After bowing to the great sage who had vanished from their sight, the assembled ones journeyed to the summit of the sacred mountain Meru before descending to earth. It was then that the blessed sage Nārada declared that the eighth embryo of Devakī would be born on earth for the sake of Kaṃsa. When Kaṃsa heard these words from Nārada, fury overtook him. In his wrath, he confined both Devakī and Vasudeva within his own house, placing them under strict and unyielding guard. From that time onward, whenever a child was born to Devakī, Vasudeva, as before, would dutifully present the newborn to Kaṃsa, O twice-born ones. By the will of Viṣṇu, the six sons of the demon Hiraṇyakaśipu—known as the Six Embryos—were placed, one after another, into Devakī’s womb through the agency of Nidra, the goddess of sleep. It was then that Yoganidra, the great enchantress and Vaishnavi power, by whom the entire world is veiled in ignorance, was addressed by the Blessed Hari himself. “Go, O Nidra,” said Hari, “at my command, and transfer, one by one, the Six Embryos dwelling in the netherworld into the womb of Devakī. When these are slain by Kaṃsa, then the sinless one known as Shesha, by a portion of himself, will become the seventh in her womb. “In Gokula, Rohiṇī, the wife of Vasudeva, resides. At the time of her delivery, you must transfer the embryo into her womb. Because of fear of the king of the Bhojas, and due to obstructions and restraint, people will say that Devakī’s seventh embryo has fallen. Because of this drawing out, he will be known throughout the world as Sankarṣaṇa, the hero, resplendent like the peak of the white mountain. “Afterwards, I shall be born in the auspicious womb of Devakī; you must go, without delay, to Yaśodā. In the rainy season, on the eighth day of the dark fortnight, at night, I shall be born; and on the ninth day, you will give birth. On Yaśodā’s bed, I shall be placed, and you, O blameless one, by my power, will be carried by Vasudeva from Devakī. “Kaṃsa will seize you, O goddess, and hurl you upon the rocky summit of a mountain, but you will ascend to your place in the sky. Then, Indra, bowing low in reverence, will honor you as his sister after you have been divided into a hundred forms. After slaying Shumbha, Nishumbha, and thousands of other demons, you will adorn the earth with many abodes. “You are prosperity, humility, fame, beauty, the earth, fortitude, modesty, nourishment, dawn, and all that exists. Those who call you Aryā, Durgā, Ambikā in the Vedas, Bhadra, Bhadrakālī, Kṣhemya, or Kṣhemankari—morning and afternoon, those of humble form will praise you, and by my grace, all their desires will be fulfilled. When worshipped with offerings of liquor, meat, and various foods and delicacies, you will grant all desires to people, if you are pleased. By my grace, all of them will always be blessed, without doubt or hesitation. Go, O goddess, as has been declared.” Thus, as the Lord of gods commanded, the Mother of the Universe arranged the placement of the six embryos and drew away another’s embryo as described. When the seventh month under the star Rohiṇī arrived, Hari himself entered the womb of Devakī for the benefit of the three worlds. On that very day, Yoganidrā entered the womb of Yaśodā, just as the Supreme Lord had instructed. Then, O twice-born, the planets moved auspiciously in the heavens; portions of Viṣṇu descended to earth, and the seasons became gentle and favorable. So radiant was Devakī that no one could bear to look upon her; her brilliance disturbed the minds of all who beheld her. Unseen by mortals, hosts of gods praised Devakī, who bore Viṣṇu in her form, day and night. They sang: “You are Svāhā, you are Svadhā, you are knowledge, you are nectar, you are indeed light; you have descended to earth for the protection of all worlds. Be gracious, O goddess; bring auspiciousness to the whole world. For the sake of love, you bear the Lord, by whom the entire universe is sustained.” Thus praised by the gods, Devakī bore in her womb the lotus-eyed Lord, the source of the world’s deliverance. Then, at dawn, for the awakening of the lotus of the universe, the great-souled Acyuta appeared to Devakī. At midnight, as Janārdana, the support of all, was being born, the clouds rumbled softly and the gods showered flowers from above. When Vasudeva beheld the divine child—four-armed, glowing like the petals of a blooming blue lotus, bearing the mark of Śrīvatsa on his chest—his heart overflowed with joy. With loving words, Vasudeva praised the Lord, yet, fearful of Kaṃsa, he made his earnest request: “You are known, O Lord of gods, wielder of conch, discus, and mace. Withdraw this divine form, O god, by your grace. Today itself, Kaṃsa will torment me, knowing you have descended in this temple of mine. “You, who are of infinite forms and embody the entire universe, who even in the womb uphold the worlds with your form—may you, Lord of gods, who reveal the form of a child by your own power, be gracious. Withdraw this four-armed form, O all-pervading one, so that Kaṃsa, destroyer of the Daityas, will not know of your descent. “That which you previously praised me for, desiring a son, O goddess, has today borne fruit; I have been born from your womb.