Indian Children's Favorite Stories. Rosemarie Somaiah

a burst of thunder. Then a great voice boomed from the heavens: “Kamsa, your death has been decided. The eighth child born to Devaki will be the one who will slay you!”

      Kamsa was seized with great fear. In an instant, he had drawn out his sword and grabbed the frightened Devaki by her hair. “Ha!” he roared. “Only if she lives to see that day! I shall slay her before that!” He held the sword at Devaki’s neck.

      Vasudeva, horrified, grabbed Kamsa’s hand and pleaded, “Kamsa, don’t! You love Devaki as a younger sister. She has done you no harm. You should be the one to protect her!”

      But Kamsa pulled away. Seeing that his pleas fell on deaf ears, Vasudeva made one last desperate attempt to save his bride.

      “Kamsa, I promise you, you will have nothing to fear from Devaki,” he said. “I hereby swear that I will hand over every one of our children to you as soon as they are born.”

      Knowing that this was the promise of a nobleman, Kamsa considered it for a while. Then, realizing that the crime he was about to commit in front of so many people would show him to be a demon, he agreed to let Devaki go.

      Soon enough, a child was born to Vasudeva and Devaki. As promised, Vasudeva took the child to Kamsa. At first Kamsa thought he had nothing to fear. After all, he had been warned only of the eighth child. However, confused by all the different advice he was given by his asura ministers, he soon killed the child.

      Having done that, it seemed as if evil finally took control of him. Kamsa even imprisoned his father, King Ugrasena, and took over his kingdom. He caught Vasudeva and Devaki as well. They, too, were thrown into prison.