Devi Bhagavatam 4.21.39 — Devi as Supreme Shakti, Skandha 4, Adhyaya 21, Shloka 39

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

Devanagari script

ददावस्मै कुमारं तं जातमात्रममानुषम् । कंसोऽपि विस्मयं प्राप्तो दृष्ट्वा धैर्यं महात्मनः

Transliteration

dadāvasmai kumāraṃ taṃ jātamātramamānuṣam . kaṃso'pi vismayaṃ prāpto dṛṣṭvā dhairyaṃ mahātmanaḥ

Translation

അദ്ദേഹം ആ നവജാതനായ, അമാനുഷിക ബാലനെ അവന് നൽകി। ആ മഹാത്മാവിന്റെ (വസുദേവൻ) ധൈര്യം കണ്ട് കംസനും വിസ്മയിച്ചു।

Word by Word

• dadau: gave
• dadau: Kriya
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā
• Form: Perfect, Active, 3rd Person, Singular

• asmai: to him
• asmai: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: idam
• Form: Dative, Singular, Masculine

• kumāram: boy/child
• kumāram: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: kumāra
• Form: Accusative, Singular, Masculine

• tam: him/that
• tam: Viseshana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: tad
• Form: Accusative, Singular, Masculine

• jātamātram: just born
• jātamātram: Viseshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jātamātra
• Form: Accusative, Singular, Masculine

• amānuṣam: superhuman/unearthly
• amānuṣam: Viseshana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: amānuṣa
• Form: Accusative, Singular, Masculine

• kaṃsaḥ: Kamsa
• kaṃsaḥ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaṃsa
• Form: Nominative, Singular, Masculine

• api: also/even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api
• Form: Indeclinable

• vismayam: astonishment
• vismayam: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: vismaya
• Form: Accusative, Singular, Masculine

• prāptaḥ: reached/attained
• prāptaḥ: Vidheya
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-āp
• Form: Nominative, Singular, Masculine, Past Passive Participle (kta)

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dṛś
• Form: Indeclinable, Gerund (ktvā)

• dhairyam: courage/fortitude
• dhairyam: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhairya
• Form: Accusative, Singular, Neuter

• mahātmanaḥ: of the great soul
• mahātmanaḥ: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahātman
• Form: Genitive, Singular, Masculine

Speaker

Vyasa

Devi Narrative

Story Arc Position: setup

Vyasa-Janamejaya Dialogue

Narrator: Vyasa

Listener: Janamejaya

Dialogue Context: Vasudeva handing over the child and Kamsa's reaction

Narrative Layer: primary

Philosophical Significance

Text: Shows that true moral greatness (Mahatma) commands respect even from one's wicked enemies.

Characters & Entities

• Kamsa
• Vasudeva

FAQs

Why was Kamsa astonished?

Kamsa was astonished by the incredible fortitude, patience, and commitment to truth shown by the high-souled Vasudeva in handing over his own newborn son.