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".
Having passed these orders Kansa went to his palace and liberated
Vasudeva and Devaki from their captivity. He said to them.—"In vain have
I killed all your children, for he, who is destined to kill me, has
escaped. It is useless to regret the the past. The children, who shall
be born to you after this, may enjoy life till its natural close; no one
shall cut it short". Having thus consoled them, Kansa, greatly terrified
for himself, went into the inner apartments of his palace.