Shloka 10
देवकी-विवाहः, आकाशवाणी, भूरभारावतरण-याचना, क्षीराब्धि-स्तुति, केशावतार-नियोजनम्
न हन्तव्या महाभाग देवकी भवता तव समर्पयिष्ये सकलान् गर्भान् अस्याउदरोद्भवान्
na hantavyā mahābhāga devakī bhavatā tava samarpayiṣye sakalān garbhān asyāudarodbhavān
“O fortunate one, Devakī must not be slain by you. I shall deliver to you every child that is born from her womb.”
Vasudeva (addressing Kamsa)
Avatara: Krishna
Purpose: Bhagavān’s advent is preserved as Vasudeva’s diplomacy prevents Devakī’s immediate death, allowing the destined birth of Kṛṣṇa.
Leela: Loka-rakshana
Dharma Restored: Protection of a woman and the sanctity of familial dharma; restraint replacing impulsive violence
Concept: Even amid fear and prophecy, one should choose restraint and protect the innocent; dharma is upheld through controlled speech and right action.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: When conflict escalates, de-escalate through truthful, calming negotiation and commitments that prevent harm.
Vishishtadvaita: Dharma is lived as service to the Lord’s order: protecting embodied souls (cit) as parts dependent on Him, even within worldly crisis.
Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman
Bhakti Type: Dasya
FAQs
It shows Vasudeva’s attempt to prevent the immediate sin of killing Devakī while submitting to Kamsa’s demand—setting the stage for Vishnu’s sovereign plan to unfold through Krishna’s birth.
Kamsa’s coercive power appears absolute, yet the narrative positions destiny—guided by Vishnu’s avatāra-purpose—as ultimately decisive, with Vasudeva’s words becoming part of that unfolding.
Even before Vishnu is explicitly named in the verse, the episode functions as avatāra-prelude: the Supreme Reality protects dharma by entering history as Krishna, overturning tyrannical adharma.