SB 10.1.34 · Srimad Bhagavatam

Devanagari

पथि प्रग्रहिणं कंसमाभाष्याहाशरीरवाक् अस्यास्त्वामष्टमो गर्भो हन्ता यां वहसेऽबुध ॥ ३४ ॥

Verse text

pathi pragrahiṇaṁ kaṁsam ābhāṣyāhāśarīra-vāk asyās tvām aṣṭamo garbho hantā yāṁ vahase ’budha

Synonyms

pathi — on the way ; pragrahiṇam — who was managing the reins of the horses ; kaṁsam — unto Kaṁsa ; ābhāṣya — addressing ; āha — said ; a — śarīra — vāk — a voice coming from someone whose body was invisible ; asyāḥ — of this girl (Devakī) ; tvām — you ; aṣṭamaḥ — the eighth ; garbhaḥ — pregnancy ; hantā — killer ; yām — her whom ; vahase — you are carrying ; abudha — you foolish rascal .

Translation

While Kaṁsa, controlling the reins of the horses, was driving the chariot along the way, an unembodied voice addressed him, “You foolish rascal, the eighth child of the woman you are carrying will kill you!”

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

While Kaṁsa, controlling the reins of the horses, was driving the chariot along the way, an unembodied voice addressed him, "You foolish rascal, the eighth child of the woman you are carrying will kill you!" KB 10.1.34 The procession was passing very pleasingly, and Kaṁsa was driving the chariot, when suddenly there was a miraculous sound vibrated from the sky which especially announced to Kaṁsa: “Kaṁsa, you are such a fool! You are driving the chariot of your sister and your brother-in-law, but you do not know that the eighth child of this sister will kill you.”

Purport

The omen spoke of aṣṭamo garbhaḥ, referring to the eighth pregnancy, but did not clearly say whether the child was to be a son or a daughter. Even if Kaṁsa were to see that the eighth child of Devakī was a daughter, he should have no doubt that the eighth child was to kill him. According to the Viśva-kośa dictionary, the word garbha means “embryo” and also arbhaka, or “child.” Kaṁsa was affectionate toward his sister, and therefore he had become the chariot driver to carry her and his brother-in-law to their home. The demigods, however, did not want Kaṁsa to be affectionate toward Devakī, and therefore, from an unseen position, they encouraged Kaṁsa to offend her. Moreover, the six sons of Marīci had been cursed to take birth from the womb of Devakī, and upon being killed by Kaṁsa they would be delivered. When Devakī understood that Kaṁsa would be killed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who would appear from her womb, she felt great joy. The word vahase is also significant because it indicates that the ominous vibration condemned Kaṁsa for acting just like a beast of burden by carrying his enemy’s mother.

Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

An unseen voice spoke to kamsa, holding the reins of the horses in his hand."The eighth offspring of she whom you drive on the chariot will kill you." The word garbha is used instead of putra (son), so that when Kamsa saw the eighth children to be a daughter he would not be suspicious. Worrying that Krsna could not kill Kamsa if he were so affectionate to Devaki, the devatas delivered this message from the sky so that Kamsa would antagonize Devaki. Vasudeva had heard from his mother that when he was born, there were sounds of drums announcing the future birth of an incarnation of the Lord. Vasudeva told this to Devaki. Thus, hearing the voice from the sky, she became blissful, for she understood that the Lord would appear in her womb. Also through the message it was understood that the six sons of Marici, being killed by Kamsa, would be delivered from their curse.

Purport (Jiva Goswami)

Kaṁsa was holding the reins (pragrahiṇam). A voice whose body could not been seen (aśarīra-vak) spoke. The expression literally means “voice without a body” but this is metaphorical, like saying “the body of a grinding stone.” (The voice must come from a person with a body.) Or the meaning can also be literal: a voice without a body spoke. Garbhaḥ means child. Viśva-kośa says garbha means an embryo, son or womb. The word “son” was not used because on later, seeing the birth of a daughter, Kaṁsa would not have doubt. Instead of vahase (carry) the word nayase (take to the groom’s house) is found. The meaning is the same. The word vahase has the connotation of carrying her as if he were a conveyance animal. “O fool! You are ignorant that you will be killed child of the person you carry.” Seeing the affection of Kaṁsa for Devakī, the devatā who was speaking feared that Kaṁsa may not do the necessary actions to bring about the Lord’s appearance. Therefore to enrage him, the speech is harsh. The speaker understood however that Kaṁsa could not kill Devakī, since she was related to the Lord.