Shloka 1
Yoga-māyā Appears as Durgā; Kaṁsa’s Repentance and the Demonic Policy of Persecuting Vaiṣṇavas
श्रीशुक उवाच बहिरन्त:पुरद्वार: सर्वा: पूर्ववदावृता: । ततो बालध्वनिं श्रुत्वा गृहपाला: समुत्थिता: ॥ १ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca bahir-antaḥ-pura-dvāraḥ sarvāḥ pūrvavad āvṛtāḥ tato bāla-dhvaniṁ śrutvā gṛha-pālāḥ samutthitāḥ
ശ്രീ ശുകദേവൻ പറഞ്ഞു: രാജാവേ, അകത്തെയും പുറത്തെയും വാതിലുകൾ മുമ്പത്തെപ്പോലെ അടഞ്ഞു. അപ്പോൾ കുട്ടിയുടെ കരച്ചിൽ കേട്ട് കാവൽക്കാർ ഉണർന്നു.
The activities of Yoga-māyā are distinctly visible in this chapter, in which Devakī and Vasudeva excuse Kaṁsa for his many devious, atrocious activities and Kaṁsa becomes repentant and falls at their feet. Before the awakening of the watchmen and the others in the prison house, many other things happened. Kṛṣṇa was born and transferred to the home of Yaśodā in Gokula, the strong doors opened and again closed, and Vasudeva resumed his former condition of being shackled. The watchmen, however, could not understand all this. They awakened only when they heard the crying of the newborn child, Yoga-māyā.
FAQs
It states that the outer and inner gates were kept shut as before, and when the guards heard a newborn’s sound, they immediately got up—indicating heightened vigilance around the royal quarters.
In the narrative context of Kaṁsa’s regime, strict security and confinement were maintained to control access and prevent any unexpected events—especially surrounding births connected to the prophecy about Kaṁsa’s downfall.
It highlights promptness in duty—responding quickly to important signals—encouraging attentive responsibility in one’s service, work, and spiritual commitments.