In the ancient city of Mathura, the people lived under a shadow of fear, subject to the oppressive rule of their tyrant king, Kansa. Known for his ruthlessness and hunger for power, Kansa ruled with an iron fist, showing no mercy to those who dared defy him. His court was known for its severity, and the people whispered about his cruelty. Despite his oppressive rule, the people of Mathura continued to hold onto hope, offering prayers for deliverance from the godless regime. Little did they know that a prophecy would soon ignite the spark of hope in their hearts.
Kansa’s life took a dramatic turn at the wedding ceremony of his beloved sister, Devaki, and Vasudeva, a nobleman of the Yadu dynasty. The event was grand, attended by royalty and nobles from distant lands. In a rare show of affection, Kansa personally took charge of the wedding arrangements and decided to drive the newlyweds to their home himself. His love for Devaki was undeniable, and this joyous occasion seemed to soften his otherwise cold demeanor.
The Kansa
As Kansa was about to depart with Devaki and Vasudeva in a grand chariot, a sudden voice boomed from the sky, stopping him in his tracks. It was an ethereal voice, powerful and commanding, echoing through the air with a divine resonance. The voice announced, “Kansa, beware! The eighth child born to Devaki will be your doom.” The prophecy hung in the air, its words reverberating like thunder, striking fear into Kansa’s heart. He froze, gripped by a terror he had never before known.
The joy and warmth in Kansa’s eyes vanished instantly. His face darkened with anger and paranoia, as thoughts of betrayal flooded his mind. Aware of the prophecy’s power and his own mortal limits, he was consumed by dread. In that moment, his love for Devaki was eclipsed by his fear of death. The tyrant in him took over, and the brutal ruler within him refused to allow any chance of the prophecy coming true.
Ignoring the protests and pleas of the newlyweds, Kansa seized Devaki by the wrist, his fingers gripping her arm with a force that left her trembling. Devaki, shocked and terrified, begged her brother to reconsider, but her cries fell on deaf ears. Kansa’s mind was fixed on only one thing: eliminating any threat to his life, even if that meant harming his own flesh and blood.
To prevent the prophecy from unfolding, Kansa ordered that Devaki and Vasudeva be imprisoned. The guards quickly obeyed his command, dragging the couple to a fortified prison within the palace walls. In his twisted mind, Kansa believed that by imprisoning his sister, he could control her fate and that of her children. He did not care that this act would shatter their bond; his only concern was to remain in power.
Locked away in a dark, cold cell, Devaki and Vasudeva could only look at each other in despair. They knew that as long as Kansa feared the prophecy, he would not hesitate to harm their children. Kansa’s heart had turned to stone, and he had transformed from a loving brother into a merciless tyrant, willing to go to any lengths to secure his survival.
With each passing day, Kansa’s cruelty deepened. He appointed guards to watch over the prison, ensuring that no one could interfere with his plans. The once-celebrated warrior king became obsessed with his impending doom, seeing signs and omens everywhere. No measure was too extreme for him in his quest to ensure that the prophecy would not be fulfilled. Driven by an insatiable desire for control, he devoted himself entirely to eliminating the threat that Devaki’s offspring posed.
Devaki became pregnant
Soon, Devaki became pregnant. Each time she bore a child, Kansa would wait outside the prison cell with a cold, steely resolve. Devaki’s heart shattered each time she saw her newborn child taken away, only to meet a tragic fate at her brother’s hands. Her cries echoed through the prison walls, her grief palpable, but Kansa’s heart remained unmoved. The tyranny of Kansa knew no bounds, and his cruelty towards his own blood only served to deepen his image as a ruler who cared for nothing and no one but himself.
The cycle of sorrow and despair repeated six times. Each of Devaki’s first six children was born in captivity, and each one was mercilessly slain by Kansa. Vasudeva, a noble man of strength and virtue, could only watch in helpless rage and heartbreak as his children were torn from them. His mind tormented him, as he felt both the burden of the prophecy and the pain of fatherhood stolen away from him. He tried to console Devaki, sharing in her grief, but their agony was immeasurable.
The gods above, too, observed these events with sorrow and compassion. Devaki and Vasudeva’s suffering did not go unnoticed, and the cries of the innocent children filled the heavens. The gods knew that the time was nearing when divine intervention would be required. As the celestial beings watched the suffering of these devoted souls, plans began to form, and they resolved to take action. Kansa’s sins and the suffering of the people of Mathura could not go unpunished. The world needed a savior, and that savior would be born soon.
Kansa remained ignorant of the brewing storm in the heavens. Obsessed with his own mortality, he had no idea that his actions were setting into motion a divine plan far beyond his control. His fear had driven him to unimaginable cruelty, but it would soon become clear that no mortal, however powerful, could escape the justice of the universe.
Then came the day of the seventh pregnancy. The gods, unwilling to let this child fall into Kansa’s hands, transferred the embryo from Devaki’s womb to that of Rohini, Vasudeva’s other wife who lived in secrecy in Vrindavan. Thus was born Balarama, Krishna’s elder brother and the harbinger of justice, even though Kansa was led to believe that the child was lost.
As the eighth pregnancy began, the heavens stirred. The stars aligned, and the cosmic forces came together in preparation for a miraculous birth. Devaki and Vasudeva, despite their suffering, held onto their faith. They knew that a divine force was at work, guiding them through this dark time.
Though imprisoned, they believed that their eighth child was destined to bring liberation—not only to them but to all of Mathura. This faith gave them strength, even as they faced the heart-wrenching reality of their lives. Unbeknownst to Kansa, his doom was drawing nearer with each passing day. The prophecy, which he had tried so hard to suppress, would soon be fulfilled. And the savior of Mathura was about to be born.
