Text 45] The Atrocities of King Karhsa 317

were very expert at persecuting others; kdma-riipa-dharan—who could
assume any form, according to their own desire; diksu—in all directions;
dénavaén—to the demons; grham dvisat—Karnsa entered his own palace.

TRANSLATION

These demons, the followers of Karnsa, were expert at persecut-
ing others, especially the Vaisnavas, and could assume any form
they desired. After giving these demons permission to go every-
where and persecute the saintly persons, Karhsa entered his palace.

TEXT 45

4 2 wage Fea: |

qat AZIMUT: (Bell

te vai rajah-prakrtayas
tamaséd midha-cetasah

satam vidvesam dcerur
Grad dgata-mrtyavah

te—all the asuric ministers; vai—indeed; rajah-prakrtayah—sur-
charged with the mode of passion; tamasd—overwhelmed by the mode
of ignorance; midha-cetasah—foolish persons; satém—of saintly per-
sons; vidvesam—persecution; dceruh—executed; drat dgata-mrtya-
vah—impending death having already overtaken them.

TRANSLATION

Surcharged with passion and ignorance and not knowing what
was good or bad for them, the asuras, for whom impending death
was waiting, began the persecution of the saintly persons.

PURPORT
As stated in Bhagavad-gita (2.13):

dehino ’smin yatha dehe

kaumdram yauvanam jara
