Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.8.8-9
Ūti· What drives us to actTake Sober Warnings Seriously
“Kaṁsa is both a great diplomat and a very sinful man. Therefore, having heard from Yoga-māyā, the daughter of Devakī, that the child who will kill him has already been born somewhere else, having heard that the eighth pregnancy of Devakī could not bring forth a female child, and having understood your friendship with Vasudeva, Kaṁsa, upon hearing that the purificatory process has been performed by me, the priest of the Yadu dynasty, may certainly consider all these points and suspect that Kṛṣṇa is the son of Devakī and Vasudeva. Then he might take steps to kill Kṛṣṇa. That would be a catastrophe.”
What the purport teaches
- Kaṁsa was both skilled in diplomacy and deeply sinful. He could connect Yoga-māyā’s warning, Devakī’s eighth pregnancy and Nanda Mahārāja’s friendship with Vasudeva.
- The purport explains that Yoga-māyā is the maidservant of Kṛṣṇa and Viṣṇu. Kaṁsa understood that she might have been forbidden to disclose the full truth.
- Garga Muni soberly warned that his performing the ceremony could confirm Kaṁsa’s suspicions. Although earlier demons sent against Kṛṣṇa had not survived, Kaṁsa might take still more severe steps.
Try this today
Listen carefully to one concern raised by another person today before deciding how to act.
Ask yourself
How do I respond when someone thoughtfully warns me about a serious risk?
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.