Shloka 37
Parīkṣit’s Questions and the Prelude to Kṛṣṇa’s Advent
Earth’s Burden, Viṣṇu’s Order, and Kaṁsa’s Fear
श्रीवसुदेव उवाच श्लाघनीयगुण: शूरैर्भवान् भोजयशस्कर: । स कथं भगिनीं हन्यात् स्त्रियमुद्वाहपर्वणि ॥ ३७ ॥
śrī-vasudeva uvāca ślāghanīya-guṇaḥ śūrair bhavān bhoja-yaśaskaraḥ sa kathaṁ bhaginīṁ hanyāt striyam udvāha-parvaṇi
พระวสุเทวะกล่าวว่า: ดูกรพญากังสะ ท่านเป็นผู้เชิดชูเกียรติแห่งราชวงศ์โภชะ เหล่าวีรชนต่างสรรเสริญคุณสมบัติของท่าน ไฉนท่านจึงจะสังหารสตรี ผู้เป็นน้องสาวของตนเอง ในพิธีมงคลสมรสเช่นนี้เล่า?
According to Vedic principles, a brāhmaṇa, an old man, a woman, a child or a cow cannot be killed under any circumstances. Vasudeva stressed that Devakī was not only a woman but a member of Kaṁsa’s family. Because she was now married to Vasudeva, she was para-strī, another man’s wife, and if such a woman were killed, not only would Kaṁsa be implicated in sinful activities, but his reputation as king of the Bhoja dynasty would be damaged. Thus Vasudeva tried in many ways to convince Kaṁsa in order to stop him from killing Devakī.
FAQs
In this verse, Vasudeva appeals to dharma, asking how a reputed hero could kill his own sister, especially during her wedding—implying such violence is disgraceful and irreligious.
Kamsa, driven by fear of the prophecy about Devaki’s child, was about to kill Devaki. Vasudeva tried to restrain him by invoking honor, family duty, and the shame of violence against a woman at a sacred occasion.
When anger or fear pushes one toward harm, this verse advises returning to principles—honor, self-control, and protection of the vulnerable—rather than acting impulsively and committing irreparable wrongdoing.