chariot driver.
In olden days, the brother of the bride used to escort the newly married couple to the house of groom. This was because the girl might feel seperation from her own family.
Conch shells, bugles, drums and kettle drums echoed the path.
But, all of a sudden, the sky grumbled. No, the sky didn't grumble, a grumbling sound was coming from the sky. In hindi you call it 'Aakashvani'.
Earth trembled. The voice was very deep. And it spoke:
"Kamsa, you are such a fool! You are driving the chariot of a woman who's eighth child will cause your death!"
These words were spoken by demigods of the Heaven. They feared Kamsa that's why they used the means of Aakashvani. They wanted Kamsa to offend Devaki.
Look, when you offend a devotee, a painful death is sure. And offending a personality like Mother Devaki was sure to invoke Krishna as death. So, the demigods became the instrument of Krishna here. ------------------------------------------------------
Kamsa feared his death very much.
He was holding the reins of horses with his left hand. At once, the left the reins and caught hold of Devaki's hair. With his right hand, he took out a sword.
The so-called 'affection' at once disappeared. Kamsa was ready to use violence against her sister! This was so demoniac!
Vasudeva was a devotee. Hence, Vishnu had guided him what to do. He didn't panic for he knew it was Vishnu's plan.
This doesn't mean that violence is to be tolerated! So, he tried to pacify Kamsa since he knew that Kamsa wasn't to by defeated by sword fight or something like that. So, by sweet words, he tried to convince Kamsa. He gave reasonable points instead.
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Vasudeva, in an attempt to save his wife, spoke:
"Today is the marriage of your sister!
Kindly don't kill a woman on this auspicious day.
Your glories are spread around the globe. If the news that you have murdered your sister fearing her eighth child be your death, what would people think?
One who takes birth is sure to die, for death is born with the body. One may die today or after hundreds of years, but death is sure for every living entity.
When the present body turns to dust and is again reduced to five elements - earth, water, fire, air and ether - the proprietor of the body, the living being, automatically receives another body of material elements according to his Karma. When the next body is obtained, he gives up the present body.
Just as a person traveling on the road rests one foot on the ground and then lifts the other, or as a worm on a vegetable transfers itself to one leaf and then gives up the previous one, the conditioned soul takes shelter of another body and then gives up the one he had before.
Having experienced a situation by seeing or hearing about it, one contemplates and speculates about that situation, and thus one surrenders to it, not considering his present body. Similarly, by mental adjustments one dreams at night of living under different circumstances, in different bodies, and forgets his actual position. Under this same process, one gives up his present body and accepts another.
At the time of death, according to the thinking, feeling and willing of the mind, which is involved in fruitive activities, one receives a particular body. In other words, the body develops according to the activities of the mind. Changes of body are due to the flickering of the mind, for otherwise the soul could remain in its original, spiritual body.
Therefore, since envious, impious activities cause a body in which one suffers in the next life, why should one act impiously? Considering one's welfare, one should not envy anyone, for an envious person must always fear harm from his enemies, either in this life or in the next.
As your younger sister, this poor girl Devaki is like your own daughter and deserves to be affectionately maintained. You are merciful, and therefore you should not kill her. Indeed, she deserves your affection."
Vasudeva, a pure devotee, explained why not to fear death. But the demoniac person had no effect. His mind was contaminated with the desire to kill his sister. He knew all this philosophy, but since he was envious of others, the knowledge didn't work on him.
Kamsa raised his sword and was about to swing it. Vasudeva had no time to plan.
Vasudeva considered: By delivering all my sons to Kamsa, who is death personified, I shall save the life of Devaki. Perhaps Kamsa will die before my sons take birth, or, since he is already destined to die at the hands of my son, one of my sons may kill him. For the time being, let me promise to hand over my sons so that Kamsa will give up this immediate threat, and if in due course of time Kamsa dies, I shall have nothing to fear.
When a fire, for some unseen reason, leaps over one piece of wood and sets fire to the next, the reason is destiny. Similarly, when a living being accepts one kind of body and leaves aside another, there is no other reason than unseen destiny.
Vasudeva was anxious to save the bride. But he knew that if he shouted, Kamsa might lose his temper and immediately kill both of them. Hence, he tried to smile and softly speak:
"Why are you killing Devaki? It is predicted that her sons might kill you. But, you have no risk keeping your sister alive.
So, if we give birth to a child, we will immediately hand him or her to you. This is my promise."
Kamsa thought for a while. He trusted Vasudeva.
Hence, he let the newly married couple go safe and sound, and left for his house.
