Shloka 14
Yoga-māyā Appears as Durgā; Kaṁsa’s Repentance and the Demonic Policy of Persecuting Vaiṣṇavas
तयाभिहितमाकर्ण्य कंस: परमविस्मित: । देवकीं वसुदेवं च विमुच्य प्रश्रितोऽब्रवीत् ॥ १४ ॥
tayābhihitam ākarṇya kaṁsaḥ parama-vismitaḥ devakīṁ vasudevaṁ ca vimucya praśrito ’bravīt
دیوی کے الفاظ سن کر کنس بہت حیران ہوا۔ اس نے دیوکی اور واسودیو کو بیڑیوں سے آزاد کر دیا اور نہایت عاجزی سے یوں کہا۔
Kaṁsa was astonished because the goddess Durgā had become the daughter of Devakī. Since Devakī was a human being, how could the goddess Durgā become her daughter? This was one cause of his astonishment. Also, how is it that the eighth child of Devakī was a female? This also astonished him. Asuras are generally devotees of mother Durgā, Śakti, or of demigods, especially Lord Śiva. The appearance of Durgā in her original eight-armed feature, holding various weapons, immediately changed Kaṁsa’s mind about Devakī’s being an ordinary human. Devakī must have had some transcendental qualities; otherwise why would the goddess Durgā have taken birth from her womb? Under the circumstances, Kaṁsa, struck with wonder, wanted to compensate for his atrocities against his sister Devakī.
FAQs
Because he heard Devakī’s words and became deeply astonished and momentarily humbled, he freed them and spoke gently—showing a temporary softening of his heart within the unfolding Krishna-līlā.
'Praśritaḥ' indicates Kaṁsa became subdued—humble, softened, and respectful in his speech—after hearing Devakī.
It highlights how truthful counsel and reflection can momentarily transform even a harsh person, encouraging us to speak wisely and respond with humility rather than anger.