Devi Bhagavatam 4.21.40 — Devi as Supreme Shakti, Skandha 4, Adhyaya 21, Shloka 40

The Description of the Killing of Devaki's First Son by Kamsa

Devanagari script

गृहीत्वा बालकं प्राह स्मितपूर्वमिदं वचः । धन्यस्त्वं शूरपुत्राद्य ज्ञातः पुत्रसमर्पणात्

Transliteration

gṛhītvā bālakaṃ prāha smitapūrvamidaṃ vacaḥ . dhanyastvaṃ śūraputrādya jñātaḥ putrasamarpaṇāt

Translation

Tomando al niño, él (Kamsa) pronunció estas palabras con una sonrisa: 'Dichoso eres hoy, oh hijo de Shura; tu grandeza es conocida por la entrega de tu hijo.'

Word by Word

• gṛhītvā: having taken
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: grah
• Form: ktvā-pratyaya

• bālakam: the boy
• bālakam: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: bālaka
• Form: Accusative, Singular, Masculine

• prāha: said
• prāha: Kriya
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-ah
• Form: Perfect (Lit), Active, 3rd Person, Singular

• smitapūrvam: with a smile
• smitapūrvam: Kriya-visheshana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: smitapūrva
• Form: Accusative, Singular, Neuter

• idam: this
• idam: Visheshana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: idam
• Form: Accusative, Singular, Neuter

• vacaḥ: word
• vacaḥ: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas
• Form: Accusative, Singular, Neuter

• dhanyaḥ: blessed
• dhanyaḥ: Vidheya
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhanya
• Form: Nominative, Singular, Masculine

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: yuṣmad
• Form: Nominative, Singular

• śūraputra: O son of Shura
• śūraputra: Sambodhana
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūraputra
• Form: Vocative, Singular, Masculine

• adya: today
• adya: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adya
• Form: Indeclinable

• jñātaḥ: known
• jñātaḥ: Vidheya
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jñā
• Form: Nominative, Singular, Masculine

• putrasamarpaṇāt: from offering the son
• putrasamarpaṇāt: Hetu
• Type: Noun
• Root: putrasamarpaṇa
• Form: Ablative, Singular, Neuter

Speaker

Kamsa

Shakti Theology

Shakti Manifestation: Maya deluding Kamsa

Devi Narrative

Story Arc Position: setup

Cosmic Feminine

Maya Aspect: Avidya-Maya

Vyasa-Janamejaya Dialogue

Narrator: Vyasa

Listener: Janamejaya

Dialogue Context: Narrating the events of Krishna's birth and Kamsa's initial reaction to Vasudeva's truthfulness

Narrative Layer: primary

Philosophical Significance

Text: Illustrates a momentary softening of a tyrant's heart when confronted with pure, unadulterated adherence to Dharma.

Characters & Entities

• Kamsa
• Vasudeva (Son of Shura)

FAQs

How did Kamsa react upon receiving the child?

Kamsa smiled and praised Vasudeva, calling him blessed for keeping his word and surrendering his son.