The Earth’s Plea to the Supreme Lord
As the age of Dvāpara drew to its close, Bhū-devī, the Earth goddess, burdened by the weight of wicked kings, demons in disguise, and the decline of dharma, assumed the form of a distressed cow.
With tears in her eyes and sorrow in her heart, she approached Brahmā, the creator.
“O Grandfather! My body trembles. Injustice and cruelty are rampant. The daityas and danavas roam as kings. I can no longer bear the burden of adharma.”
Brahmā, deeply moved, took her along with all the devas to the shore of the Milk Ocean, where the eternal Lord Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu resides.
There, they offered heartfelt prayers, requesting His intervention to restore cosmic balance.
The Lord’s Response and Divine Plan
Though the Lord did not appear directly, Brahmā heard His voice from within, like a thundercloud filled with nectar:
“I shall soon descend to Earth in My original form as Kṛṣṇa, along with Baladeva, to lighten her burden. Let the devas take birth in the Yādava dynasty as powerful beings to assist in My līlās.”
Filled with joy and reverence, the devas departed, preparing to manifest themselves in Mathurā, Vṛndāvana, and Dvārakā as part of the Lord’s plan.
The Devī Devakī and Vasudeva
In the Yadu dynasty, Devakī, the daughter of King Devaka, was married to Vasudeva, a noble and saintly prince.
As they rode their chariot after marriage, Kaṁsa, Devakī’s brother and ruler of Mathurā, acted as the driver. Suddenly, a voice from the sky proclaimed:
“O Kaṁsa! The eighth son of Devakī shall be your slayer!”
Kaṁsa drew his sword to kill his sister on the spot, but Vasudeva, calm and wise, intervened:
“Do not harm your sister. I shall hand over every child born to us. Why fear one not yet born?”
Kaṁsa relented and imprisoned the newlyweds.
The Births and Slayings of the Children
Over the years, Devakī gave birth to six sons, and each time Vasudeva, keeping his word, presented the infant to Kaṁsa, who mercilessly killed them, fearing the prophecy.
The seventh child, Balarāma, was mystically transferred by Yogamāyā into the womb of Rohiṇī, another queen of Vasudeva, residing in Gokula.
When Devakī became pregnant with the eighth child, the universe held its breath.
The Divine Night of Kṛṣṇa’s Appearance
On the auspicious eighth day of the waning moon in the month of Bhādra, as midnight approached and all creation grew still, the Supreme Lord appeared in the prison house of Kaṁsa.
He did not come like an ordinary child but in His four-armed Viṣṇu form, holding the conch, disc, mace, and lotus.
His complexion was like rain-filled clouds, and His beauty radiated like a thousand moons.
Vasudeva and Devakī, overwhelmed with awe, offered full prostrations and heartfelt prayers. They recognized their child as Parabrahman, the Supreme Being, source of all incarnations.
But Kṛṣṇa, through His mystic potency, instructed them:
“Take Me to Gokula and exchange Me with the newborn daughter of Yaśodā and Nanda. She is My Yogamāyā. Fear not.”
The Exchange and Kṛṣṇa’s Protection
Chains fell off. Doors opened silently. The guards slept in deep illusion.
Vasudeva carried the divine child in a basket over his head and crossed the Yamunā, which rose in joy to touch Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet, then parted humbly to let them pass.
In Gokula, Yaśodā had just given birth to a beautiful baby girl. Vasudeva exchanged the babies and returned to Mathurā.
At dawn, Kaṁsa heard the cries and rushed in to kill the child. But Yogamāyā slipped from his hands and flew into the sky, laughing.
“Fool! Your destroyer is already born elsewhere. You cannot stop Him.”
Kaṁsa stood stunned, filled with dread and trembling.
Lessons to Be Learned:
- When dharma declines, the Lord descends to protect His devotees and remove the wicked.
- The appearance of Kṛṣṇa is not mundane but divine and transcendental.
- Fear of death (Kaṁsa’s condition) can never overcome one who is fixed in bhakti (Vasudeva and Devakī).
- Even in times of darkness, the Lord’s plan unfolds perfectly—often in hidden and mysterious ways.
- Those who hear and celebrate the Lord’s appearance become purified and joyful, even in Kali-yuga.
Origin of the Story: Harivaṁśa Purāṇa – Viṣṇu-parva and Śrīmad Bhāgavatam – Canto 10, Chapters 1–3
