kṛṣṇa-advent (v)

Oh scion [telg] of Bharata...

(62-64) beginning with Nanda [Krishna's foster father] all the inhabitants of Vraja, all the cowherds and their wives, as also all the Vrishnis beginning with Vasudeva and Devaki and the Yadu women, in truth were gods from heaven indeed. And also the relatives, friends and well-wishers following Kamsa were of that nature. This was all communicated to Kamsa by the all-powerful Narada who paid him a visit in order to tell him that all the Daityas who burdened the earth were going to be killed.

(65-66) After the rishi had left, Kamsa thought that all the Yadus were divine, and that therefore any child born from Devaki could be Vishnu. He thus in fear of his own death arrested Vasudeva and Devaki, confined them at home in shackles, and killed one after the other, each of their newborn sons, not knowing whether it would be the 'never-born' Lord or not.

(67) Kings like him - who on this earth are driven by animalistic pleasures and greed - usually put to death mothers, fathers, brothers, friends, or anyone else.

(68-69) He had understood [from Narada] as well that he in a previous life as the great Asura Kalanemi personally had been killed by Vishnu. Therefore he, born again in this world, became an enemy of the Yadu dynasty [that carried the blessings of Vishnu]. He, the almighty ruler subdued and imprisoned his own father Ugrasena, the king of the Yadus, Bhojas and Andhakas, so that he could enjoy the states of Shurasena all by himself.

Le Massacre des Innocents

Léon Cogniet