Shloka 68

देवकी-विवाहः, आकाशवाणी, भूरभारावतरण-याचना, क्षीराब्धि-स्तुति, केशावतार-नियोजनम्

Devanagari script

कंसो ऽपि तद् उपश्रुत्य नारदात् कुपितस् ततः देवकीं वसुदेवं च गृहे गुप्ताव् अधारयत्

Transliteration

kaṃso 'pi tad upaśrutya nāradāt kupitas tataḥ devakīṃ vasudevaṃ ca gṛhe guptāv adhārayat

Translation

Hearing this from Nārada, Kaṁsa became enraged; he then kept Devakī and Vasudeva confined within his house, under secret guard.

Word by Word

• कंसः: Kaṃsa
• कंसः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कंस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; निपातः (also)

• तत्: that (report)
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (that [news])

• उपश्रुत्य: having heard
• उपश्रुत्य: Kriya (Gerundial action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-√श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययम् (gerund); पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया (having heard)

• नारदात्: from Nārada
• नारदात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः (अपादान), एकवचनम् (from Nārada)

• कुपितः: angered
• कुपितः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुपित (प्रातिपदिक; √कुप् + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त-विशेषणम् (angered)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; क्रमवाचक-क्रियाविशेषणम् (then)

• देवकीम्: Devakī
• देवकीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• वसुदेवम्: Vasudeva
• वसुदेवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसुदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चयार्थक-निपातः (and)

• गृहे: in a house (prison)
• गृहे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (in the house/prison)

• गुप्तौ: both guarded
• गुप्तौ: Karma (Object complement/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुप्त (प्रातिपदिक; √गुप् + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, द्विवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त-विशेषणम् (both guarded/kept under guard)

• अधारयत्: kept, confined
• अधारयत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-√धृ (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकारः (अनद्यतनभूत/Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Historical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tyrannical fear breeds adharma—power that violates innocents accelerates its own downfall.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Resist injustice without imitating it; protect the vulnerable and uphold lawful restraint.

Vishishtadvaita: Even under coercive structures, Bhagavān’s will operates through history toward protection of devotees.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Kamsa
• Narada
• Devaki
• Vasudeva

FAQs

What is the significance of Nārada’s message in this verse of the Vishnu Purana?

Nārada functions as the catalyst: his disclosure provokes Kaṃsa’s fear and sets in motion the chain of events leading to Krishna’s advent and the restoration of dharma.

How does Sage Parāśara frame Kaṃsa’s reaction within the narrative structure?

Parāśara presents Kaṃsa’s anger and imprisonment of Devakī-Vasudeva as the adharma-driven response to impending divine intervention, intensifying the narrative tension before Vishnu’s saving descent.

What is the theological importance of Vishnu in this context, even though the name ‘Vishnu’ is not stated?

The verse implies Vishnu’s supreme governance: even Kaṃsa’s coercive actions become part of the providential unfolding that culminates in the Lord’s incarnation and the protection of devotees.