Shloka 35
Parīkṣit’s Questions and the Prelude to Kṛṣṇa’s Advent
Earth’s Burden, Viṣṇu’s Order, and Kaṁsa’s Fear
इत्युक्त: स खल: पापो भोजानां कुलपांसन: । भगिनीं हन्तुमारब्धं खड्गपाणि: कचेऽग्रहीत् ॥ ३५ ॥
ity uktaḥ sa khalaḥ pāpo bhojānāṁ kula-pāṁsanaḥ bhaginīṁ hantum ārabdhaḥ khaḍga-pāṇiḥ kace ’grahīt
Ao ouvir isto, o pecaminoso Kamsa, uma mancha na dinastia Bhoja, agarrou a sua irmã pelos cabelos e ergueu a espada para a matar.
Kaṁsa was driving the chariot and controlling the reins with his left hand, but as soon as he heard the omen that his sister’s eighth child would kill him, he gave up the reins, caught hold of his sister’s hair, and with his right hand took up a sword to kill her. Before, he had been so affectionate that he was acting as his sister’s chariot driver, but as soon as he heard that his self-interest or his life was at risk, he forgot all affection for her and immediately became a great enemy. This is the nature of demons. No one should trust a demon, despite any amount of affection. Aside from this, a king, a politician or a woman cannot be trusted, since they can do anything abominable for their personal interest. Cāṇakya Paṇḍita therefore says, viśvāso naiva kartavyaḥ strīṣu rāja-kuleṣu ca.
FAQs
Because he was terrified by the prophecy that Devakī’s child would be his death, so in sinful fear he turned violent even toward his own sister.
It shows adharma as uncontrolled cruelty—violence toward the innocent and disrespect toward women and family—driven by fear and selfishness.
Unchecked fear and ego can make a person betray basic morals; cultivating self-control, compassion, and devotion helps prevent such degradation.