Shloka 54
Parīkṣit’s Questions and the Prelude to Kṛṣṇa’s Advent
Earth’s Burden, Viṣṇu’s Order, and Kaṁsa’s Fear
श्रीवसुदेव उवाच न ह्यस्यास्ते भयं सौम्य यद् वैसाहाशरीरवाक् । पुत्रान् समर्पयिष्येऽस्या यतस्ते भयमुत्थितम् ॥ ५४ ॥
śrī-vasudeva uvāca na hy asyās te bhayaṁ saumya yad vai sāhāśarīra-vāk putrān samarpayiṣye ’syā yatas te bhayam utthitam
ヴァスデーヴァは言った。「穏やかなる者よ、目に見えぬ凶兆の言葉を聞いたとしても、妹デーヴァキーを恐れる必要はない。汝の恐れは彼女の息子たちから起こったのだ。ゆえに、その恐れの因となる息子たちが生まれたなら、私は皆を汝の手に渡そう。」
Kaṁsa feared Devakī’s existence because after her eighth pregnancy she would give birth to a son who would kill him. Vasudeva, therefore, to assure his brother-in-law the utmost safety, promised to bring him all the sons. He would not wait for the eighth son, but from the very beginning would deliver to the hands of Kaṁsa all the sons to which Devakī would give birth. This was the most liberal proposition offered by Vasudeva to Kaṁsa.
FAQs
This verse states that Kaṁsa’s fear specifically arose from Devakī’s sons, as foretold by the bodiless voice; Vasudeva responds by offering to hand over the sons to remove Kaṁsa’s anxiety.
Vasudeva speaks diplomatically and truthfully, referencing the prophecy and promising to deliver Devakī’s sons to Kaṁsa, aiming to avert immediate danger and uphold his word in a crisis.
Act with integrity even under pressure: speak calmly, acknowledge the real cause of fear, and choose truthful, responsible action instead of panic or retaliation.