Advent of Lord Krsna )
form, taste, smell, sound, and touch. In its speculative way, the mind
comes in touch with the objects of sense gratification, and when the living
entity desires a particular type of body, he gets it. Therefore, the body is
an offering by the laws of material nature. The living entity accepts a body
and comes out again into the material world to enjoy or suffer according
to the construction of the body. Unless we have a particular type of body,
we cannot enjoy or suffer according to our mental proclivities inherited
from the previous life. The particular type of body is actually offered to
us according to our mental condition at the time of death.

“The luminous planets like the sun, moon or the stars reflect themselves
in different types of reservoirs, like water, oil or ghee. The reflection
moves according to the movement of the reservoir. The reflection of the
moon is on the water, and the moving water makes the moon also appear
to be moving, but actually the moon is not moving. Similarly, by mental
concoction, the living entity attains different kinds of bodies, although
actually he has no connection with such bodies. But on account of illusion,
being enchanted by the influence of maya, the living entity thinks that
he belongs to a particular type of body. That is the way of conditioned
life. Suppose a living entity is now in a human form of body. He thinks
that he belongs to the human community, or a particular country or
particular place. He identifies himself in that way and unnecessarily
prepares for another body which is not required by him. Such desires and
mental concoctions are the cause of different types of body. The covering
influence of material nature is so strong that the living entity is satisfied
in whatever body he gets, and he identifies with that body with great
pleasure. Therefore, I beg to request you not to be overwhelmed by the
dictation of your mind and body.”

Vasudeva thus requested Kamsa not to be envious of his newly married
sister. One should not be envious of anyone because envy is the cause of
fear both in this world and in the next when one is before Yamaraja (the
lord of punishment after death). Vasudeva appealed to Kamsa on behalf of
Devaki, stating that she was his younger sister. He also appealed at an
auspicious moment, at the time of marriage. A younger sister or brother
are supposed to be protected as one’s children. “The position is overall so
delicate,” Vasudeva reasoned, “that if you kill her, it will go against your
high reputation.”

Vasudeva tried to pacify Kamsa by good instruction as well as by
philosophical discrimination, but Karhsa was not to be pacified because
his association was demoniac. Because of his demoniac associations, he
was always a demon, although born in a very high royal family. A demon
