Scene 1
It is the continuation of the scene from previous episode where Lord Vishnu is talking to his consorts, explaining that the time for Dharma to establish itself over adharma. To explain this further to Bhoodevi and Sridevi, he calls out to Lord Brahma to appear before them.
Brahma foretelling future events to Bhoodevi and Sridevi
Scene 2
Palace of Mathura.King Ugrasena
: Until we destroy Kamsa, we cannot rest in peace!Akrura, the military commander of Yadavas and Krishna's Bhakta
: Why this anger?Ugrasena
: How do I describe the tragic incidents? He has just barged in and destroyed an entire village, leaving them wailing. Will that sin leave us in peace? I have to face the consequences of all his sins and atone for them! If we can ignore him, Mathura will turn into a crematory. I have to bring an end to his atrocities.Akrura
: Have patience. Remember we have fixed Devaki's marriage and we need to exercise patience if we want the marriage to go smoothly.Scene 3
Kamsa feeding Devaki as Ugrasen and Akrura look on
Kamsa with Devaki and Vasudeva after their marriage
Scene 4
A son is born to Devaki. Vasudeva takes him to Kamsa as promised, though Devaki cries pitiably. He presents it before Kamsa. Kamsa unsheaths his sword and rushes to Vasudeva to behead the child, and Vasudeva remains motionless. A delighted Kamsa expresses his appreciation of Vasudeva's strict adherence to his promise. He lets Vasudeva to take back the child to Devaki and surrender only the eighth child to him. Devaki is happy when Vasudeva returns with their child.Bhoodevi and Sridevi are relieved and happy that Devaki's child is saved. Just as they are rejoicing thus, Narada enters the scene, chanting Narayana's name, and they stop the conversation midway, fearing Narada's meddlesome nature.
Sridevi
: Salutations to you, Narada. From which direction are you coming?Narada
: Looks like you are asking this question to change the direction of your conversation.Bhoodevi
: Oh, no! You wander in all the eight directions. So I asked you which direction you were coming from.Narada
: For everyone else, there are eight directions, but for me, I see Narayana wherever I turn, and there is only one direction – the western direction in which Lord Vishnu lives.Sridevi
: It is not easy to enter Vaikuntha for anyone. But you enter it without any constraint.Narada
: My father Brahma came from the nabhi of Lord Vishnu, so Vaikunta is like a grand father's home for me. Whose permission should I seek for entering it?Bhoodevi
: So long as you don't ask for your share in the milky ocean! You keep hovering around Narayana and He always trusts you. How's that?Narada
: Only He realizes my value: others think I am a trouble monger!Sridevi
: You have been touring around the earth. What news do you bring from there?Narada
: Bhooloka is full of corruption. From the door keeper to the minister, everybody wants their cut. You need to open the purse strings for getting the smallest of jobs. The kings are forever interested only in filling their treasuries. The lust for power is driving everyone. Forests are being denuded, turning them barren. In the future, Varuna god will pay a visit to earthlings only in their dreams. All that is ok. But as I was coming here, I heard the name 'Devaki' being mentioned here. What is the matter?Sridevi
: We were talking about the Devaki's giving birth to a baby.Narada
: That's old news. By now, Kamsa would have killed it!Bhoodevi
: That didn't happen. Kamsa spared the baby and he is now with Devaki.Narada is suddenly anxious and leaves in a huff, leaving the two ladies wondering whether they let out some secret they should not have revealed.
Scene 5
Narada enters the court of King Ugrasena singing Kamsa's praise. He is welcomed by King Ugrasena, but he feigns ignorance of the king's identity and wonders if he was Kamsa's body guard. He emphasizes he came to meet Prince Kamsa only.Ugrasena
: I have heard Sage Narada is mischievous, but only today I am witnessing the mischief. Anyway, I am the body guard, though not of Kamsa, but that of Mathura!Narada
: I have come to sing Kamsa's glory.Kamsa
: I did not expect your arrival.Narada
: I always come at the unexpected hour.Kamsa
: You always speak in circumlocution. Tell us the purpose of your visit.Narada
: You talk as though I have come to create trouble. I came only for your welfare. You are the great person who showers boundless affection on your sister and you were even ready to lay your life for her sake.Kamsa
: Who told you that I was ready to lay my life for Devaki?Narada
: Who has to tell me that? Isn't that what's going to happen?Kamsa gets angry, but Narada continues.
Narada
: Your exterior appearance looks hard, but your heart is filled with kindness. Though you know Devaki's child is going to take away your life, you still allow it to live. Wow! that's a great feat! You are an ocean of compassion and a manifestation of renunciation!Kamsa
: Narada, don't irritate me! Only Devaki's eighth child is prophesied to kill me. Killing innocent children is contrary to my valor. That's why I let it free!Narada
: What you say is true, and I understand. But how do you know which is the eighth child? Can you explain to me how you would find that?Kamsa
: Isn't that simple? Eighth child is the one born the eighth time!Narada
: That's your opinion, and I have a doubt in that assertion. Can you clarify?Narada then produces a lotus and asks him if he can specify which is the first and which is the eighth. Kamsa is confused. Then Narada asks him to call eight soldiers to present themselves. Eight soldiers pile in to the hall from the right and the left. Narada asks Kamsa to order the eighth soldier to present himself. Two soldiers, one from either side, come forward and Kamsa looks bewildered. Then Narada says that the exact order of birth is known only to Brahma. After all, an embryo in the uterus can dissolve or can disintegrate under different circumstances and it is difficult to come to a conclusion on the order of their creation.
Having confused Kamsa, Narada leaves the palace, satisfied that his mission is accomplished.
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