CHAPTER TWO
Prayers by the Demigods
for Lord Krsna in the Womb
As described in this chapter, when the Supreme Personality of Godhead
entered the womb of Devaki to kill Karnsa, all the demigods understood
that the Lord was living within Devaki’s womb, and therefore in venera-
tion they offered Him the Garbha-stuti prayers.

Karnsa, under the protection of his father-in-law, Jaraésandha, and
with the help of his demoniac friends like Pralamba, Baka, Canira,
Trnavarta, Aghasura, Mustika, Bana and Bhaumasura, began oppressing
the members of the Yadu dynasty. Therefore, the members of the Yadu
dynasty left their homes and sought shelter in such states as Kuru,
Paficdla, Kekaya, Salva and Vidarbha. Only some of them stayed with
Karnsa, as nominal friends.

After Karnsa killed the sad-garbhas, the six sons of Devaki, one after
another, Anantadeva entered Devaki’s womb and was transferred to the
womb of Rohini by the manipulation of Yogamaya, who was following
the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Lord Himself,
who was soon to appear as the eighth son of Devaki, ordered Yogamaya to
take birth from the womb of Yasodadevi. Because Krsna and His po-
tency, Yogamaya, appeared simultaneously as brother and sister, the
world is full of Vaisnavas and Sdktas, and there is certainly some rivalry
between them. Vaisnavas worship the Supreme Lord, whereas saktas, ac-
cording to their desires, worship Yogamaya in forms like Durga,
Bhadrakali and Candika. Following the orders of the Supreme Per-
sonality of Godhead, Yogamaya transferred Baladeva, Sankarsana, the
seventh child of Devaki, from the womb of Devaki to the womb of
Rohini. Because Sankarsana appears in order to increase love of Krsna,
He is known as Baladeva. One may take auspicious strength from Him to
become a devotee of the Lord, and therefore He is also known as
Balabhadra.

After Yogamaya transferred the seventh child of Devaki to the womb
of Rohini, the Supreme Personality of Godhead appeared within the

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