The Srimad Bhagavatam has enchanted spiritual seekers for centuries with its profound insights, rich narratives, and divine revelations. With twelve cantos encompassing the vast spectrum of dharma, devotion, and divine pastimes, it offers a complete journey from the chaos of the material world to the serenity of God-realization. Among its twelve cantos, the tenth canto is revered as the heart of the Bhagavatam. While narrating Shree Ram's pastimes (leela), Shukadev Goswami, the divine narrator, covered the entire story in just two chapters. He spoke briefly, and then he fell silent. King Parikshit, the eager listener, respected the silence but couldn't contain his longing for the next chapter of divine revelation.
When Shukadev began to speak of Shree Krishna's leela, he recited just two shlokas and paused again. But King Parikshit, filled with devotional yearning, could not accept such brevity. He implored Shukadev Goswami to speak at length, to unveil the glorious and intimate pastimes of Shree Krishna in their full depth and sweetness. And so, the tenth canto unfolds—not briefly, but expansively—spanning 90 rich chapters, making it the longest and most detailed section in the entire Srimad Bhagavatam. The tenth canto reveals not only what happened in Mathura thousands of years ago, but also what happens within the hearts of seekers today—when darkness looms, and the soul waits for divine light.
This blog presents an exploration of the powerful and pivotal events that unfold in the tenth Canto, focusing on the background of Shree Krishna’s advent. It details the lineage of kings, the rise of the tyrant Kansa, and the divine orchestration that led to the incarnation of Shree Krishna.
How Did the Seeds of Divine Drama Take Root in Mathura?
The leela begins in the region of Mathura, king Ugrasen of the Vrishni dynasty ruled with righteousness. His life took a tragic turn when a demon named Dhrumil cast his shadow on Ugrasen’s wife while she was wandering in the forest. The shadow's influence led to the birth of a demonic child—Kansa. King Ugrasen, realizing the unnatural origin of the child, disowned him and set him afloat on a leaf in the river.
The baby floated downstream and was discovered by Shursen, a nobleman from another royal lineage. Shursen was the son of Devamid, who had two sons—Shursen and Parjanya. Interestingly, Shursen identified as a Kshatriya due to his paternal heritage, whereas Parjanya, born of a Vaishya mother, adopted the Vaishya identity. Shursen raised Kansa as his child, unaware of the child’s dark destiny.
As Kansa grew into a youth, the sage Narad appeared and revealed the truth about his origin. Sage Narad’s disclosure ignited fury and ambition in Kansa. He attacked Mathura, overthrew King Ugrasen, and seized the throne. In a ruthless move, he imprisoned both Ugrasen and Devak, Ugrasen’s brother. The stage was set for a reign of terror, and the prophecy of divine intervention began to stir.
What Triggered the Rise of Tyranny Under Kansa?
During Kansa’s reign, a thread of destiny wove its way setting the stage for events to come. Devaki, the sister of Kansa was married to Vasudev. During their wedding procession, Kansa himself drove the chariot, a display of brotherly affection. However, the joyous moment quickly turned ominous when a divine Akashvani (celestial voice) revealed that the eighth child born to Devaki would be the cause of Kansa’s death.
Gripped by fear, Kansa immediately tried to kill Devaki. Vasudev intervened with wisdom and diplomacy. He promised to deliver each child born of Devaki to Kansa. Trusting Vasudev’s truthfulness, Kansa spared Devaki but imprisoned both her and Vasudev.
Kansa unleashed unparalleled terror thereafter. Religious ceremonies were banned, and those who dared to perform Vedic rituals were forced to offer them only in his name: “Om Kansaya Namah Swaha.” Brahmins were tyrannized, and all Vedic rituals came to a stop.
Even the celestial gods were shaken by this tyranny. They approached Lord Vishnu in the Kshirasagar (ocean of milk) and pleaded for deliverance. Lord Shiva advised them to chant the Lord’s names and perform kirtan (devotional singing), the fastest way to invoke the divine. Their prayers were answered with another Akashvani—a promise that the Lord would descend to Earth at the right time.
How Was the Stage Set for the Advent of Shree Krishna?
Vasudev and Devaki’s first child was born amidst great tension. Keeping his promise, Vasudev took the baby to Kansa, who surprisingly felt compassion and let the child live, sending him back. Sage Narad, ever alert to the unfolding divine plan, noticed the danger of such mercy. If Kansa allowed his heart to soften, the precise timing of Shree Krishna’s divine descent might be delayed.
Determined to preserve the divine timeline, sage Narad devised a clever way to ignite fear and uncertainty in Kansa’s mind. He approached Kansa holding a flower and engaged him in a simple exercise. He asked Kansa to count the petals on the flower, which he did—eight in total. Then, sage Narad asked him to identify the eighth petal. As Kansa pointed it out, Narad directed him to count again, but starting from a different petal. The eighth petal changed. He repeated the exercise from yet another point, and again, the result was different.
Through this, Narad subtly drove home a profound realization: the eighth child could be any of Devaki’s children, not necessarily the one born eighth in chronological order. The concept of the “eighth” was relative, not fixed. Kansa, gripped by a fresh wave of paranoia, now saw each child as a possible threat to his life. This unsettled Kansa, who then acted ruthlessly—killing each child as they were born and imprisoning Vasudev and Devaki to prevent the prophecy from coming true.
The divine plan unfolded further with the seventh child of Devaki. Lord Vishnu instructed Yogmaya to transfer the fetus to the womb of Rohini, another wife of Vasudev, residing safely in the village of Braj. This divine child was none other than Anantashesh, the serpent incarnation of the Lord.
Kansa was bewildered by the disappearance of the seventh child. When the eighth child entered Devaki’s womb, the moment of destiny drew near. This child was none other than Shree Krishna himself.
Conclusion
The leela of Kansa’s tyranny and Shree Krishna’s divine birth offers timeless lessons. It reminds us that even in the darkest moments of oppression and fear, hope and righteousness quietly prepare to emerge victorious. Kansa’s reign of terror symbolizes the forces of ego, fear, and injustice that often seek to suppress truth and goodness. Yet, the divine orchestration behind Shree Krishna’s birth teaches us that no amount of cruelty can stop the ultimate triumph of dharma (righteousness).
Moreover, the leela highlights the importance of unwavering faith and strategic wisdom, as exemplified by Vasudev’s courage and Narad’s timely intervention. It teaches that fear should never dictate our actions and that sometimes, patience and faith in a higher plan are necessary while navigating challenges. Above all, it emphasizes the power of divine will and grace, assuring seekers that God restores balance when chaos seems to reign. This eternal truth is echoed in the words of Shree Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita 4.7:
“Whenever there is a decline in righteousness and an increase in unrighteousness, O Arjun, at that time I manifest myself on earth.”
This divine promise assures devotees that the Lord is ever-watchful and will incarnate whenever dharma needs to be reestablished. Shree Krishna’s advent in the Tenth Canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam is a living embodiment of this sacred vow—a testament that in the battle between darkness and light, it is always the light that ultimately prevails.
In reflecting on this leela, readers are inspired to confront their fears and obstacles with courage, trust in the divine timing, and recognize that every hardship is part of a larger, meaningful journey toward spiritual awakening and justice.
Call to Action
Dive deeper into the mesmerizing stores of the Srimad Bhagavatam with Swami Mukundananda on YouTube. Watch the enlightening series on the 10th Canto, where each episode unveils profound life lessons, divine wisdom, and spiritual inspiration from Shree Krishna’s pastimes.
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FAQs
1. Why is the 10th Canto called the "Heart" of the Bhagavatam?
The 10th Canto is referred to as the heart because it narrates the life and pastimes of Shree Krishna, who is the central figure of the Srimad Bhagavatam.
2. Who was Kansa, and how was he related to Krishna?
Kansa was the cousin of Devaki, Shree Krishna’s mother. He was also the ruler of Mathura and became a tyrant after learning that Devaki’s eighth child would be the cause of his death.
3. Why did Vasudev agree to give all his children to Kansa?
To protect Devaki from being killed, Vasudev promised Kansa that he would hand over each child. This act of self-sacrifice exemplified his integrity and courage.
4. What role did Sage Narad play in this leela?
Sage Narad acted as a catalyst. By informing Kansa of his true parentage and manipulating his fears, he helped expedite the Lord’s descent, ensuring the fulfillment of divine prophecy.
Resources
Specific Video
Reading resources
Shukadev: The Eternal Voice of the Srimad Bhagavatam
