Shloka 17
The Killing of Ariṣṭāsura and Kaṁsa’s Plot to Summon Kṛṣṇa
यशोदाया: सुतां कन्यां देवक्या: कृष्णमेव च । रामं च रोहिणीपुत्रं वसुदेवेन बिभ्यता । न्यस्तौ स्वमित्रे नन्दे वै याभ्यां ते पुरुषा हता: ॥ १७ ॥
yaśodāyāḥ sutāṁ kanyāṁ devakyāḥ kṛṣṇam eva ca rāmaṁ ca rohiṇī-putraṁ vasudevena bibhyatā nyastau sva-mitre nande vai yābhyāṁ te puruṣā hatāḥ
Nārada sprach zu Kaṁsa: Yaśodās Kind war in Wahrheit ein Mädchen, und Kṛṣṇa ist Devakīs Sohn. Rāma (Balarāma) ist der Sohn Rohiṇīs. Aus Furcht vertraute Vasudeva Kṛṣṇa und Rāma seinem Freund Nanda Mahārāja an; diese beiden Knaben haben deine Männer getötet.
Kaṁsa had been led to believe that Kṛṣṇa was the son of Yaśodā and that Devakī’s eighth child had been a daughter. The identity of Devakī’s eighth child was extremely important to Kaṁsa because a prophecy had foretold that her eighth child would kill him. Here Nārada informs the King that the eighth child of Devakī was the formidable Kṛṣṇa, thus implying that the prophecy should be taken very seriously. Having received this information, Kaṁsa obviously will now do everything in his power to kill Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma.
FAQs
Out of fear of Kaṁsa’s violence, Vasudeva placed Kṛṣṇa (Devakī’s son) and Balarāma (Rohiṇī’s son) under the protection of his trusted friend Nanda in Gokula, where the Lord’s pastimes unfolded safely.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī speaks this verse while narrating to King Parīkṣit, describing Kaṁsa’s understanding of how Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma came to be raised in Nanda’s household.
It highlights that sincere devotion and taking shelter of trustworthy, God-centered association brings protection and clarity—especially when facing fear, hostility, or uncertainty.