Shloka 67
देवकी-विवाहः, आकाशवाणी, भूरभारावतरण-याचना, क्षीराब्धि-स्तुति, केशावतार-नियोजनम्
कंसाय चाष्टमे गर्भे देवक्यां धरणीधरः भविष्यतीत्य् आचचक्षे भगवान् नारदो मुनिः
kaṃsāya cāṣṭame garbhe devakyāṃ dharaṇīdharaḥ bhaviṣyatīty ācacakṣe bhagavān nārado muniḥ
And to Kaṁsa the venerable sage Nārada declared: “In Devakī’s eighth pregnancy, the Upholder of the Earth (Lord Viṣṇu) will be born.”
Sage Parāśara (narrating the episode; within the narrative, Sage Nārada speaks to Kaṁsa)
Speaker: Parasara
Teaching: Historical
Quality: revealing
Avatara: Krishna
Purpose: To be born from Devakī and destroy Kaṃsa, relieving the earth’s burden and restoring dharma.
Leela: Loka-rakshana
Dharma Restored: Removal of tyrannical adharma and protection of devotees and the earth
Concept: Bhagavān’s descent is purposeful—He assumes birth to protect the world and uphold dharma.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Trust providence in times of oppression and align one’s life with dharma and devotion rather than fear.
Vishishtadvaita: The transcendent Nārāyaṇa freely becomes accessible within history without losing divinity.
Vishnu Form: Narayana
FAQs
This verse marks the decisive prophecy: the Lord (Dharaṇīdhara) will manifest through Devakī’s eighth pregnancy, setting in motion the events that culminate in the restoration of dharma through Krishna’s descent.
Parāśara presents Nārada as the catalytic messenger whose truthful proclamation intensifies Kaṁsa’s fear and accelerates the divine narrative leading to Vishnu’s avatāra.
Vishnu is implied as the sovereign protector of cosmic order—“Dharaṇīdhara”—whose birth is not ordinary but a purposeful manifestation to uphold the world and defeat adharma.