Shloka 14

Kaṃsa’s Council of Asuras and the Strategy Against the ‘Powerful Child’

Devanagari script

इत्य् आज्ञाप्यासुरान् कंसः प्रविश्यात्मगृहं ततः मुमोच वसुदेवं च देवकीं च निरोधतः

Transliteration

ity ājñāpyāsurān kaṃsaḥ praviśyātmagṛhaṃ tataḥ mumoca vasudevaṃ ca devakīṃ ca nirodhataḥ

Translation

如此向那些具阿修罗性情之人下令后，迦ṃ萨进入自己的宫邸；随后又将婆苏提婆与提婆姬从囚禁中释放出来。

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (निपात)
• Form: अव्यय (उद्धरण/वाक्यसमाप्ति-सूचकः)

• आज्ञाप्य: having ordered
• आज्ञाप्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ + ज्ञा (धातु) → आज्ञाप्य (कृदन्त; ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त-अव्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund) — ‘आज्ञाप्य’ = ‘आज्ञां कृत्वा/आज्ञापयित्वा’ (having ordered)

• असुरान्: the demons
• असुरान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचनम्

• कंसः: Kaṃsa
• कंसः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कंस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचनम्

• प्रविश्य: having entered
• प्रविश्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र + विश् (धातु) → प्रविश्य (कृदन्त; ल्यप्/क्त्वान्त-अव्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund) — ‘प्रविश्य’ (having entered)

• आत्मगृहं: his own house
• आत्मगृहं: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचनम्; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘आत्मनः गृहं’); गत्यर्थक-क्रियायाः कर्म (object of entering)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (Sequence marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रम/अपादानार्थक) — ‘ततः’ (then/thereupon)

• मुमोच: released
• मुमोच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्शभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• वसुदेवं: Vasudeva
• वसुदेवं: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसुदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचनम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (निपात)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चयबोधक)

• देवकीं: Devakī
• देवकीं: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचनम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (निपात)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चयबोधक)

• निरोधतः: from confinement
• निरोधतः: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: निरोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त/तद्धित) — ‘निरोधतः’ = ‘निरोधात्/निरोधेन’ (from confinement/under restraint)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Vasudeva

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Kaṃsa
• Vasudeva
• Devakī
• Asuras

FAQs

What is the significance of Kamsa releasing Vasudeva and Devaki in the Vishnu Purana?

It marks a tactical shift in Kamsa’s control—after ordering his agents, he temporarily loosens physical restraint, yet the narrative underscores that worldly power cannot ultimately obstruct the divine unfolding of Vishnu’s plan.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the movement of events in this episode?

Parāśara narrates in a cause-and-effect sequence—command, entry into the palace, and release—showing how human decisions operate within a larger providential order that culminates in Krishna’s appearance.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even without naming Vishnu directly in this verse, the Krishna-cycle frames these actions as precursors to Vishnu’s avatāra: adharma-driven kings act, but the Supreme Reality’s intent quietly governs the outcome.