Shloka 16
Yoga-māyā Appears as Durgā; Kaṁsa’s Repentance and the Demonic Policy of Persecuting Vaiṣṇavas
स त्वहं त्यक्तकारुण्यस्त्यक्तज्ञातिसुहृत् खल: । कान्लोकान् वै गमिष्यामि ब्रह्महेव मृत: श्वसन् ॥ १६ ॥
sa tv ahaṁ tyakta-kāruṇyas tyakta-jñāti-suhṛt khalaḥ kān lokān vai gamiṣyāmi brahma-heva mṛtaḥ śvasan
Impitoyable et cruel, j'ai abandonné tous mes parents et amis. Par conséquent, tel celui qui a tué un brâhmane, je ne sais dans quel monde j'irai, que ce soit après la mort ou de mon vivant.
FAQs
This verse compares Kaṁsa’s condition to that of a brahma-killer—one whose sin is so grave that even while alive he feels spiritually “dead,” fearing the dire destinations that karma can bring.
After committing cruel acts against his own relatives and well-wishers, Kaṁsa is struck by remorse and recognizes his actions as extremely sinful, likening their consequence to the dreaded reaction of brahma-hatya.
It warns that abandoning compassion and harming those who care for us destroys inner peace; cultivating mercy, repentance, and dharmic conduct prevents the “living death” of guilt and fear.