Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.2.4-5
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesDevotees Eagerly Await the Lord’s Appearance
“Some of their relatives, however, began to follow Kaṁsa’s principles and act in his service. After Kaṁsa, the son of Ugrasena, killed the six sons of Devakī, a plenary portion of Kṛṣṇa entered her womb as her seventh child, arousing her pleasure and her lamentation. That plenary portion is celebrated by great sages as Ananta, who belongs to Kṛṣṇa’s second quadruple expansion.”
What the purport teaches
- Some chief devotees, including Akrūra, remained near Kaṁsa for various purposes. They eagerly awaited the appearance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and wanted to witness His pastimes.
- Kaṁsa killed Devakī’s six sons without hesitation. The purport explains that their births involved a curse and that, after being killed, they would return to their original place.
- Ananta entered Devakī’s womb as her seventh child, arousing both pleasure and lamentation. He is Saṅkarṣaṇa, belonging to Kṛṣṇa’s second quadruple expansion.
Try this today
Reread the translation slowly, noticing Devakī’s simultaneous pleasure and lamentation.
Ask yourself
How can you cultivate eagerness to learn about the Lord’s appearance and pastimes?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.