*SKANDHA X. CHAP. 4.*
The gates closed again, the gate-keepers woke up and, on hearing a
child's voice, they forthwith informed their King. Kansa had been
anxiously waiting for the birth of this child. So he lost no time in
getting up and appearing before Devaki. He snatched away the child from
her. Devaki remonstrated with her brother praying for the life of her
daughter. Kansa heeded not her words. He raised the child aloft and cast
it down to strike it against a stone. The child slipped away from his
hands, and rose high up. This younger born of Vishnu appeared with eight
hands, bearing eight weapons, -- Dhanus (bow) Sula (spear) Isha (arrow),
Charma (hide protector), Asi (sword), Sankha (conch), Chakra (Disc), and
Gada (club). She had divine garlands and garments and was adorned with
ornaments. Siddhas, Charanas, Gandharvas, Apsarasas, Kinnaras and Nagas
worshiped her with profuse offerings.
"Fool that thou art" she thundered forth, "What if I am killed. He who
shall make an end of thee, thy former enemy, is born somewhere else. Do
not kill other children in vain."
The Goddess Maya then became known by different names in different parts
of the earth.
Kansa was wonder-struck. He removed the fetters of Vasudeva and Devaki
and begged their pardon, saying, "Like a Rakshasa, I have killed your
sons. I do not know what fate awaits me after death. Not only men tell
lies, but the Devas too."
Kansa then called the Daityas together. These sworn enemies of the Devas
heard their master and then broke forth thus: --
"If it be so, O King of Bhoja, we will kill all children, whether ten
days old or not, whether found in towns, villages, or pasture grounds.
What can the Devas do, cowards in battle? They are always afraid of the
sound of thy bow. Dost thou not remember how, pierced by thy arrows,
they fled for their lives. The Devas are only bold when they are safe,
and they indulge in tall talk outside the battle ground. Vishnu seeks
solitude. Siva dwells in forests. Indra has but little might. Brahma is
an ascetic. But still the Devas are enemies. They are not to be
slighted. Therefore engage us, your followers, in digging out the very
root of the Devas, for like disease and sensuality when neglected at
first, they become difficult of suppression. Vishnu is the root of the
Devas, and he represents the eternal religion (Sanatana Dharma _i.e._
Dharma that follows the eternal course of time, or is based on the
eternal truths of nature, hence eternal religion, a term applied to
Hinduism proper). And the roots of Dharma are the Vedas, the Cows, the
Brahmanas, Tapas and Yajna. Therefore by all means, O King, we shall
kill the Deva-knowing, Yajna-performing and ascetic Brahmanas and cows
that supply the sacrificial ghee. Brahmanas, Cows, Vedas, asceticism,
truth, restraint of the senses, restraint of the mind, faith, kindness,
forbearance and sacrifices these are the parts of Vishnu's body.
Therefore the best way to kill him is to kill these. Vishnu, who
pervades all hearts, is the guide of all Devas, the enemy of Asuras. He
is the root of all Devas, including Siva and Brahma."
Kansa approved of this counsel. He directed the Kamarupa bearing (_i.e._
bearing forms at will) Asuras to oppress all good people and they
readily took to their work.