Kansa came at once, angry yet afraid. He flung open the prison doors and snatched the baby from Devaki's arms. 'The baby is a girl,' said Devaki. 'How can she harm you, brother?' asked Vasudev. 'Will you not spare us at least one child?'

But Kansa was not to be moved. 'This is your eighth child,' roared Kansa. 'Girl or boy, the child must die!' But the baby slipped out of his hands, and shining with a glorious light, flew out of the prison window. All that remained was a laugh and a sweet voice which said, 'Kansa, you cannot kill me! I am Devi, born as a baby to fool you! Your destroyer has been born as foretold, and he is safe! You will die at the hands of Devaki's eighth son!'

Kansa was furious, but there was nothing he could do. 'You will rot in prison forever,' he roared at Devaki and Vasudev. 'I will find your eighth child and kill him, no matter what it takes!'

But Krishna was safe in Gokul, with Nand and Yashodha, who accepted him as their son. Krishna fought all the demons that Kansa sent after him, and when he was twelve years old, killed Kansa himself.

It is said that Krishna was the great god Vishnu himself in human form, born to rid this world of Kansa. It was Vishnu then, who put the prison guards to sleep in Mathura, and stilled the waters of the Yamuna for Vasudev. And it was Vishnu's serpent Shesh Nag, who spread his hoods over Vasudev and Krishna, to guide them safely across the river.

Krishna's birth     
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