The Omen

Chapter 1

Sukadeva Goswami began the narration at the point where Vasudeva and Devaki were being driven home after their wedding ceremony.

While happily steering the chariot, Kamsa, Devaki’s brother, suddenly heard an unembodied voice proclaiming that his sister’s eighth son would kill him! Shocked and bewildered, Kamsa instinctively caught hold of his sister and set about to kill her. Through philosophical reasoning and diplomatic manoeuvering, Vasudeva managed to pacify Kamsa. He convinced the ruthless demon to spare Devaki and instead take each newborn child and kill it.

True to his word, Vasudeva dutifully delivered the first six children of Devaki, all of whom Kamsa mercilessly killed. Interestingly, Kamsa was actually prepared to spare those children, but Narada Muni encouraged him to kill them – the sage was expertly accelerating the appearance of the Lord.