The advent of Lord Krsna

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The advent of Lord Krsna

 

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 king

of all

such places.

 

Thus ends the Bhaktivedanta purport of the First Chapter of

Krsna, " Advent

of Lord Krsna. "

---

-------

As stated in the Bhagavad-gita, the Lord says that His appearance,

birth,

and activities, are all transcendental, and one who understands them

factually becomes immediately eligible to be transferred to the

spiritual

world. The Lord's appearance or birth is not like that of an

ordinary man

who is forced to accept a material body according to his past deeds.

The

Lord's appearance is explained in the Second Chapter: He appears out

of His

own sweet pleasure. When the time was mature for the appearance of

the Lord,

the constellations became very auspicious. The astrological

influence of the

star known as Rohini was also predominant because this star is

considered to

be very auspicious. Rohini is under the direct supervision of Brahma.

According to the astrological conclusion, besides the proper

situation of

the stars, there are auspicious and inauspicious moments due to the

different situations of the different planetary systems. At the time

of

Krsna's birth, the planetary systems were automatically adjusted so

that

everything became auspicious.

 

At that time, in all directions, east, west, south, north,

everywhere, there

was an atmosphere of peace and prosperity. There were auspicious

stars

visible in the sky, and on the surface in all towns and villages or

pasturing grounds and within the minds of everyone there were signs

of good

fortune. The rivers were flowing full of waters, and lakes were

beautifully

decorated with lotus flowers. The forests were full with beautiful

birds and

peacocks. All the birds within the forests began to sing with sweet

voices,

and the peacocks began to dance along with their consorts. The wind

blew

very pleasantly, carrying the aroma of different flowers, and the

sensation

of bodily touch was very pleasing. At home, the brahmanas, who were

accustomed to offer sacrifices in the fire, found their homes very

pleasant

for offerings. Due to disturbances created by the demoniac kings, the

sacrificial fire alter had been almost stopped in the houses of

brahmanas,

but now they could find the opportunity to start the fire

peacefully. Being

forbidden to offer sacrifices, the brahmanas were very distressed in

mind,

intelligence and activities, but just on the point of Krsna's

appearance,

automatically their minds became full of joy because they could hear

loud

vibrations in the sky of transcendental sounds proclaiming the

appearance of

the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

 

The denizens of the Gandharva and Kinnara planets began to sing, and

the

denizens of Siddhaloka and the planets of the Caranas began to offer

prayers

in the service of the Personality of Godhead. In the heavenly

planets, the

angels along with their wives, accompanied by the Apsaras, began to

dance.

 

The great sages and the demigods, being pleased, began to shower

flowers. At

the seashore, there was the sound of mild waves, and above the sea

there

were clouds in the sky which began to thunder very pleasingly.

 

When things were adjusted like this, Lord Visnu, who is residing

within the

heart of every living entity, appeared in the darkness of night as

the

Supreme Personality of Godhead before Devaki, who also appeared as

one of

the demigoddesses. The appearance of Lord Visnu at that time could be

compared with the full moon in the sky as it rises on the eastern

horizon.

The objection may be raised that, since Lord Krsna appeared on the

eighth

day of the waning moon, there could be no rising of the full moon.

In answer

to this it may be said that Lord Krsna appeared in the dynasty which

is in

the hierarchy of the moon; therefore, although the moon was

incomplete on

that night, because of the Lord's appearance in the dynasty wherein

the moon

is himself the original person, the moon was in an overjoyous

condition, so

by the grace of Krsna he could appear just as a full moon.

 

In an astronomical treatise by the name Khamanikya, the

constellations at

the time of the appearance of Lord Krsna are very nicely described.

It is

confirmed that the child born at that auspicious moment was the

Supreme

Brahman or the Absolute Truth.

 

Vasudeva saw that wonderful child born as a baby with four hands,

holding

conchshell, club, disc, and lotus flower, decorated with the mark of

Srivatsa, wearing the jeweled necklace of kaustubha stone, dressed

in yellow

silk, appearing dazzling like a bright blackish cloud, wearing a

helmet

bedecked with the vaidurya stone, valuable bracelets, earrings and

similar

other ornaments all over His body and an abundance of hair on His

head. Due

to the extraordinary features of the child, Vasudeva was struck with

wonder.

How could a newly born child be so decorated? He could therefore

understand

that Lord Krsna had now appeared, and he became overpowered by the

occasion.

Vasudeva very humbly wondered that although he was an ordinary

living entity

conditioned by material nature and was externally imprisoned by

Kamsa, the

all-pervading Personality of Godhead, Visnu or Krsna, was appearing

as a

child in his home, exactly in His original position. No earthly

child is

born with four hands decorated with ornaments and nice clothing,

fully

equipped with all the signs of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Over and

over again, Vasudeva glanced at his child, and he considered how to

celebrate this auspicious moment: " Generally, when a male child is

born, " he

thought, " people observe the occasion with jubilant celebrations,

and in my

home, although I am imprisoned, the Supreme Personality of Godhead

has taken

birth. How many millions of millions of times should I be prepared to

observe this auspicious ceremony! "

 

When Vasudeva, who is also called Anakadundubhi, was looking at his

newborn

baby, he was so happy that he wanted to give many thousands of cows

in

charity to the brahmanas. According to the Vedic system, whenever

there is

an auspicious ceremony in the ksatriya king's palace, the king gives

many

things in charity. Cows decorated with golden ornaments are

delivered to the

brahmanas and sages. Vasudeva wanted to perform a charitable

ceremony to

celebrate Krsna's appearance, but because he was shackled within the

walls

of Kamsa's prison, this was not possible. Instead, within his mind

he gave

thousands of cows to the brahmanas.

 

When Vasudeva was convinced that the newborn child was the Supreme

Personality of Godhead Himself, he bowed down with folded hands and

began to

offer Him prayers. At that time Vasudeva was in the transcendental

position,

and he became completely free from all fear of Kamsa. The newborn

baby was

also flashing His effulgence within the room in which He appeared.

 

Vasudeva then began to offer his prayers. " My dear Lord, I can

understand

who You are. You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the

Supersoul of

all living entities and the Absolute Truth. You have appeared in

Your own

eternal form which is directly perceived by us. I understand that

because I

am afraid of Kamsa, You have appeared just to deliver me from that

fear. You

do not belong to this material world; You are the same person who

brings

about the cosmic manifestation simply by glancing over material

nature. "

 

One may argue that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who creates

the whole

cosmic manifestation simply by His glance, cannot come within the

womb of

Devaki, the wife of Vasudeva. To eradicate this argument, Vasudeva

said, " My

dear Lord, it is not a very wonderful thing that You appear within

the womb

of Devaki because the creation was also made in that way. You were

lying in

the Causal Ocean as Maha-Visnu, and by Your breathing process,

innumerable

universes came into existence. Then You entered into each of the

universes

as Garbhodakasayi Visnu. Then again You expanded Yourself as

Ksirodakasayi

Visnu and entered into the hearts of all living entities and entered

even

within the atoms. Therefore Your entrance in the womb of Devaki is

understandable in the same way. You appear to have entered, but You

are

simultaneously all-pervading. We can understand Your entrance and

nonentrance from material examples. The total material energy

remains intact

even after being divided into sixteen elements. The material body is

nothing

but the combination of the five gross elements--namely earth, water,

fire,

air and ether. Whenever there is a material body, it appears that

such

elements are newly created, but actually the elements are always

existing

outside of the body. Similarly, although You appear as a child in

the womb

of Devaki, You are also existing outside. You are always in Your

abode, but

still You can simultaneously expand Yourself into millions of forms.

 

" One has to understand Your appearance with great intelligence

because the

material energy is also emanating from You. You are the original

source of

the material energy, just as the sun is the source of the sunshine.

The

sunshine cannot cover the sun globe, nor can the material energy--

being an

emanation from You--cover You. You appear to be in the three modes of

material energy, but actually the three modes of material energy

cannot

cover You. This is understood by the highly intellectual

philosophers. In

other words, although You appear to be within the material energy,

You are

never covered by it. "

 

We hear from the Vedic version that the Supreme Brahman exhibits His

effulgence, and therefore everything becomes illuminated. We can

understand

from Brahma-samhita that the brahmajyoti, or the Brahman effulgence,

emanates from the body of the Supreme Lord. And from the Brahman

effulgence,

all creation takes place. It is further stated in the Bhagavad-gita

that the

Lord is also the support of the Brahman effulgence. Originally He is

the

root cause of everything. But persons who are less intelligent think

that

when the Supreme Personality of Godhead comes within this material

world, He

accepts the material qualities. Such conclusions are not very

mature, but

are made by the less intelligent.

 

The Supreme Personality of Godhead is directly and indirectly

existing

everywhere; He is outside this material creation, and He is also

within it.

He is within this material creation not only as Garbhodakasayi

Visnu; He is

also within the atom. Existence is due to His presence. Nothing can

be

separated from His existence. In the Vedic injunction we find that

the

Supreme Soul or the root cause of everything has to be searched out

because

nothing exists independent of the Supreme Soul. Therefore the

material

manifestation is also a transformation of His potency. Both inert

matter and

the living force--soul--are emanations from Him. Only the foolish

conclude

that when the Supreme Lord appears He accepts the conditions of

matter. Even

if He appears to have accepted the material body, He is still not

subjected

to any material condition. Krsna has therefore appeared and defeated

all

imperfect conclusions about the appearance and disappearance of the

Supreme

Personality of Godhead.

 

" My Lord, Your appearance, existence and disappearance are beyond the

influence of the material qualities. Because Your Lordship is the

controller

of everything and the resting place of the Supreme Brahman, there is

nothing

inconceivable or contradictory in You. As You have said, material

nature

works under Your superintendence. It is just like government officers

working under the orders of the chief executive. The influence of

subordinate activities cannot affect You. The Supreme Brahman and all

phenomena are existing within You, and all the activities of

material nature

are controlled by Your Lordship.

 

" You are called suklam. Suklam, or 'whiteness' is the symbolic

representation of the Absolute Truth because it is unaffected by the

material qualities. Lord Brahma is called rakta, or red, because

Brahma

represents the qualities of passion for creation. Darkness is

entrusted to

Lord Siva because he annihilates the cosmos. The creation,

annihilation and

maintenance of this cosmic manifestation is conducted by Your

potencies, yet

You are always unaffected by those qualities. As confirmed in the

Vedas,

harir hi nirgunah saksat: the Supreme Personality of Godhead is

always free

from all material qualities. It is also said that the qualities of

passion

and ignorance are nonexistent in the person of the Supreme Lord.

 

" My Lord, You are the supreme controller, the Personality of

Godhead, the

supreme great, maintaining the order of this cosmic manifestation.

And in

spite of Your being the supreme controller, You have so kindly

appeared in

my home. The purpose of Your appearance is to kill the followers of

the

demoniac rulers of the world who are in the dress of royal princes

but are

actually demons. I am sure that You will kill all of them and their

followers and soldiers.

 

" I understand that You have appeared to kill the uncivilized Kamsa

and his

followers. But knowing that You were to appear to kill him and his

followers, he has already killed so many of Your predecessors, elder

brothers. Now he is simply awaiting the news of Your birth. As soon

as he

hears about it, he will immediately appear with all kinds of weapons

to kill

You. "

 

After this prayer of Vasudeva, Devaki, the mother of Krsna, offered

her

prayers. She was very frightened because of her brother's

atrocities. Devaki

said, " My dear Lord, Your eternal forms, like Narayana, Lord Rama,

Sesa,

Varaha, Nrsimha, Vamana, Baladeva, and millions of similar

incarnations

emanating from Visnu, are described in the Vedic literature as

original. You

are original because all Your forms as incarnations are outside of

this

material creation. Your form was existing before this cosmic

manifestation

was created. Your forms are eternal and all-pervading. They are

self-effulgent, changeless and uncontaminated by the material

qualities.

Such eternal forms are ever-cognizant and full of bliss; they are

situated

in transcendental goodness and are always engaged in different

pastimes. You

are not limited to a particular form only; all such transcendental

eternal

forms are self-sufficient. I can understand that You are the Supreme

Lord

Visnu.

 

" After many millions of years, when Lord Brahma comes to the end of

his

life, the annihilation of the cosmic manifestation takes place. At

that time

the five elements--namely earth, water, fire, air and ether--enter

into the

mahat-tattva. The mahat-tattva again enters, by the force of time,

into the

nonmanifested total material energy; the total material energy

enters into

the energetic pradhana, and the pradhana enters into You. Therefore

after

the annihilation of the whole cosmic manifestation, You alone remain

with

Your transcendental name, form, quality and paraphernalia.

 

" My Lord, I offer my respectful obeisances unto You because You are

the

director of the unmanifested total energy, and the ultimate

reservoir of the

material nature. My Lord, the whole cosmic manifestation is under the

influence of time, beginning from the moment up to the duration of

the year.

All act under Your direction. You are the original director of

everything

and the reservoir of all potent energies.

 

" Therefore my Lord, I request You to save me from the cruel hands of

the son

of Ugrasena, Kamsa. I am praying to Your Lordship to please rescue

me from

this fearful condition because You are always ready to give

protection to

Your servitors. " The Lord has confirmed this statement in the

Bhagavad-gita

by assuring Arjuna, " You may declare to the world, My devotee shall

never be

vanquished. "

 

While thus praying to the Lord for rescue, mother Devaki expressed

her

motherly affection: " I understand that this transcendental form is

generally

perceived in meditation by the great sages, but I am still afraid

because as

soon as Kamsa understands that You have appeared, he might harm You.

So I

request that for the time being You become invisible to our material

eyes. "

In other words, she requested the Lord to assume the form of an

ordinary

child. " My only cause of fear from my brother Kamsa is due to Your

appearance. My Lord Madhusudana, Kamsa may know that You are already

born.

Therefore I request You to conceal this four-armed form of Your

Lordship

which holds the four symbols of Visnu--namely the conchshell, the

disc, the

club and the lotus flower. My dear Lord, at the end of the

annihilation of

the cosmic manifestation, You put the whole universe within Your

abdomen;

still by Your unalloyed mercy You have appeared in my womb. I am

surprised

that You imitate the activities of ordinary human beings just to

please Your

devotee. "

 

On hearing the prayers of Devaki, the Lord replied, " My dear mother,

in the

millennium of Svayambhuva Manu, My father Vasudeva was living as one

of the

Prajapatis, and his name at that time was Sutapa, and you were his

wife

named Prsni. At that time, when Lord Brahma was desiring to increase

the

population, he requested you to generate offspring. You controlled

your

senses and performed severe austerities. By practicing the breathing

exercise of the yoga system, both you and your husband could

tolerate all

the influences of the material laws: the rainy season, the onslaught

of the

wind, and the scorching heat of the sunshine. You also executed all

religious principles. In this way you were able to cleanse your

heart and

control the influence of material law. In executing your austerity,

you used

to eat only the leaves of the trees which fell to the ground. Then

with

steady mind and controlled sex drive, you worshiped Me, desiring some

wonderful benediction from Me. Both of you practiced severe

austerities for

twelve thousand years, by the calculation of the demigods. During

that time,

your mind was always absorbed in Me. When you were executing

devotional

service and always thinking of Me within your heart, I was very much

pleased

with you. O sinless mother, your heart is therefore always pure. At

that

time also I appeared before you in this form just to fulfill your

desire,

and I asked you to ask whatever you desired. At that time you wished

to have

Me born as your son. Although you saw Me personally, instead of

asking for

your complete liberation from the material bondage, under the

influence of

My energy, you asked Me to become your son. "

 

In other words, the Lord selected His mother and father--namely

Prsni and

Sutapa--specifically to appear in the material world. Whenever the

Lord

comes as a human being, He must have someone as a mother and father,

so He

selected Prsni and Sutapa perpetually as His mother and father. And

on

account of this, both Prsni and Sutapa could not ask the Lord for

liberation. Liberation is not so important as the transcendental

loving

service of the Lord. The Lord could have awarded Prsni and Sutapa

immediate

liberation, but He preferred to keep them within this material world

for His

different appearances, as will be explained in the following verses.

On

receiving the benediction from the Lord to become His father and

mother,

both Prsni and Sutapa returned from the activities of austerity and

lived as

husband and wife in order to beget a child who was the Supreme Lord

Himself.

 

In due course of time Prsni became pregnant and gave birth to the

child. The

Lord spoke to Devaki and Vasudeva: " At that time My name was

Prsnigarbha. In

the next millennium also you took birth as Aditi and Kasyapa, and I

became

your child of the name Upendra. At that time My form was just like a

dwarf,

and for this reason I was known as Vamanadeva. I gave you the

benediction

that I would take birth as your son three times. The first time I

was known

as Prsnigarbha, born of Prsni and Sutapa, the next birth I was

Upendra born

of Aditi and Kasyapa, and now for the third time I am born as Krsna

from

you, Devaki and Vasudeva. I appeared in this Visnu form just to

convince you

that I am the same Supreme Personality of Godhead again taken birth.

I could

have appeared just like an ordinary child, but in that way you would

not

believe that I, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, have taken birth

in your

womb. My dear father and mother, you have therefore raised Me many

times as

your child, with great affection and love, and I am therefore very

pleased

and obliged to you. And I assure you that this time you shall go

back to

home, back to Godhead, on account of your perfection in your

mission. I know

you are very concerned about Me and afraid of Kamsa. Therefore I

order you

to take Me immediately to Gokula and replace Me with the daughter

who has

just been born to Yasoda. "

 

Having spoken thus in the presence of His father and mother, the

Lord turned

Himself into an ordinary child and remained silent.

 

Being ordered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva

attempted to

take his son from the delivery room, and exactly at that time, a

daughter

was born of Nanda and Yasoda. She was Yogamaya, the internal potency

of the

Lord. By the influence of this internal potency, Yogamaya, all the

residents

of Kamsa's palace, especially the doorkeepers, were overwhelmed with

deep

sleep, and all the palace doors opened, although they were barred and

shackled with iron chains. The night was very dark, but as soon as

Vasudeva

took Krsna on his lap and went out, he could see everything just as

in the

sunlight.

 

In the Caitanya-caritamrta it is said that Krsna is just like

sunlight, and

wherever there is Krsna, the illusory energy, which is compared to

darkness,

cannot remain. When Vasudeva was carrying Krsna, the darkness of the

night

disappeared. All the prison doors automatically opened. At the same

time

there was a thunder in the sky and severe rainfall. While Vasudeva

was

carrying his son Krsna in the falling rain, Lord Sesa in the shape

of a

serpent spread His hood over the head of Vasudeva so that he would

not be

hampered by the rainfall. Vasudeva came onto the bank of the Yamuna

and saw

that the water of the Yamuna was roaring with waves and that the

whole span

was full of foam. Still, in that furious feature, the river gave

passage to

Vasudeva to cross, just as the great Indian Ocean gave a path to

Lord Rama

when He was bridging over the gulf. In this way Vasudeva crossed the

river

Yamuna. On the other side, he went to the place of Nanda Maharaja

situated

in Gokula, where he saw that all the cowherd men were fast asleep.

He took

the opportunity of silently entering into the house of Yasoda, and

without

difficulty he replaced his son, taking away the baby girl newly born

in the

house of Yasoda. Then, after entering the house very silently and

exchanging

the boy with the girl, he again returned to the prison of Kamsa and

silently

put the girl on the lap of Devaki. He again clamped the shackles on

himself

so that Kamsa could not recognize that so many things had happened.

 

Mother Yasoda understood that a child was born of her, but because

she was

very tired from the labor of childbirth, she was fast asleep. When

she

awoke, she could not remember whether she had given birth to a male

or a

female child.

[Guest guest]

sohamsa , " Dalibor Purhmajer " <dharma

wrote:

>

|| Hare Rama Krsna ||

 

Dear Sir,

 

Was very happy after reading this article !! Keep posting.

 

Regards

Abhijeet Rai

 

 

 

 

> The advent of Lord Krsna

>

> 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

king

> of all

> such places.

>

> Thus ends the Bhaktivedanta purport of the First Chapter of

> Krsna, " Advent

> of Lord Krsna. "

> --

-

> -------

> As stated in the Bhagavad-gita, the Lord says that His appearance,

> birth,

> and activities, are all transcendental, and one who understands them

> factually becomes immediately eligible to be transferred to the

> spiritual

> world. The Lord's appearance or birth is not like that of an

> ordinary man

> who is forced to accept a material body according to his past

deeds.

> The

> Lord's appearance is explained in the Second Chapter: He appears

out

> of His

> own sweet pleasure. When the time was mature for the appearance of

> the Lord,

> the constellations became very auspicious. The astrological

> influence of the

> star known as Rohini was also predominant because this star is

> considered to

> be very auspicious. Rohini is under the direct supervision of

Brahma.

> According to the astrological conclusion, besides the proper

> situation of

> the stars, there are auspicious and inauspicious moments due to the

> different situations of the different planetary systems. At the

time

> of

> Krsna's birth, the planetary systems were automatically adjusted so

> that

> everything became auspicious.

>

> At that time, in all directions, east, west, south, north,

> everywhere, there

> was an atmosphere of peace and prosperity. There were auspicious

> stars

> visible in the sky, and on the surface in all towns and villages or

> pasturing grounds and within the minds of everyone there were signs

> of good

> fortune. The rivers were flowing full of waters, and lakes were

> beautifully

> decorated with lotus flowers. The forests were full with beautiful

> birds and

> peacocks. All the birds within the forests began to sing with sweet

> voices,

> and the peacocks began to dance along with their consorts. The wind

> blew

> very pleasantly, carrying the aroma of different flowers, and the

> sensation

> of bodily touch was very pleasing. At home, the brahmanas, who were

> accustomed to offer sacrifices in the fire, found their homes very

> pleasant

> for offerings. Due to disturbances created by the demoniac kings,

the

> sacrificial fire alter had been almost stopped in the houses of

> brahmanas,

> but now they could find the opportunity to start the fire

> peacefully. Being

> forbidden to offer sacrifices, the brahmanas were very distressed

in

> mind,

> intelligence and activities, but just on the point of Krsna's

> appearance,

> automatically their minds became full of joy because they could

hear

> loud

> vibrations in the sky of transcendental sounds proclaiming the

> appearance of

> the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

>

> The denizens of the Gandharva and Kinnara planets began to sing,

and

> the

> denizens of Siddhaloka and the planets of the Caranas began to

offer

> prayers

> in the service of the Personality of Godhead. In the heavenly

> planets, the

> angels along with their wives, accompanied by the Apsaras, began to

> dance.

>

> The great sages and the demigods, being pleased, began to shower

> flowers. At

> the seashore, there was the sound of mild waves, and above the sea

> there

> were clouds in the sky which began to thunder very pleasingly.

>

> When things were adjusted like this, Lord Visnu, who is residing

> within the

> heart of every living entity, appeared in the darkness of night as

> the

> Supreme Personality of Godhead before Devaki, who also appeared as

> one of

> the demigoddesses. The appearance of Lord Visnu at that time could

be

> compared with the full moon in the sky as it rises on the eastern

> horizon.

> The objection may be raised that, since Lord Krsna appeared on the

> eighth

> day of the waning moon, there could be no rising of the full moon.

> In answer

> to this it may be said that Lord Krsna appeared in the dynasty

which

> is in

> the hierarchy of the moon; therefore, although the moon was

> incomplete on

> that night, because of the Lord's appearance in the dynasty wherein

> the moon

> is himself the original person, the moon was in an overjoyous

> condition, so

> by the grace of Krsna he could appear just as a full moon.

>

> In an astronomical treatise by the name Khamanikya, the

> constellations at

> the time of the appearance of Lord Krsna are very nicely described.

> It is

> confirmed that the child born at that auspicious moment was the

> Supreme

> Brahman or the Absolute Truth.

>

> Vasudeva saw that wonderful child born as a baby with four hands,

> holding

> conchshell, club, disc, and lotus flower, decorated with the mark of

> Srivatsa, wearing the jeweled necklace of kaustubha stone, dressed

> in yellow

> silk, appearing dazzling like a bright blackish cloud, wearing a

> helmet

> bedecked with the vaidurya stone, valuable bracelets, earrings and

> similar

> other ornaments all over His body and an abundance of hair on His

> head. Due

> to the extraordinary features of the child, Vasudeva was struck

with

> wonder.

> How could a newly born child be so decorated? He could therefore

> understand

> that Lord Krsna had now appeared, and he became overpowered by the

> occasion.

> Vasudeva very humbly wondered that although he was an ordinary

> living entity

> conditioned by material nature and was externally imprisoned by

> Kamsa, the

> all-pervading Personality of Godhead, Visnu or Krsna, was appearing

> as a

> child in his home, exactly in His original position. No earthly

> child is

> born with four hands decorated with ornaments and nice clothing,

> fully

> equipped with all the signs of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

> Over and

> over again, Vasudeva glanced at his child, and he considered how to

> celebrate this auspicious moment: " Generally, when a male child is

> born, " he

> thought, " people observe the occasion with jubilant celebrations,

> and in my

> home, although I am imprisoned, the Supreme Personality of Godhead

> has taken

> birth. How many millions of millions of times should I be prepared

to

> observe this auspicious ceremony! "

>

> When Vasudeva, who is also called Anakadundubhi, was looking at his

> newborn

> baby, he was so happy that he wanted to give many thousands of cows

> in

> charity to the brahmanas. According to the Vedic system, whenever

> there is

> an auspicious ceremony in the ksatriya king's palace, the king

gives

> many

> things in charity. Cows decorated with golden ornaments are

> delivered to the

> brahmanas and sages. Vasudeva wanted to perform a charitable

> ceremony to

> celebrate Krsna's appearance, but because he was shackled within

the

> walls

> of Kamsa's prison, this was not possible. Instead, within his mind

> he gave

> thousands of cows to the brahmanas.

>

> When Vasudeva was convinced that the newborn child was the Supreme

> Personality of Godhead Himself, he bowed down with folded hands and

> began to

> offer Him prayers. At that time Vasudeva was in the transcendental

> position,

> and he became completely free from all fear of Kamsa. The newborn

> baby was

> also flashing His effulgence within the room in which He appeared.

>

> Vasudeva then began to offer his prayers. " My dear Lord, I can

> understand

> who You are. You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the

> Supersoul of

> all living entities and the Absolute Truth. You have appeared in

> Your own

> eternal form which is directly perceived by us. I understand that

> because I

> am afraid of Kamsa, You have appeared just to deliver me from that

> fear. You

> do not belong to this material world; You are the same person who

> brings

> about the cosmic manifestation simply by glancing over material

> nature. "

>

> One may argue that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who creates

> the whole

> cosmic manifestation simply by His glance, cannot come within the

> womb of

> Devaki, the wife of Vasudeva. To eradicate this argument, Vasudeva

> said, " My

> dear Lord, it is not a very wonderful thing that You appear within

> the womb

> of Devaki because the creation was also made in that way. You were

> lying in

> the Causal Ocean as Maha-Visnu, and by Your breathing process,

> innumerable

> universes came into existence. Then You entered into each of the

> universes

> as Garbhodakasayi Visnu. Then again You expanded Yourself as

> Ksirodakasayi

> Visnu and entered into the hearts of all living entities and

entered

> even

> within the atoms. Therefore Your entrance in the womb of Devaki is

> understandable in the same way. You appear to have entered, but You

> are

> simultaneously all-pervading. We can understand Your entrance and

> nonentrance from material examples. The total material energy

> remains intact

> even after being divided into sixteen elements. The material body

is

> nothing

> but the combination of the five gross elements--namely earth,

water,

> fire,

> air and ether. Whenever there is a material body, it appears that

> such

> elements are newly created, but actually the elements are always

> existing

> outside of the body. Similarly, although You appear as a child in

> the womb

> of Devaki, You are also existing outside. You are always in Your

> abode, but

> still You can simultaneously expand Yourself into millions of forms.

>

> " One has to understand Your appearance with great intelligence

> because the

> material energy is also emanating from You. You are the original

> source of

> the material energy, just as the sun is the source of the sunshine.

> The

> sunshine cannot cover the sun globe, nor can the material energy--

> being an

> emanation from You--cover You. You appear to be in the three modes

of

> material energy, but actually the three modes of material energy

> cannot

> cover You. This is understood by the highly intellectual

> philosophers. In

> other words, although You appear to be within the material energy,

> You are

> never covered by it. "

>

> We hear from the Vedic version that the Supreme Brahman exhibits His

> effulgence, and therefore everything becomes illuminated. We can

> understand

> from Brahma-samhita that the brahmajyoti, or the Brahman effulgence,

> emanates from the body of the Supreme Lord. And from the Brahman

> effulgence,

> all creation takes place. It is further stated in the Bhagavad-gita

> that the

> Lord is also the support of the Brahman effulgence. Originally He

is

> the

> root cause of everything. But persons who are less intelligent

think

> that

> when the Supreme Personality of Godhead comes within this material

> world, He

> accepts the material qualities. Such conclusions are not very

> mature, but

> are made by the less intelligent.

>

> The Supreme Personality of Godhead is directly and indirectly

> existing

> everywhere; He is outside this material creation, and He is also

> within it.

> He is within this material creation not only as Garbhodakasayi

> Visnu; He is

> also within the atom. Existence is due to His presence. Nothing can

> be

> separated from His existence. In the Vedic injunction we find that

> the

> Supreme Soul or the root cause of everything has to be searched out

> because

> nothing exists independent of the Supreme Soul. Therefore the

> material

> manifestation is also a transformation of His potency. Both inert

> matter and

> the living force--soul--are emanations from Him. Only the foolish

> conclude

> that when the Supreme Lord appears He accepts the conditions of

> matter. Even

> if He appears to have accepted the material body, He is still not

> subjected

> to any material condition. Krsna has therefore appeared and

defeated

> all

> imperfect conclusions about the appearance and disappearance of the

> Supreme

> Personality of Godhead.

>

> " My Lord, Your appearance, existence and disappearance are beyond

the

> influence of the material qualities. Because Your Lordship is the

> controller

> of everything and the resting place of the Supreme Brahman, there

is

> nothing

> inconceivable or contradictory in You. As You have said, material

> nature

> works under Your superintendence. It is just like government

officers

> working under the orders of the chief executive. The influence of

> subordinate activities cannot affect You. The Supreme Brahman and

all

> phenomena are existing within You, and all the activities of

> material nature

> are controlled by Your Lordship.

>

> " You are called suklam. Suklam, or 'whiteness' is the symbolic

> representation of the Absolute Truth because it is unaffected by the

> material qualities. Lord Brahma is called rakta, or red, because

> Brahma

> represents the qualities of passion for creation. Darkness is

> entrusted to

> Lord Siva because he annihilates the cosmos. The creation,

> annihilation and

> maintenance of this cosmic manifestation is conducted by Your

> potencies, yet

> You are always unaffected by those qualities. As confirmed in the

> Vedas,

> harir hi nirgunah saksat: the Supreme Personality of Godhead is

> always free

> from all material qualities. It is also said that the qualities of

> passion

> and ignorance are nonexistent in the person of the Supreme Lord.

>

> " My Lord, You are the supreme controller, the Personality of

> Godhead, the

> supreme great, maintaining the order of this cosmic manifestation.

> And in

> spite of Your being the supreme controller, You have so kindly

> appeared in

> my home. The purpose of Your appearance is to kill the followers of

> the

> demoniac rulers of the world who are in the dress of royal princes

> but are

> actually demons. I am sure that You will kill all of them and their

> followers and soldiers.

>

> " I understand that You have appeared to kill the uncivilized Kamsa

> and his

> followers. But knowing that You were to appear to kill him and his

> followers, he has already killed so many of Your predecessors, elder

> brothers. Now he is simply awaiting the news of Your birth. As soon

> as he

> hears about it, he will immediately appear with all kinds of

weapons

> to kill

> You. "

>

> After this prayer of Vasudeva, Devaki, the mother of Krsna, offered

> her

> prayers. She was very frightened because of her brother's

> atrocities. Devaki

> said, " My dear Lord, Your eternal forms, like Narayana, Lord Rama,

> Sesa,

> Varaha, Nrsimha, Vamana, Baladeva, and millions of similar

> incarnations

> emanating from Visnu, are described in the Vedic literature as

> original. You

> are original because all Your forms as incarnations are outside of

> this

> material creation. Your form was existing before this cosmic

> manifestation

> was created. Your forms are eternal and all-pervading. They are

> self-effulgent, changeless and uncontaminated by the material

> qualities.

> Such eternal forms are ever-cognizant and full of bliss; they are

> situated

> in transcendental goodness and are always engaged in different

> pastimes. You

> are not limited to a particular form only; all such transcendental

> eternal

> forms are self-sufficient. I can understand that You are the

Supreme

> Lord

> Visnu.

>

> " After many millions of years, when Lord Brahma comes to the end of

> his

> life, the annihilation of the cosmic manifestation takes place. At

> that time

> the five elements--namely earth, water, fire, air and ether--enter

> into the

> mahat-tattva. The mahat-tattva again enters, by the force of time,

> into the

> nonmanifested total material energy; the total material energy

> enters into

> the energetic pradhana, and the pradhana enters into You. Therefore

> after

> the annihilation of the whole cosmic manifestation, You alone

remain

> with

> Your transcendental name, form, quality and paraphernalia.

>

> " My Lord, I offer my respectful obeisances unto You because You are

> the

> director of the unmanifested total energy, and the ultimate

> reservoir of the

> material nature. My Lord, the whole cosmic manifestation is under

the

> influence of time, beginning from the moment up to the duration of

> the year.

> All act under Your direction. You are the original director of

> everything

> and the reservoir of all potent energies.

>

> " Therefore my Lord, I request You to save me from the cruel hands

of

> the son

> of Ugrasena, Kamsa. I am praying to Your Lordship to please rescue

> me from

> this fearful condition because You are always ready to give

> protection to

> Your servitors. " The Lord has confirmed this statement in the

> Bhagavad-gita

> by assuring Arjuna, " You may declare to the world, My devotee shall

> never be

> vanquished. "

>

> While thus praying to the Lord for rescue, mother Devaki expressed

> her

> motherly affection: " I understand that this transcendental form is

> generally

> perceived in meditation by the great sages, but I am still afraid

> because as

> soon as Kamsa understands that You have appeared, he might harm

You.

> So I

> request that for the time being You become invisible to our

material

> eyes. "

> In other words, she requested the Lord to assume the form of an

> ordinary

> child. " My only cause of fear from my brother Kamsa is due to Your

> appearance. My Lord Madhusudana, Kamsa may know that You are

already

> born.

> Therefore I request You to conceal this four-armed form of Your

> Lordship

> which holds the four symbols of Visnu--namely the conchshell, the

> disc, the

> club and the lotus flower. My dear Lord, at the end of the

> annihilation of

> the cosmic manifestation, You put the whole universe within Your

> abdomen;

> still by Your unalloyed mercy You have appeared in my womb. I am

> surprised

> that You imitate the activities of ordinary human beings just to

> please Your

> devotee. "

>

> On hearing the prayers of Devaki, the Lord replied, " My dear

mother,

> in the

> millennium of Svayambhuva Manu, My father Vasudeva was living as

one

> of the

> Prajapatis, and his name at that time was Sutapa, and you were his

> wife

> named Prsni. At that time, when Lord Brahma was desiring to

increase

> the

> population, he requested you to generate offspring. You controlled

> your

> senses and performed severe austerities. By practicing the breathing

> exercise of the yoga system, both you and your husband could

> tolerate all

> the influences of the material laws: the rainy season, the

onslaught

> of the

> wind, and the scorching heat of the sunshine. You also executed all

> religious principles. In this way you were able to cleanse your

> heart and

> control the influence of material law. In executing your austerity,

> you used

> to eat only the leaves of the trees which fell to the ground. Then

> with

> steady mind and controlled sex drive, you worshiped Me, desiring

some

> wonderful benediction from Me. Both of you practiced severe

> austerities for

> twelve thousand years, by the calculation of the demigods. During

> that time,

> your mind was always absorbed in Me. When you were executing

> devotional

> service and always thinking of Me within your heart, I was very

much

> pleased

> with you. O sinless mother, your heart is therefore always pure. At

> that

> time also I appeared before you in this form just to fulfill your

> desire,

> and I asked you to ask whatever you desired. At that time you

wished

> to have

> Me born as your son. Although you saw Me personally, instead of

> asking for

> your complete liberation from the material bondage, under the

> influence of

> My energy, you asked Me to become your son. "

>

> In other words, the Lord selected His mother and father--namely

> Prsni and

> Sutapa--specifically to appear in the material world. Whenever the

> Lord

> comes as a human being, He must have someone as a mother and

father,

> so He

> selected Prsni and Sutapa perpetually as His mother and father. And

> on

> account of this, both Prsni and Sutapa could not ask the Lord for

> liberation. Liberation is not so important as the transcendental

> loving

> service of the Lord. The Lord could have awarded Prsni and Sutapa

> immediate

> liberation, but He preferred to keep them within this material

world

> for His

> different appearances, as will be explained in the following

verses.

> On

> receiving the benediction from the Lord to become His father and

> mother,

> both Prsni and Sutapa returned from the activities of austerity and

> lived as

> husband and wife in order to beget a child who was the Supreme Lord

> Himself.

>

> In due course of time Prsni became pregnant and gave birth to the

> child. The

> Lord spoke to Devaki and Vasudeva: " At that time My name was

> Prsnigarbha. In

> the next millennium also you took birth as Aditi and Kasyapa, and I

> became

> your child of the name Upendra. At that time My form was just like

a

> dwarf,

> and for this reason I was known as Vamanadeva. I gave you the

> benediction

> that I would take birth as your son three times. The first time I

> was known

> as Prsnigarbha, born of Prsni and Sutapa, the next birth I was

> Upendra born

> of Aditi and Kasyapa, and now for the third time I am born as Krsna

> from

> you, Devaki and Vasudeva. I appeared in this Visnu form just to

> convince you

> that I am the same Supreme Personality of Godhead again taken

birth.

> I could

> have appeared just like an ordinary child, but in that way you

would

> not

> believe that I, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, have taken

birth

> in your

> womb. My dear father and mother, you have therefore raised Me many

> times as

> your child, with great affection and love, and I am therefore very

> pleased

> and obliged to you. And I assure you that this time you shall go

> back to

> home, back to Godhead, on account of your perfection in your

> mission. I know

> you are very concerned about Me and afraid of Kamsa. Therefore I

> order you

> to take Me immediately to Gokula and replace Me with the daughter

> who has

> just been born to Yasoda. "

>

> Having spoken thus in the presence of His father and mother, the

> Lord turned

> Himself into an ordinary child and remained silent.

>

> Being ordered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva

> attempted to

> take his son from the delivery room, and exactly at that time, a

> daughter

> was born of Nanda and Yasoda. She was Yogamaya, the internal

potency

> of the

> Lord. By the influence of this internal potency, Yogamaya, all the

> residents

> of Kamsa's palace, especially the doorkeepers, were overwhelmed

with

> deep

> sleep, and all the palace doors opened, although they were barred

and

> shackled with iron chains. The night was very dark, but as soon as

> Vasudeva

> took Krsna on his lap and went out, he could see everything just as

> in the

> sunlight.

>

> In the Caitanya-caritamrta it is said that Krsna is just like

> sunlight, and

> wherever there is Krsna, the illusory energy, which is compared to

> darkness,

> cannot remain. When Vasudeva was carrying Krsna, the darkness of

the

> night

> disappeared. All the prison doors automatically opened. At the same

> time

> there was a thunder in the sky and severe rainfall. While Vasudeva

> was

> carrying his son Krsna in the falling rain, Lord Sesa in the shape

> of a

> serpent spread His hood over the head of Vasudeva so that he would

> not be

> hampered by the rainfall. Vasudeva came onto the bank of the Yamuna

> and saw

> that the water of the Yamuna was roaring with waves and that the

> whole span

> was full of foam. Still, in that furious feature, the river gave

> passage to

> Vasudeva to cross, just as the great Indian Ocean gave a path to

> Lord Rama

> when He was bridging over the gulf. In this way Vasudeva crossed

the

> river

> Yamuna. On the other side, he went to the place of Nanda Maharaja

> situated

> in Gokula, where he saw that all the cowherd men were fast asleep.

> He took

> the opportunity of silently entering into the house of Yasoda, and

> without

> difficulty he replaced his son, taking away the baby girl newly

born

> in the

> house of Yasoda. Then, after entering the house very silently and

> exchanging

> the boy with the girl, he again returned to the prison of Kamsa and

> silently

> put the girl on the lap of Devaki. He again clamped the shackles on

> himself

> so that Kamsa could not recognize that so many things had happened.

>

> Mother Yasoda understood that a child was born of her, but because

> she was

> very tired from the labor of childbirth, she was fast asleep. When

> she

> awoke, she could not remember whether she had given birth to a male

> or a

> female child.

>