including the land of the celestials, with his three foot-steps from Bali (43). It was he, who having divided himself into four portions and taking his birth as Rāma in Dasharatha’s house, killed Ravana (44). For accomplishing the work of gods Vishnu assumes various forms and deceitfully does his own work (45). Forsooth Vishnu, of whom Nārada spoke to me, or Sakra, the king of gods, has now come for bringing about my death (46). In this matter our fear proceeds from Vasudeva; this is even my firm conviction. By his sense we have been reduced to this strait (47). When I met Nārada again in Khatwānga forest that Brāhmana said to me "O Kansa, Vasudeva, in the night, has baffled your great care regarding Devaki’s child (48–49). The daughter, whom you dashed against a stone in that night, is Yashodā’s daughter and know Krishna as Vasudeva’s son (50). Vasudeva, your enemy in the guise of a friend, after due consultation, exchanged the children in night for bringing about your death (51). Having slain on the Vindhya mountain the two sky-ranging Dānavas, Shumbha and Nisumbha, that daughter of Yashoda, sprinkled by the gods, is being worshipped by the dreadful robbers and various animals. She is fond of human and animal sacrifices and confers boon (upon her worshippers) after their hearts (52–53). Embellished with two jars full of wine and blood and adorned with peacock-feathers she has made her own abode, by her own power, in the forest of the Vindhya range. It is filled with cries of proud cocks and crows, abounds in free birds and deer, echoes with the roars of lions, tigers and boars, is thick with trees and covered entirely with woods. The temple is filled with golden vases, chowries, mirrors and is resonant with the sound of thousands of trumpets. The beautiful goddess, the mother of fear unto the enemies, daily lives there with great delight and even the celestials adore her. Nārada has said that the boy who is known as the son of Nanda Gopa, Krishna, will be the agent of many important deeds. The second son that will be born of Vasudeva and pass by the name of Vāsudeva, that kinsman of yours will easily put you to death. He is Vasudeva, the powerful son of Vasudeva. Morally he is my kins-man, but at heart a dreadful enemy (54–61). As a crow, with its beaks fond of flesh, distresses the eyes of a man on whose head it sets its foot, so this Vasudeva, brought up by me in my house, along with his son, kinsmen and fruits, is trying to strike at the root of my family (62–63). A man, after killing an embryo or a cow or a woman, can somehow save himself, but there is no region for an ungrateful person (64). An ungrateful man, who for a selfish end, gives vent to sweet words which prove dangerous in the long run, wends the way of out-castes (65). He, who having his mind bent on iniquity, injures an innocent man, is constrained to wend the way leading to hell (66). On account of our rules of conduct and