Advent of Lord Krishna

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In Mathura, India, this temple marks the site of Lord Krishna's appearance in

this world

Once the world was overburdened by the unnecessary defense force of different

kings, who were actually demons, but were posing themselves as the royal order.

At that time, the whole world became perturbed, and the predominating deity of

this earth, known as Bhumi, went to see Lord Brahma to tell of her calamities

due to the demoniac kings. Bhumi assumed the shape of a cow and presented

herself before Lord Brahma with tears in her eyes. She was bereaved and was

weeping just to invoke the lord's compassion. She related the calamitous

position of the earth, and after hearing this, Lord Brahma became much

aggrieved, and he at once started for the ocean of milk, where Lord Visnu

resides. Lord Brahma was accompanied by all the demigods headed by Lord Siva,

and Bhumi also followed. Arriving on the shore of the milk ocean, Lord Brahma

began to pacify the Lord Visnu who formerly saved the earthly planet by assuming

the transcendental form of a boar.

In the Vedic mantras, there is a particular type of prayer called Purusa-sukta.

Generally, the demigods offer their obeisances unto Visnu, the Supreme

Personality of Godhead, by chanting the Purusa-sukta. It is understood herein

that the predominating deity of every planet can see the supreme lord of this

universe, Brahma, whenever there is some disturbance in his planet. And Brahma

can approach the Supreme Lord Visnu, not by seeing Him directly, but by standing

on the shore of the ocean of milk. There is a planet within this universe called

Svetadvipa, and on that planet there is an ocean of milk. It is understood from

various Vedic literatures that just as there is the ocean of salt water within

this planet, there are various kinds of oceans in other planets. Somewhere there

is an ocean of milk, somewhere there is an ocean of oil, and somewhere there is

an ocean of liquor and many other types of oceans. Purusa-sukta is the standard

prayer which the demigods recite to appease the

Supreme Personality of Godhead, Ksirodakasayi-Visnu. Because He is lying on the

ocean of milk, He is called Ksirodakasayi-Visnu. He is the Supreme Personality

of Godhead, through whom all the incarnations within this universe appear.

After all the demigods offered the Purusa-sukta prayer to the Supreme

Personality of Godhead, they apparently heard no response. Then Lord Brahma

personally sat in meditation, and there was a message-transmission from Lord

Visnu to Brahma. Brahma then broadcast the message to the demigods. That is the

system of receiving Vedic knowledge. The Vedic knowledge is received first by

Brahma from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, through the medium of the heart.

As stated in the beginning of Srimad-Bhagavatam, tene brahma hrda: the

transcendental knowledge of the Vedas was transmitted to Lord Brahma through the

heart. Here also, in the same way, only Brahma could understand the message

transmitted by Lord Visnu, and he broadcast it to the demigods for their

immediate action. The message was: The Supreme Personality of Godhead will

appear on the earth very soon along with His supreme powerful potencies, and as

long as He remains on the earth planet to execute His mission of annihilating

the demons and establishing the devotees, the demigods should also remain there

to assist Him. They should all immediately take birth in the family of the Yadu

dynasty, wherein the Lord will also appear in due course of time.

The Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself, Krsna, personally appeared as the

son of Vasudeva. Before He appeared, all the demigods, along with their wives,

appeared in different pious families in the world just to assist the Lord in

executing His mission. The exact word used here is tatpriyartham, which means

the demigods should appear on the earth in order to please the Lord. In other

words, any living entity who lives only to satisfy the Lord is a demigod. The

demigods were further informed that the plenary portion of Lord Krsna, Ananta,

who is maintaining the universal planets by extending His millions of hoods,

would also appear on earth before Lord Krsna's appearance. They were also

informed that the external potency of Visnu (maya), with whom all the

conditioned souls are enamored, would also appear just to execute the purpose of

the Supreme Lord.

After instructing and pacifying all the demigods, as well as Bhumi, with sweet

words, Lord Brahma, the father of all prajapatis, or progenitors of universal

population, departed for his own abode, the highest material planet, called

Brahmaloka.

The leader of the Yadu dynasty, King Surasena, was ruling over the country known

as Mathura (the district of Mathura), as well as the district known as Surasena.

On account of the rule of King Surasena, Mathura became the capital city of all

the kings of the Yadus. Mathura was also made the capital of the kings of the

Yadu dynasty because the Yadus were a very pious family and knew that Mathura is

the place where Lord Sri Krsna lives eternally, just as He also lives in

Dvaraka.

Once upon a time, Vasudeva, the son of Surasena, just after marrying Devaki, was

going home on his chariot with his newly wedded wife. The father of Devaki,

known as Devaka, had contributed a sufficient dowry because he was very

affectionate toward his daughter. He had contributed hundreds of chariots

completely decorated with gold equipment. At that time, Kamsa, the son of

Ugrasena, in order to please his sister, Devaki, had voluntarily taken the reins

of the horses of Vasudeva's chariot and was driving. According to the custom of

the Vedic civilization, when a girl is married, the brother takes the sister and

brother-in-law to their home. Because the newly married girl may feel too much

separation from her father's family, the brother goes with her until she reaches

her father-in-law's house. The full dowry contributed by Devaka was as follows:

400 elephants fully decorated with golden garlands, 15,000 decorated horses, and

1800 chariots. He also arranged for 200 beautiful girls to

follow his daughter. The ksatriya system of marriage, still current in India,

dictates that when a ksatriya is married, a few dozen of the bride's young

girlfriends (in addition to the bride) go to the house of the king. The

followers of the queen are called maidservants, but actually they act as friends

of the queen. This practice is prevalent from time immemorial, traceable at

least to the time before the advent of Lord Krsna 5,000 years ago. So Vasudeva

brought home another 200 beautiful girls along with his wife.

While the bride and bridegroom were passing along on the chariot, there were

different kinds of musical instruments playing to indicate the auspicious

moment. There were conchshells, bugles, drums and kettledrums; combined

together, they were vibrating a nice concert. The procession was passing very

pleasingly, and Kamsa was driving the chariot, when suddenly there was a

miraculous sound vibrated from the sky which especially announced to Kamsa:

"Kamsa: you are such a fool. You are driving the chariot of your sister and your

brother-in-law, but you do not know that the eighth child of this sister will

kill you."

Kamsa was the son of Ugrasena, of the Bhoja dynasty. It is said that Kamsa was

the most demoniac of all the Bhoja dynasty kings. Immediately after hearing the

prophecy from the sky, he caught hold of Devaki's hair and was just about to

kill her with his sword. Vasudeva was astonished at Kamsa's behavior, and in

order to pacify the cruel, shameless brother-in-law, he began to speak as

follows, with great reason and evidence. He said, "My dear brother-in-law Kamsa,

you are the most famous king of the Bhoja dynasty, and people know that you are

the greatest warrior and a valiant king. How is it that you are so infuriated

that you are prepared to kill a woman who is your own sister at this auspicious

time of her marriage? Why should you be so much afraid of death? Death is

already born along with your birth. From the very day you took your birth, you

began to die. Suppose you are twenty-five years old; that means you have already

died twenty-five years. Every moment, every second, you

are dying. Why then should you be so much afraid of death? Final death is

inevitable. You may die either today or in a hundred years; you cannot avoid

death. Why should you be so much afraid? Actually, death means annihilation of

the present body. As soon as the present body stops functioning and mixes with

the five elements of material nature, the living entity within the body accepts

another body, according to his present action and reaction. It is just as when a

man walks on the street; he puts forward his foot, and when he is confident that

his foot is situated on sound ground, he lifts the other foot. In this way, one

after another, the body changes and the soul transmigrates. See how the

plantworms change from one twig to another so carefully! Similarly, the living

entity changes his body as soon as the higher authorities decide on his next

body. As long as a living entity is conditioned within this material world, he

must take material bodies one after another. His next

particular body is offered by the laws of nature, according to the actions and

reactions of this life.

"This body is exactly like one of the bodies which we always see in dreams.

During our dream of sleep, we create so many bodies according to mental

creation. We have seen gold and we have also seen a mountain, so in a dream we

can see a golden mountain by combining the two ideas. Sometimes in dreams, we

see that we have a body which is flying in the sky, and at that time we

completely forget our present body. Similarly, these bodies are changing. When

you have one body, you forget the past body. During a dream, we may make contact

with so many new kinds of bodies, but when we are awake we forget them all. And

actually these material bodies are the creations of our mental activities. But

at the present moment we do not recollect our past bodies.

"The nature of the mind is flickering. Sometimes it accepts something, and

immediately it rejects the same thing. Accepting and rejecting is the process of

the mind in contact with the five objects of sense gratification: form, taste,

smell, sound, and touch. In its speculative way, the mind comes in touch with

the objects of sense gratification, and when the living entity desires a

particular type of body, he gets it. Therefore, the body is an offering by the

laws of material nature. The living entity accepts a body and comes out again

into the material world to enjoy or suffer according to the construction of the

body. Unless we have a particular type of body, we cannot enjoy or suffer

according to our mental proclivities inherited from the previous life. The

particular type of body is actually offered to us according to our mental

condition at the time of death.

"The luminous planets like the sun, moon or the stars reflect themselves in

different types of reservoirs, like water, oil or ghee. The reflection moves

according to the movement of the reservoir. The reflection of the moon is on the

water, and the moving water makes the moon also appear to be moving, but

actually the moon is not moving. Similarly, by mental concoction, the living

entity attains different kinds of bodies, although actually he has no connection

with such bodies. But on account of illusion, being enchanted by the influence

of maya, the living entity thinks that he belongs to a particular type of body.

That is the way of conditioned life. Suppose a living entity is now in a human

form of body. He thinks that he belongs to the human community, or a particular

country or particular place. He identifies himself in that way and unnecessarily

prepares for another body which is not required by him. Such desires and mental

concoctions are the cause of different types of body.

The covering influence of material nature is so strong that the living entity

is satisfied in whatever body he gets, and he identifies with that body with

great pleasure. Therefore, I beg to request you not to be overwhelmed by the

dictation of your mind and body."

Vasudeva thus requested Kamsa not to be envious of his newly married sister. One

should not be envious of anyone, because envy is the cause of fear both in this

world and in the next when one is before Yamaraja (the lord of punishment after

death). Vasudeva appealed to Kamsa on behalf of Devaki, stating that she was his

younger sister. He also appealed at an auspicious moment, at the time of

marriage. A younger sister or brother is supposed to be protected as one's

children. "The position is overall so delicate," Vasudeva reasoned, "that if you

kill her, it will go against your high reputation."

Vasudeva tried to pacify Kamsa by good instruction as well as by philosophical

discrimination, but Kamsa was not to be pacified because his association was

demoniac. Because of his demoniac associations, he was always a demon, although

born in a very high royal family. A demon never cares for any good instruction.

He is just like a determined thief; one can give him moral instruction, but it

will not be effective. Similarly, those who are demoniac or atheistic by nature

can hardly assimilate any good instruction, however authorized it may be. That

is the difference between demigod and demon. Those who can accept good

instruction and try to live their lives in that way are called demigods, and

those who are unable to take such good instruction are called demons. Failing in

his attempt to pacify Kamsa, Vasudeva wondered how he would protect his wife

Devaki. When there is imminent danger, an intelligent person should try to avoid

the dangerous position as far as possible. But if, in

spite of endeavoring by all intelligence, one fails to avoid the dangerous

position, there is no fault on his part. One should try his best to execute his

duties, but if the attempt fails, he is not at fault.

Vasudeva thought of his wife as follows: "For the present let me save the life

of Devaki, then later on, if there are children, I shall see how to save them."

He further thought, "If in the future I get a child who can kill Kamsa--just as

Kamsa is thinking--then both Devaki and the child will be saved because the law

of Providence is inconceivable. But now, some way or other, let me save the life

of Devaki."

There is no certainty how a living entity contacts a certain type of body, just

as there is no certainty how the blazing fire comes in contact with a certain

type of wood in the forest. When there is a forest fire, it is experienced that

the blazing fire sometimes leaps over one tree and catches another by the

influence of the wind. Similarly, a living entity may be very careful and

fearful in the matter of executing his duties, but it is still very difficult

for him to know what type of body he is going to get in the next life. Maharaja

Bharata was very faithfully executing the duties of self-realization, but by

chance he contacted temporary affection for a deer, and he had to accept his

next life in the body of a deer.

Vasudeva, after deliberating on how to save his wife, began to speak to Kamsa

with great respect, although Kamsa was the most sinful man. Sometimes it happens

that a most virtuous person like Vasudeva has to flatter a person like Kamsa, a

most vicious person. That is the way of all diplomatic transactions. Although

Vasudeva was deeply aggrieved, he presented himself outwardly as cheerful. He

addressed the shameless Kamsa in that way because he was so atrocious. Vasudeva

said to Kamsa, "My dear brother-in-law, please consider that you have no danger

from your sister. You are awaiting some danger because you have heard a

prophetic voice in the sky. But the danger is to come from the sons of your

sister, who are not present now. And who knows? There may or may not be sons in

the future. Considering all this, you are safe for the present. Nor is there

cause of fear from your sister. If there are any sons born of her, I promise

that I shall present all of them to you for necessary

action."

Kamsa knew the value of Vasudeva's word of honor, and he was convinced by his

argument. For the time being, he desisted from the heinous killing of his

sister. Thus Vasudeva was pleased and praised the decision of Kamsa. In this

way, he returned to his home.

After due course of time, Vasudeva and Devaki gave birth to eight male children,

as well as one daughter. When the first son was born, Vasudeva kept his word of

honor and immediately brought the child before Kamsa. It is said that Vasudeva

was very much elevated and famous for his word of honor, and he wanted to

maintain this fame. Although it was very painful for Vasudeva to hand over the

newly born child, Kamsa was very glad to receive him. But he became a little

compassionate with the behavior of Vasudeva. This event is very exemplary. For a

great soul like Vasudeva, there is nothing considered to be painful in the

course of discharging one's duty. A learned person like Vasudeva carries out his

duties without hesitation. On the other hand, a demon like Kamsa never hesitates

in committing any abominable action. It is said, therefore, that a saintly

person can tolerate all kinds of miserable conditions of life, a learned man can

discharge his duties without awaiting favorable

circumstances, a heinous person like Kamsa can act in any sinful way, and a

devotee can sacrifice everything to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Kamsa became satisfied by the action of Vasudeva. He was surprised to see

Vasudeva keeping his promise, and being compassionate upon him and pleased, he

began to speak as follows: "My dear Vasudeva, you need not present this child to

me. I am not in danger from this child. I have heard that the eighth child born

of you and Devaki will kill me. Why should I accept this child unnecessarily?

You can take him back."

When Vasudeva was returning home with his first-born child, although he was

pleased by the behavior of Kamsa, he could not believe in him because he knew

that Kamsa was uncontrolled. An atheistic person cannot be firm in his word of

honor. One who cannot control the senses cannot be steady in his determination.

The great politician, Canakya Pandita, said, "Never put your trust in a diplomat

or in a woman." Those who are addicted to unrestricted sense gratification can

never be truthful, nor can they be trusted with any faith.

At that time the great sage Narada came to Kamsa. He was informed of Kamsa's

becoming compassionate to Vasudeva and returning his first-born child. Narada

was very anxious to accelerate the descent of Lord Krsna as soon as possible. He

therefore informed Kamsa that personalities like Nanda Maharaja and all the

cowherd men and girls and the wives of the cowherd men in Vrndavana, and, on the

other side, Vasudeva, his father Surasena and all his relatives born in the

family of Vrsni of the Yadu dynasty, were preparing for the appearance of the

Lord. Narada warned Kamsa to be careful of the friends and well-wishers and all

the demigods taking birth in those families. Kamsa and his friends and advisors

were all demons. Demons are always afraid of demigods. After being thus informed

by Narada about the appearance of the demigods in different families Kamsa at

once became alert. He understood that since the demigods had already appeared,

Lord Visnu must be coming soon. He at once arrested

both his brother-in-law Vasudeva and Devaki and put them behind prison bars.

Within the prison, shackled in iron chains, Vasudeva and Devaki gave birth to a

male child year after year, and Kamsa, thinking each of the babies to be the

incarnation of Visnu, killed them one after another. He was particularly afraid

of the eighth child, but after the visit of Narada, he came to the conclusion

that any child might be Krsna. Therefore it was better to kill all the babies

who took birth of Devaki and Vasudeva.

This action of Kamsa is not very difficult to understand. There are many

instances in the history of the world of persons in the royal order who have

killed father, brother, or a whole family and friends for the satisfaction of

their ambitions. There is nothing astonishing about this, for the demoniac can

kill anyone for their nefarious ambitions.

Kamsa was made aware of his previous birth by the grace of Narada. He learned

that in his previous birth he was a demon of the name Kalanemi and that he was

killed by Visnu. Having taken his birth in the Bhoja family, he decided to

become the deadly enemy of the Yadu dynasty; Krsna was going to take birth in

that family, and Kamsa was very much afraid that he would be killed by Krsna,

just as he was killed in his last birth.

He first of all imprisoned his father Ugrasena because he was the chief king

among the Yadu, Bhoja, and Andhaka dynasties, and he also occupied the kingdom

of Surasena, Vasudeva's father. He declared himself the