7 - Story of the birth of Krishna 

Narada said-0 lord, you kindly narrate to me the story relating to the birth of lord Krishna which is quite auspicious, the best and destroys the birth, the death and the old age who was the father of Vasudeva and who was the father of Devaki? Who was Devaki and Vasudeva in their earlier births? You kindly tell me how were they married? How did the terrible Kamsa kill their six sons and when was lord Krishna born? I would like to listen to it in detail. 

Sri Narayana said- Kashyapa appeared in the form of Vasudeve and Aditi, the mother of the gods was born as Devaki. They got the lord as their son because of the merits of their earlier births, Vasudeva was born from Devamidha as father and Marisa as the mother. At the time of their births, the gods were rejoiced who rounded Dundubhis and beating of drums besides playing on another musical instrument. That is why in the ancient time Vasudeva the son of the lord was also known as Anakadundubhi.

In the race of Yadus Sriman Deva happened to be the son of Anaka who was the ocean of knowledge. Devaki happened to be his daughter.

Garga the family priest of Yadus, married Devaki with Vasudeva, according to the scriptures. 

At the time of marriage, Vasudeva was decorated with coat of arms. At the time of marriage her father gave away his daughter Devaki to Vasudeva. 

О Narada, Devaka gave away in marriage to Vasudeva thousands of horses, hundreds of elephants, hundreds of ornaments, beautiful slave girls and several typed of beverages, besides the gems, diamonds, jewels and vases of gold.

The girl who was adorned with all the ornaments had the lustre of hundreds of moons and could attract all the three worlds towards herself. She was quite graceful in the ladies and was the ocean of virtues, wearing a serene smile on her face and looking with side glances. She was best suited for love-sport and was quite youthful. After marriage she was made to sit in the chariot with Vasudeva. But when they were about to start, Kamsa also accompanied them delightfully, feeling joyful after the marriage of Devaki. When Kamsa was accompanying Devaki, at that very moment there was a divine voice from the sky, addressed to him "O best of the kings, why are you getting over-joyed? You listen to the truthful and beneficial words. The eighth child of Devaki would be the cause of your death."

On hearing this, the valorous Kamsa took out the divine word he felt panicky, getting enraged. The sinful person got ready for the killing of Devaki. 

Vasudeva on the other hand finding Kamsa getting ready to kill Devaki, spoke to him appropriate words which were well-suited to the times and since Vasudeva was well-versed in the scriptures. 

Vasudeva said- You are unaware of the royal practices. You listen to my words which are beneficial, glorious, remover of the sins and are strictly according to the scriptures. 

O king, in case Devaki’s eight child is going to be the cause of your death then why to you indulge in undignified and sinful action of killing her and earning disgrace in the universe.

Because a killer when kills the insignificant creatures he gets relieved of the sin after giving away in charity, even a counter feet coin at the time of death. 

By killing the non-ferocious animals, one has to performed repentance, hundred times more than killing a terrific creature. This has been ordained by Brahma. By killing special creatures and the animals and or by deliberately killing them, one earns hundred times more sins. This has been ordained by Manu. 

He earns hundred times more sins by killing a person of mleccha race and the sin one earns by killing a mleccha, the same amount of sin is earned by him by killing a Shudra; the sin one earns by killing a Sudra. The sin one earns by killing a hundred Shudras is equal to killing of arrow. One earns ten times more sins by killing a cow; the sin earned by killing a Brahmana is equal to killing often cows. The sin of killing ten Brahmanas would be equal to killing of a woman. The situation as further aggravated when the lady happens to be your own sister or the one who is dependent on you or the one who has taken refuge with you. О king, you are therefore sure to earn hundred times more the sins of killing a woman in case of killing Devaki. The intelligent persons perform tapas, recitation, gives away charity, performing of puja, visiting holy places, offering food to Brahmana and performing of sacrifice for achieving heaven. The noble people consider the entire universe to be like the bubble of the water or like a dream, having no essence and illusory and therefore move on the righteous path. О religious minded one, you are the son of your race like the lotus. Therefore, you free your sister, О king there are many types of intellectuals available in your court. 

Whatever child is born from her womb on the eighth time I shall hand him over to you. He will be of no consequence to me. О best of the intellectuals, I shall hand over of the born to Devaki you because there is no one else dearer to me then you. О best of the kings you kindly leave alone your sister who is quite dearer to you like your own daughter. You have brought her up offering sweet food, bets and various types of eatables. 

On hearing the words of Vasudeva, the king left Devaki. Thereafter Vasudeva went to his abode together with Devaki. 

О Narada, one after the other six sons were born to Vasudeva but as per his words Vasudeva handed over each one of them to Kamsa who killed them one after the other.

Thereafter Kamsa variously protected the seven conception of Devaki but Yogamaya with her illusion extracted the foetus from Devaki and transplanted it in the womb of Rohini. 

The gate-keeper informed Kamsa that Devaki had met with an abortion. A child was born from the womb of Rohini who was given the name of Samkarshana. 

Thereafter the eighth son of Devaki was born when her womb was filled with the wind. After the completion of nine months, there arrived the tenth month and the lord had to appear from that womb. Devaki herself was the best of all the beautiful ladies and with the very look of the lord she became four times more beautiful than before. At that point of time Devaki with the developed face and the eyes looked at Kamsa, she was illumining all the ten directions with the lustre of Yogamaya. She looked like the mass of lustre. Looking at Devaki, Kamsa the king of demons was totally surprised. He thought the child born of her womb would be the cause of his death. 

Thus, speaking Kamsa carefully kept a watch over Vasudeva and Devaki. He lodged them in an abode having seven gates. 

О Narada, after completion of the tenth month, the period of conception came to an end. She then walked slowly and became inactive.

The conception was completed with the wind and the lord resided in the heart of Devaki. 

At the time of the arrival of the lord of the universe in the womb of Devaki, she felt suffering with pain and became inactive. In a moment she used to sit and next moment she got up. In a moment she walked and, in another moment, she went to sleep. At the same time Vasudeva looked at Devaki and finding that the time of delivery had arrived, he started reciting the name of the lord of the universe, in that beautiful abode having the lamp of gems. He immediately brought the sword, iron, water and the fire, getting terrified. He summoned the people well-versed in mantras, the wives of his brothers, learned Brahman as and other relatives. 

In the meantime, at the dead of night, the sky was over-cast with clouds. The pleasant wind started blowing and all the guards went to sleep as if they had lost their consciousness. They lay on the floor as if they were sleeping in bed. At the same time Brahma, Shiva and Dharma arrived there and started offering prayers to the lord.

The gods said- You are the place of birth of the universe but you are yourself without the place of birth; you are beyond measures, imperishable, the form of sight, sinless, having qualities, and without qualities, besides being the great lord,

Being invisible you appear in definite form for the sake of your devotees, you are unconcerned, moving at will, the base of all without any doubt, without any trouble, without any attribute uninvolved, indifferent, death for the death, roaming in your soul, the one who fulfils the desires of all, eternal the one who moves at will, the cause of everyone the form of everyone, the abode of all the virtues, bestower of pleasures and the pain, quite deep, uninvolved, destroyer of the wicked people, fortunate and unfortunate, short spoken, difficult adore, inaccessible, the cause of the Vedas, the form of the Vedas and post-Vedic literature and well-versed in the Vedas being all pervading. 

Thus, speaking the gods bowed before the lord again and again and with their eyes filled with tears, they showered the flower. 

Narayana said- Thus praising the lord, the gods returned to their respective abodes. О sage, the entire city of Mathura seemed to have been at a stand-still because of heavy rain. It was pitch dark during the night. О sage, the period of seven muhurtas was spent and the eight one arrives, when at the dead of the night, the best of the auspicious time arrived it was the time inaccessible by anyone accept the Vedas. At that point of time all the planets were having the auspicious sight, the unfavourable planets were not there as a matter of chance, Jayanti-yoga was accomplished. О sage, when the crescent arose, all the planets in the sky including the sun, looking at lagna. Reached the mina-lagna. All the planets arrived there getting delighted. At the command of the lord all the planets assembled in the eleventh house delightfully. It started raining and the cool wind started blowing, the goddess earth was quite happy together with all the ten directions, the sages, the Manuvrunda, Yaksas, Gandharvas, Kinnaras, the gods, the goddesses were all delighted. The apsaras started dancing while lord of the Gandharvas and the Vidyadharis started singing and playing on musical instruments. О Narada, all the rivers started flowing gleefully; the fire was ignited and the Dundubhis were sounded in the heaven with the other musical instrument. The rain of Parijata flowers started falling. The earth taking to the form of a female reached the labour room. The slogans of victory were shouted, the conches were blown and the name of Hari was recited. 

At that point of time Devaki fell down on the ground and the wind fell from her womb. Thereafter lord Krishna taking to the divine form appeared from the womb of Devaki. His body extremely beautiful and charming. He had two arms and was holding a flute in his hand, his ears, were adorned with makara-kundalas and he wore a serene smile over the face, bestowing his grace over the devotees. The gem-studded ornaments were adding to the beauty of his body and he was clad in yellow lower garments, having a complexion of new clouds. His body was plastered with sandal-paste, aguru, kasthuri and saffron. His face resembled to that of the face of full moon of winter season and his lips resembled the ripe wood apple which added to his charming beauty. He had a peacock feather adoring his head together with the gem-studded kirita crown. The divine lustre of Srihari was illumining the place. He stood in Tribhangi pose and wore long garland of forest flowers round his neck. The Srivatsa mark appeared over his chest which was emitting lustre. In the chest, there appeared a golden line over which the kaustubha gems was shining and looked quite beautiful. He was of tender age and quite peaceful, lord Hari was dear to Brahma as well as Shiva. 

О sage, Vasudeva and Devaki looked at the lord and were surprised with the same. Vasudeva and Devaki started offering prayer to the lord with their eyes were filled with tears and the body felt emotional. They bowed in reverence to him and started offering prayer with folded hands. 

Vasudeva said-You are beyond the organ of senses, invisible, beyond description, without qualities, pervading everywhere, beyond the reach of any one, the great soul, the great lord, moving at will, the form of all, the one who takes to any from at will, the great lord uninvolved eternal Brahman and the eternal form of the seed; you are harder than the hardest, pervading everywhere, smaller than the smallest, invisible one, dweller in all the bodies as a witness, invisible one, taking to human from, the treasure of virtues, the form of Prakruti and the lord of Prakruti beyond Prakruti and the form of all. What type of prayer can be offer to you? 

We are unable to offer prayer to you because even goddess Sarasvati, Shiva with five faces, Karttikeya with six faces are unable to do so. Even four faced Brahma and the creator of the Vedas is unable to recite your glory. Even lord Ganesha is unable to do so. You are the teacher of the teachers of yogis, Rsis, the gods, sages, Manus and the human being. You do not appear evening their dreams. Therefore, removing this form, you appear in the form of a child. 

Whosoever recites the stotra recited by Vasudeva, thrice a day, he achieves the slave hood and the devotion of the lotus-like feet of Krishna. He achieves great merit and the devotion of lord Hari besides the son. All his miseries are over, without any difficulty and he is relieved of the terror of all his enemies. 

Narayana said- On hearing the words of Vasudeva, lord Hari who bestows grace over his devotees then spoke to him. 

Sri Krishna said- I have become your son because of the result of your tapas. You will meet with all the welfare, there is no doubt about it. In earlier times you had been a great tapa and Prajapati named Sutapa. Prushni was the name of your wife, both of you adored me with your wife and having an audience with me you asked for a boon that you should get a son like me. I therefore bestowed a boon to you saying, "You will get a son like me.". 

O respectable one after bestowing the boon to you I thought in my mind that there is no one else comparable to me in the universe, therefore I became your son. 

Because as a result of the tapas you become Kashyapa and she became Sutapa, the mother of Aditi. Now you have appeared as Vasudeva from the amsha of Kashyapa becoming my father and Devaki has appeared from the amsha of Aditi, the goddess of the gods as my mother.

From you, I was also born as Vamana as your son and because of the result of your tapas presently I have appeared again as your son.

О virtuous one, you will be freed from the cycle of birth and death, by getting me as a son. 

О respectable one, now you carry me to the abode of Yashoda immediately in Vraja. Keeping me there you bring Yogamaya here. 

Thus, speaking the lord turned himself into the form of a child; finding the son of dark complexion sleeping over the floor and getting influenced with the illusion of lord Vishnu, Vasudeva spoke about the child who was the eternal Brahman, with his birth the labour-room was illumining. 

Thus, speaking after consulting his wife, he picked up the child in his lap he proceeded towards the city of Gokula. 

Reaching in Vraja of Nanda he immediately entered the labour-room and found Yashoda sleeping on the bed. 

Finding Nanda in sleep and all other members of the house also enjoying the sleep, he looked at the girl who was without robes and was having the lustre of molten gold. She had a smiling face and was starting off at the ceiling. Looking at her, Vasudeva was immensely surprised. 

Leaving the male child there he picked up the girl and proceeded towards, Mathura. Thereafter he reached the labour-room delightfully before his wife. 

He then placed the girl who was indeed Mahamaya on the bed and she started crying aloud. Devaki felt delighted on looking at her. 

The girl child woke up the guards with her cries. All the people got up at once and picked up the child. They took her to Kamsa and placed her before him. Thereafter, Vasudeva and Devaki followed them with painful hearts. 

О great sage, Kaiser could not be happy at the sight of the girl but at the same time he could not be compassionate on her when she was crying. 

He was going to strike her on the stone slabs. Both Vasudeva and Devaki spoke to the terrible king at that time, "O best of the kings, О Kamsa, you are well aware of the scriptures you kindly listen to my truthful and appropriate words.". 

O brother, you never displayed compassion by killing six of our sons. Currently from the eight conception this daughter has been born. 

What type of fortunes would you achieve on earth by killing her? Can the helpless woman be able to snatch your royal treasures?

Thus, speaking both Vasudeva and Devaki started crying in the court of the wicked king Kamsa. The wicked Kamsa listened to the words of both of them then spoke. 

Kamsa said- You listen to my words. I am going to make you understand, before you listen to me and accept them. The destiny can destroy a mountain with a small straw. Similarly it can get a powerful lion or a tiger killed through and an insect, a huge elephant could be got killed by it with a mosquito, a child could defeat a great warrior, a gigantic aquatic animal from a petty equatic animal, a cat could be killed by mouse and a frog could kill a serpent. It can get the father killed from the son, a huge devoured could be devoured by a petty devourer, fire from water, a dry straw could destroy the fire, it is surprising that a single Brahmana a Jahnu and drunk the water of the seven oceans. 

Therefore, the moves of the destiny are quite astonishing and beyond comprehension in the three worlds. As the move of destiny this girl child could also be able to kill me. Therefore, I will surely kill her. There is no need of further thought in this case. Thus, speaking Kamsa caught hold of the girl child and as he was about to kill her, Vasudeva said, "O king up to now you have uselessly resorted to killing. О compassionate one, you give this girl child to me." О great sage on hearing this Kamsa was delighted. At that point of time a divine voice from the sky addressed Kamsa, "O foolish Kamsa, whom are you going to kill without coming to know about the moves of the lord. The one who is going to kill you has already been born and who would appear at the appropriate time." 

Listening to the divine voice the king spared the girl child. Both Vasudeva and Devaki delightfully carried her to their abode. Vasudeva on the other hand distributed riches among the Brahman as getting back the girl-child, who had been on the verge of death. 

О Brahmana, that girl child happened to be the elder sister of Krishna who was born of the amsha of Parvati. The girl was given in due course of time the name of Ekanamsha. Vasudeva gave away that girl in marriage to Durvasa who had appeared as the amsha of Shiva at the time of the marriage of Rukmini. О sage, I have narrated to you the story relating to the birth of Krishna which relieves one of birth, death and old age and makes one earn great merit.