SB 10.1.37

TEXT 37

TEXT

i[qvSaudev ovac
nagaNaqYaGau<aRvaNa( >aaeJaYaXaSk-r" )
Sa k-Qa& >aiGaNaq& hNYaaTa( isYaMauŪahPavRi<

sri-vasudeva uvaca

slaghaniya-gunah surair

bhavan bhoja-yasaskarah

sa katham bhaginim hanyat

striyam udvaha-parvani

sri-vasudevah uvaca-the great personality Vasudeva said; slaghaniya-gunah-a person who possesses praiseworthy qualities; suraih-by great heroes; bhavan-your good self; bhoja-yasah-karah-a brilliant star in the Bhoja dynasty; sah-one such as your good self; katham-how; bhaginim-your sister; hanyat-can kill; striyam-especially a woman; udvaha-parvani-at the time of the marriage ceremony.

TRANSLATION

Vasudeva said: My dear brother-in-law Kamsa, you are the pride of your family, the Bhoja dynasty, and great heroes praise your qualities. How could such a qualified person as you kill a woman, your own sister, especially on the occasion of her marriage?

PURPORT

According to Vedic principles, a brahmana, an old man, a woman, a child or a cow cannot be killed under any circumstances. Vasudeva stressed that Devaki was not only a woman but a member of Kamsa s family. Because she was now married to Vasudeva, she was para-stri, another man's wife, and if such a woman were killed, not only would Kamsa be implicated in sinful activities, but his reputation as king of the Bhoja dynasty would be damaged. Thus Vasudeva tried in many ways to convince Kamsa in order to stop him from killing Devaki.