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Traditional story (retold)
Part 1: Kansa's Tyranny
In the Dvapara Yuga a king named Ugrasena ruled the city of Mathura. His son Kansa was very strong, but cruel and arrogant. In his greed for power he imprisoned his father Ugrasena in a dungeon and made himself king. The people were tormented by his tyranny.
Part 2: The Voice from the Sky
Kansa had a sister, Devaki. He loved her very much. Devaki's marriage was fixed with Vasudeva. After the wedding Kansa himself drove the chariot to see his sister off to her in-laws' house. Just then a voice came from the sky: "O Kansa, the sister you are sending off with such affection, her eighth child will be your death."
Hearing this, Kansa's love turned to anger. He drew his sword to kill Devaki. Vasudeva folded his hands and said, "Kansa, what is Devaki's fault? Do not kill her. We will hand over to you every child of hers as soon as it is born." Kansa accepted Vasudeva's word, but shut them both in prison.
Part 3: The Children in the Prison
Devaki's first child was born in the prison. According to his promise Vasudeva handed it over to Kansa. Kansa killed it. In this way he killed six children. As the seventh, by the Lord's remaining Maya the womb was transferred to the womb of Rohini, and Balarama was born. It was said among the people that Devaki had miscarried.
Part 4: The Birth of Shri Krishna
At midnight on Bhadrapada Krishna Ashtami, under the Rohini nakshatra, Lord Vishnu himself was born as Devaki's eighth child in the form of Krishna. At that moment a divine light spread in the prison. Vasudeva and Devaki saw the Lord standing before them in his four-armed form, holding the conch, discus, mace and lotus. They bowed with folded hands. The Lord said, "Take me to Nanda Baba's house in Gokul and bring the girl born there here." Saying this, he became an ordinary infant.
Part 5: Across the Yamuna to Gokul
At that moment all the guards of the prison fell into a deep sleep. Vasudeva's chains opened by themselves. All the doors of the prison opened by themselves. Vasudeva placed the newborn Krishna in a basket, lifted it on his head and set out for Gokul.
Outside, heavy rain was falling. The river Yamuna was in flood. When Vasudeva reached the bank of the Yamuna he became anxious. But as soon as he put his foot in the water, the Yamuna stilled her waters and gave way. The serpent Shesha spread his hoods and protected the child from the rain. The Yamuna raised her water to touch Shri Krishna's feet and then grew calm and gave the path.
Vasudeva reached Gokul. In Nanda Baba's house Yashoda had given birth to a girl and was fast asleep. Vasudeva laid Krishna down beside Yashoda and returned with the girl. As soon as he reached the prison, the doors closed again, the chains were back on and the guards woke up.
Part 6: Kansa and Yogamaya
Hearing the baby girl's cry, the guards ran and gave the news to Kansa. Kansa came running and snatched the girl from Devaki's hands. He tried to dash her on a stone, but she slipped from his hands and flew into the sky, and appearing in a divine form said, "O Kansa, the one who will kill you has been born elsewhere and is safe." Saying this she vanished.
Part 7: The Celebration in Gokul and the End of Kansa
Kansa was filled with fear and anger. Meanwhile in Gokul, in the courtyard of Nanda and Yashoda, the birth of Krishna began to be celebrated. The people of Gokul celebrated with song and dance. Later Krishna destroyed the demons sent by Kansa, such as Putana, Shakatasura and Trinavarta, and finally went to Mathura and killed Kansa. He made Ugrasena king again and freed his parents from the prison.
From that time the Krishna Ashtami of Bhadrapada has been celebrated as the birth festival of Shri Krishna. The devotee who keeps the vrat and worship on this day with faith and listens to the katha has his sins cut away and receives the grace of Lord Krishna.
Thus ends the complete Janmashtami Katha