Being thus ordered by the god of gods, Jagadhatri (the nurse of the universe) transferred six embryos into the womb of Devaki. And the seventh conception was conveyed into the womb of Rohini after which Hari, for the behoof of the three worlds, entered into the womb of Devaki. And as commanded by the great god, Yogonidrā, on that very day entered into the womb of Yasoda. The portion of Vishnu having descended on earth, the planets moved in auspicious order and the seasons became regular and genial. No body could gaze upon Devaki, invested with light—and beholding her thus dazzling, the minds of the people were disturbed. The celestials, invisible to men and women alike, chanted the praises of Devaki, day and night, from the time that Vishnu entered into her person. They said—"Thou art that Prakriti infinite and subtile, which formerly bore Brahmā in its womb. O nurse of the universe, thou art his words—from thee have sprung the Vedas, O fair damsel, O thou existing perpetually, thou art the very creation and in thy womb is the Sun: thou art the seed of all—thou art the parent of the tri-form Sacrifice. Thou art Sacrifice whence all fruit proceeds—thou art wood whose attrition creates fire. As Aditi thou art the mother of the celestials, as Diti thou art the mother of the Daityas their foes. Thou art light which creates day-thou art humility—the mother of true wisdom; thou art royal policy the mother of order—thou art modesty the mother of affection. Thou art desire from whom love is produced—thou art contentment from which resignation is produced; thou art intelligence, the mother of knowledge, thou art patience the parent of fortitude; thou art heavens whose children are stars, and from thee proceeds all that exists. These and thousand others are thy mighty faculties, O goddess; and numberless are the contents of thy womb, O mother of the universe. That Vishnu, whose real form, nature, name, dimensions are above human conception, is in thy womb, with whom are identical the whole earth, embellished with oceans, rivers, continents, cities, villages, hamlets, towns; all the fires, waters and winds, the stars, asterisms and planets, the sky abounding in variegated cars of the celestials and ether that provides space for all substance; the spheres of earth, sky and heaven; of saints, sages, ascetics and of Brahmā: the white egg of Brahmā, with all its populations of Gods, demons, spirits, snake-gods, fiends, demons, ghosts and imps, men and animals, and whatever creatures have life. Thou art Swahā, thou art Swadhā, thou art wisdom, ambrosia, light and heaven. Thou hast descended upon earth for the preservation of the universe. Have pity upon us, O goddess, and do good unto the world. Be proud of bearing that deity by whom the universe is upheld".
SECTION III.
Parāçara said;—Being thus eulogised by the celestials; Devaki conceived in her womb the lotus-eyed deity—the saviour of the universe. The sun of Achyuta rose in the dawn of Devaki to cause the lotus-petal of the universe to expand. On the day of his birth, all the quarters were lighted up with joy and it gave delight to all people like unto the rays of the moon.
The pious obtained new delight; the strong wind were pacified and the river flowed silently when Janārddana was about to be born. The oceans made music with their murmurings, the Gandharvas began to sing and the Apsaras began to dance. At the time of Janārddana's birth the celestials, stationed in the sky, began to pour flowers and the holy fires glowed with a mild flame. At midnight, when the supporter of all was about to be born, the clouds began to emit low sounds and pour down rain of flowers.
As soon as Anakadundhubhi saw the child, looking like full-blown lotus-petals, having four arms and the mystic mark Sribatsa an his breast; he began to chant his glories in terms of love and respect and represented the fears he entertained of Kansa. Vasudeva said, "I have known thee, O sovereign lord of the celestials, O thou the holder of conch, discus and mace. Be pleased to withhold this thy celestial form, for Kansa will surely destroy me when he will know that thou hast descended in my dwelling". Devaki said,—"God of gods, who art identical with all things, in whose person all the religions of the world exist and who, by illusion, hast assumed the condition of an infant, have pity me, withold thy four-armed shape. Let not Kansa, the wicked son of Diti, know of this birth".
To this Bhagavat replied—"O worshipful dame, I was worshipped by thee before to be born as thy son. Thy prayers have now been granted and I am now born as thy son". So saying he was silent and Vasudeva, taking the babe, went out the same night. The guards and gate-keepers of Mathura were all charmed by Yoganidrā and none of them obstructed the passage of Anakadundhubhi. It was raining heavily at that time and the many-headed serpent Sesha followed Vasudeva spreading his hoods above their heads. And when he, with the child in his arms, crossed the Yamuna, deep as it was and dangerous with numerous whirlpools, the waters were silent and rose not above his knee. On the bank he saw Nanda and others who had come there to bring tribute to Kansa, but they did not see him. At that time Yasoda was also influenced by Yoganidrā, whom she had given birth as her daughter and whom the wise Vasudeva took up, placing his son in her place by the side of the mother. He then speedily came back home. When Yasoda awoke, she found she had been delivered of a boy as black as the dark lotus-leaves; and she was greatly delighted.
Vasudeva, taking the female child of Yasoda, reached his house unperceived and placed the child in the bed of Devaki. He then remained as usual. The guards were awakened by the cry of the new-born babe and starting up they informed Kansa that Devaki had given birth to a child. Kansa immediately went to the house of Vasudeva where he got hold of the infant. Devaki faintingly prevented him, crying out again and again—"Do not destroy it! Do not destroy it". Kansa dashed it against a stone; it at once went up to the sky and expanded into a gigantic figure, having eight arms each bearing a formidable weapon. This terrible figure laughed and said to Kansa. "What benefit have you derived, O Kansa, by hurling me to the ground? He is born who shall destroy thee, the mighty one amongst celestials, who was formerly the destroyer, Considering this do thou accomplish what shall tend to thy welfare". Having said this, the goddess, decorated with heavenly unguents and garlands, and glorified by the spirits of the air, disappeared from the sight of the king of the Bhojas.
SECTION IV.
Parāçara said:—Kansa, greatly disturbed in mind, called together all the leading Asuras, Pralamba, Kesin and others and said to them—"O ye, leading Asuras, Pralamba, Dhenuka, Putanā, Arishta and all others, hear my words. O heroes, the wicked celestials, troubled by my power, have been trying to destroy me—but I do not much care for them. Save murdering the Asuras by fraud, what can the weak Indra and the ascetic Hara or Hari do? What have we to fear from the Adityas, the Vasus, the Agnis or any other of the immortals who have all been defeated by my resistless arms? Have you not seen the king of the celestials, when he had come out into the conflict, quickly fly from the field receiving my arrows upon his back, not bravely upon his breast? When Indra withheld rains from my kingdom, were not the clouds compelled by my arrows to pour water as much as was acquired? Are not all the kings of the earth afraid of my prowess and subject to my orders, save my father Jarasandha? O ye leading and heroic Daityas, I have already got hatred towards the celestials—it has created my laughter that they have been trying to slay me. And it is my fixed determination to inflict still deeper degradation upon those vicious and wicked-minded celestials.
"Let us therefore kill every man who is known for liberality (in making gifts to gods and Brāhmans) and let every man who is celebrated for performing sacrifices be slain; and thus the celestials shall the deprived of the means they live upon. The goddess, who has taken her birth as the child of Devaki, has said to me that he is again born who destroyed me in one of my previous birth. Let us vigorously find out all young children upon earth and let every boy in whom there are signs of unusual vigour, be killed mercilessly".