Page:Hindu Feasts Fasts and Ceremonies.djvu/115

Rh Vasudeva argued with the tyrant and pacified him by promising to deliver into his hands all the children that Devaki may bring forth. Kamsa satisfied with this assurance desisted from putting his threat into execution, and true to his promise Vasudeva’ handed over to Kamsa’s custody the first six children that were born to Devaki. Balarama, the seventh child of Devaki, was saved by divine interference and Krishna was the eighth son. Of course Kamsa had placed strict guard throughout the palace to prevent the eighth son from being in any way saved. How then was Krishna saved? Vasudeva, as soon as the eighth child was born, took it and went out. The guards placed over the place were all charmed by Yoganidra—a kind of hypnotic sleep.. Rain was pouring down in torrents that night, and to protect the baby from the heavy rain, Sesha, the many-headed serpent, followed Vasudeva and spread his hood over the child’s head. The Jumna was flowing full and it had to be crossed. Though the river was usually deep and dangerous with whirlpools the waters at that time went down, running only knee deep. Thus by divine favour the several obstacles