Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 48
Vasudeva and Devakī Glorify Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma; The Recovery of Devakī’s Six Sons from Sutala
तेनासुरीमगन् योनिमधुनावद्यकर्मणा । हिरण्यकशिपोर्जाता नीतास्ते योगमायया ॥ ४८ ॥ देवक्या उदरे जाता राजन् कंसविहिंसिता: । सा तान् शोचत्यात्मजान् स्वांस्त इमेऽध्यासतेऽन्तिके ॥ ४९ ॥
tenāsurīm agan yonim adhunāvadya-karmaṇā hiraṇyakaśipor jātā nītās te yoga-māyayā
Because of that improper act, they immediately entered a demoniac form of life, and thus they took birth as sons of Hiraṇyakaśipu. The goddess Yoga-māyā then took them away from Hiraṇyakaśipu, and they were born again from Devakī’s womb. After this, O King, Kaṁsa murdered them. Devakī still laments for them, thinking of them as her sons. These same sons of Marīci are now living here with you.
Ācāryas Śrīdhara Svāmī and Viśvanātha Cakravartī explain that after taking Marīci’s six sons from Hiraṇyakaśipu, Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Yoga-māyā first made them pass through one more life as children of another great demon, Kālanemi, and then she finally transferred them to the womb of Devakī.
FAQs
This verse shows Yogamāyā actively arranging events—moving souls according to the Lord’s plan—so Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes and divine purposes unfold.
Śukadeva explains that due to prior causes and their present condemnable actions, they took a demoniac birth—illustrating karmic consequence under divine supervision.
It encourages ethical action and devotion, reminding seekers that choices shape future conditions, while divine grace can redirect life toward spiritual progress.