Shloka 54
Parīkṣit’s Questions and the Prelude to Kṛṣṇa’s Advent
Earth’s Burden, Viṣṇu’s Order, and Kaṁsa’s Fear
श्रीवसुदेव उवाच न ह्यस्यास्ते भयं सौम्य यद् वैसाहाशरीरवाक् । पुत्रान् समर्पयिष्येऽस्या यतस्ते भयमुत्थितम् ॥ ५४ ॥
śrī-vasudeva uvāca na hy asyās te bhayaṁ saumya yad vai sāhāśarīra-vāk putrān samarpayiṣye ’syā yatas te bhayam utthitam
Vasudeva said: O gentle one, you need not fear your sister Devakī because of the unseen omen you heard; your fear has arisen from her sons. Therefore, when those sons are born, I shall deliver them all into your hands.
Kaṁsa feared Devakī’s existence because after her eighth pregnancy she would give birth to a son who would kill him. Vasudeva, therefore, to assure his brother-in-law the utmost safety, promised to bring him all the sons. He would not wait for the eighth son, but from the very beginning would deliver to the hands of Kaṁsa all the sons to which Devakī would give birth. This was the most liberal proposition offered by Vasudeva to Kaṁsa.
FAQs
This verse states that Kaṁsa’s fear specifically arose from Devakī’s sons, as foretold by the bodiless voice; Vasudeva responds by offering to hand over the sons to remove Kaṁsa’s anxiety.
Vasudeva speaks diplomatically and truthfully, referencing the prophecy and promising to deliver Devakī’s sons to Kaṁsa, aiming to avert immediate danger and uphold his word in a crisis.
Act with integrity even under pressure: speak calmly, acknowledge the real cause of fear, and choose truthful, responsible action instead of panic or retaliation.