Why Kansa attempted to kill nephew Krishna?

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When greed and power rules one’s mind, morality and sensibility take a backseat. This is exactly what happened to Kansa or (Kamsa), the king of Mathura.

Legend has it that Kansa, who was born to Padmavati and Ugrasena, dethroned his father to take charge as the emperor of Mathura.

It is believed that on the day of Devaki (Kansa’s sister) and Vasudeva’s wedding, Kansa was warned by divine prophecy (akash vani) that his sister’s eighth child would be responsible for his death. On hearing this, an angered and equally petrified Kansa, imprisoned his newly married sister and brother-in-law.

He had actually intended to kill Devaki but Vasudeva pleaded him not to do so. Vasudeva was known for keeping his word and hence even Kansa agreed to not harm Devaki. Vasudeva promised he would himself handover their children to Kansa, so that the latter need not fear death.

Kansa killed 6 children of the helpless couple. Just before the birth of the seventh child, Lord Vishnu asked Goddess Yogmaya to transfer embryo of Shesh Naag from Devaki’s womb to that of Rohini’s (Vasudeva’s first wife), so that the baby could be safe in Gokul. The baby was named Bala Ram.

And on the eight occasion, the Lord himself took birth from Devaki’s womb. The divine powers helped Vasudeva carry the baby safely to Gokul, and place it near Yashoda, who had just delivered a girl child (another divine child).

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When Vasudeva returned to Mathura witsh the girl child, Kansa attempted to kill the baby. But being in an incarnation of Goddess Yogmaya, the baby took its original form and warned Karna of his end.

As Krishna grew up away from Mathura, Kansa made several attempts to kill him with the help of his demon allies, but in the end the inevitable happened.

Kansa and his tyranny were brought to an end by the Lord.