The Birth of Shri Krishna: Beginning with the Marriage of Vasudeva and Devaki

Among the countless stories in Indian tradition, none shines brighter than the tale of the birth of Lord Shri Krishna, the divine child of Mathura whose life and teachings continue to inspire the world. His story begins not with His birth, but earlier—with the marriage of Vasudeva and Devaki, an event that set the stage for one of the most miraculous births in history.

Devaki was the daughter of King Devaka, a princess of rare beauty and virtue. She was married to Vasudeva, a noble and righteous Yadava prince known for his wisdom and devotion to dharma. Their marriage was celebrated with grandeur, attended by the royal families and people of Mathura. Yet, what began as a joyous occasion soon turned into a moment of terror.

Devaki’s cousin, Kamsa, the powerful and ambitious ruler of Mathura, personally drove the chariot of the newlyweds. But as he escorted them, a divine prophecy thundered forth from the skies: “O Kamsa, beware! The eighth son of Devaki will be the cause of your death.”

Shaken and enraged, Kamsa seized Devaki by her hair, ready to kill her on the spot. Vasudeva, calm and composed, intervened. With wisdom and diplomacy, he pleaded with Kamsa, reminding him that killing his own sister on her wedding day would bring shame and sin. He offered a promise: every child born to Devaki would be handed over to Kamsa. Convinced, though still wary, Kamsa spared Devaki’s life but imprisoned both her and Vasudeva in his palace dungeons.

From that day forward, the couple lived under constant surveillance, locked away as prisoners of fate. True to his word, Vasudeva delivered each child to Kamsa, and with cruel heartlessness, Kamsa killed the newborns one after another. For years, sorrow hung heavy in the prison, yet Vasudeva and Devaki bore their suffering with patience and faith in the divine plan.

Finally, when Devaki conceived her eighth child, the atmosphere changed. The gods and sages rejoiced, for they knew that the Supreme Being Himself would descend to earth. At midnight, in the stillness of the prison cell, Lord Krishna was born—shining with a divine aura, holding the conch, discus, mace, and lotus in His four-armed form before transforming into a beautiful human child.

Vasudeva, guided by divine command, carried the infant across the flooded Yamuna River to the safety of Gokul, where baby Krishna was exchanged with the newborn daughter of Nanda and Yashoda. When Kamsa tried to kill this child, she slipped from his grasp and revealed herself as Yogamaya, declaring that Krishna, the destroyer of his tyranny, was already safe elsewhere.

The birth of Shri Krishna was not merely the arrival of a child but the dawn of hope, joy, and righteousness in a world darkened by oppression. It signified the promise that whenever evil rises, the Divine will descend to restore balance and protect the devoted.

This episode invites listeners to relive the early chapters of Krishna’s story—of courage, prophecy, divine intervention, and the unshakable faith of Vasudeva and Devaki. It is the beginning of a saga that continues to inspire love, devotion, and the eternal triumph of good over evil.