Shloka 18
नारदेन कंसबोधनम्, कंसस्योपायचिन्ता, अक्रूरप्रेषणम् (मथुरागमनप्रस्तावः)
तौ हत्वा वसुदेवं च नन्दगोपं च दुर्मतिम् हनिष्ये पितरं चेमम् उग्रसेनं च दुर्मतिम्
tau hatvā vasudevaṃ ca nandagopaṃ ca durmatim haniṣye pitaraṃ cemam ugrasenaṃ ca durmatim
“After slaying those two, I shall also kill Vasudeva and that wicked-minded Nanda the cowherd; and I will kill this father of mine as well—Ugrasena—of evil intent.”
Kaṃsa (as narrated by Sage Parāśara to Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Teaching: Historical
Quality: revealing
Avatara: Krishna
Purpose: To end Kaṃsa’s reign of terror and safeguard the Yādava line by removing the tyrant and restoring dharmic sovereignty.
Leela: Yuddha
Dharma Restored: Legitimate kingship (Ugrasena’s rightful rule) and protection of devotees and kin from unjust persecution.
Concept: Unchecked rājasika-tāmasika ambition turns into adharma that even violates filial duty and rightful sovereignty.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Recognize and restrain power-driven impulses; uphold ethical boundaries in leadership and family obligations.
Vishishtadvaita: Dharma is protected through Bhagavān’s personal intervention in history, not merely as an abstract law.
Vamsha: Chandra
Dharma Exemplar: Rājadharma (legitimate, non-tyrannical kingship)
Key Kings: Ugrasena
Vishnu Form: Krishna
FAQs
It shows the peak of adharma—Kaṃsa’s intent to destroy both familial and political order—setting the narrative necessity for divine restoration through Vishnu’s descent as Krishna.
Parāśara uses Kaṃsa’s vow as a narrative marker of moral collapse in rulership, illustrating how cosmic order is rebalanced when tyranny endangers dharma and lineage.
Vishnu’s role is implicit as the Supreme preserver: when adharma becomes violent and systemic, the divine will manifests to protect righteousness and re-establish rightful sovereignty.