Shloka 49
Parīkṣit’s Questions and the Prelude to Kṛṣṇa’s Advent
Earth’s Burden, Viṣṇu’s Order, and Kaṁsa’s Fear
प्रदाय मृत्यवे पुत्रान् मोचये कृपणामिमाम् । सुता मे यदि जायेरन् मृत्युर्वा न म्रियेत चेत् ॥ ४९ ॥ विपर्ययो वा किं न स्याद् गतिर्धातुर्दुरत्यया । उपस्थितो निवर्तेत निवृत्त: पुनरापतेत् ॥ ५० ॥
pradāya mṛtyave putrān mocaye kṛpaṇām imām sutā me yadi jāyeran mṛtyur vā na mriyeta cet
ヴァスデーヴァは思案した。「死そのもののようなカンサに我が子らを渡せば、この哀れなデーヴァキーは救われる。子らが生まれる前にカンサが死ぬかもしれぬし、あるいは測りがたい宿命の流れにより、我が子の誰かが彼を討つかもしれない。ひとまず引き渡すと誓って目前の脅威を退け、やがてカンサが滅べば、もはや恐れるものはない。」
Vasudeva wanted to save the life of Devakī by promising to deliver his sons to Kaṁsa. “In the future,” he thought, “Kaṁsa may die, or I may not beget any sons. Even if a son is born and I deliver him to Kaṁsa, Kaṁsa may die at his hands, for by providence anything could happen. It is very difficult to understand how things are managed by providence.” Thus Vasudeva decided that he would promise to deliver his sons to the hands of Kaṁsa in order to save Devakī from the imminent danger of death.
FAQs
Vasudeva is ready to surrender even his own sons, not out of cruelty, but to relieve Devaki’s immediate suffering—showing compassion joined with painful sacrifice.
He speaks to protect Devaki from being killed at once; by promising to hand over each child, he hopes to avert Kamsa’s violence and buy time.
It highlights choosing the least harmful option under pressure, acting with responsibility and empathy even when outcomes are uncertain.