Shloka 43
Yoga-māyā Appears as Durgā; Kaṁsa’s Repentance and the Demonic Policy of Persecuting Vaiṣṇavas
श्रीशुक उवाच एवं दुर्मन्त्रिभि: कंस: सह सम्मन्त्र्य दुर्मति: । ब्रह्महिंसां हितं मेने कालपाशावृतोऽसुर: ॥ ४३ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca evaṁ durmantribhiḥ kaṁsaḥ saha sammantrya durmatiḥ brahma-hiṁsāṁ hitaṁ mene kāla-pāśāvṛto ’suraḥ
พระศุกਦੇวะ โกสวามี กล่าวว่า: เมื่อพิจารณาคำแนะนำของรัฐมนตรีชั่วแล้ว กงสะผู้ถูกผูกมัดด้วยบ่วงแห่งความตายและไร้ซึ่งปัญญา ตัดสินใจว่าการเบียดเบียนพราหมณ์เป็นหนทางสู่ความโชคดีของตน
Śrīla Locana dāsa Ṭhākura has sung, āpana karama, bhuñjāye śamana, kahaye locana dāsa. Instead of taking good instructions from the sages and the śāstras, godless nondevotees act whimsically, according to their own plans. Actually, however, no one has his own plans because everyone is bound by the laws of nature and must act according to his tendency in material, conditional life. Therefore one must change one’s own decision and follow the decision of Kṛṣṇa and Kṛṣṇa’s devotees. Then one is rescued from punishment by Yamarāja. Kaṁsa was not uneducated. It appears from his talks with Vasudeva and Devakī that he knew all about the laws of nature. But because of his association with bad ministers, he could not make a clear decision about his welfare. Therefore the Caitanya-caritāmṛta ( Madhya 22.54) says:
FAQs
This verse shows brahma-hiṁsā as a sign of demoniac intelligence: Kaṁsa, misled by wicked counsel and bound by Time, mistakes violence against brāhmaṇas for “benefit,” highlighting how adharma blinds one to true welfare.
After consulting corrupt ministers, Kaṁsa’s fear and hatred of anything connected to Viṣṇu and dharma intensified; thus he targeted brāhmaṇas (guardians of yajña and spiritual order), believing it would secure his position.
When driven by fear, ego, or bad influence, people can justify harmful choices as “necessary”; remembering that Time exposes all actions encourages humility, seeking saintly guidance, and choosing dharma over short-term gain.