Garg Samhita-Who is Kamsa (2)

Charoor, Mushtika, Koot, Shala, and Toshala, sons of the king of Mahishmatipuri, were powerful wrestlers eager for combat. Kamsa challenged them, saying if they won, he would serve them, but if he won, they would serve him. One by one, Kamsa defeated each of them with ease—knocking them down, throwing them into the air, and overpowering them with his strength. After defeating them, Kamsa made them his servants and, following sage Narada’s advice, went with them to Mount Pravarashanagiri.

Kamsa proposed an alliance to the gorilla demon Dvivida, defeated him in battle, and made him his servant. He then went to the Rishyamukh forest and defeated the horse-shaped demon Kesi. Afterward, he ascended Mount Mahendra and provoked sage Parshuram by showing off his strength. Parshuram challenged Kamsa to string a divine bow given by Lord Shiva, warning that failure would mean death. Kamsa successfully strung the bow, earning Parshuram's forgiveness. Parshuram gifted him the bow, declaring that whoever breaks it will be Kamsa's killer.

Kamsa, after several conquests, defeated the serpent-bodied demon Aghasura and the bull demon Arishtasura, making them his servants. He then headed north to confront Narakasura, the son of the Earth goddess. In the ensuing battle, Kamsa triumphed over powerful demons like Pralambhasura, Dhenuka, Trinavarta, and Bakasura, leading Narakasura to ally with him. Though Bakasura's sister also came to fight, Kamsa refused, honoring her as a woman and sister figure.

Kamsa then challenged the powerful king of Sambara, who instead chose friendship. He also defeated Vyomasura, Vatsasura, and Kalayavana, who all became his servants. On Sage Narada's advice, Kamsa confronted Banasura, but Lord Shiva intervened and revealed that only Lord Vishnu could kill Kamsa due to divine blessings from Parashurama and Brahma. Hearing this, Banasura too allied with Kamsa.

With a vast alliance of demons from all directions, Kamsa marched to Amravati to wage war against the demigods. A fierce battle followed, where Kamsa's forces triumphed. Indra was brutally defeated, forcing the demigods to flee. Ultimately, Kamsa took over Indra's throne and returned to Mathura in glory.

Though Kamsa was not as scholarly as Ravana of the Tretayuga, he was equally cruel and powerful.

Author's views

Ravana or Kamsa – Who Was More Cruel?

This is an age-old debate. Both Ravana and Kamsa were powerful rulers, yet their cruelty came from different roots.

Ravana, despite his immense knowledge of the Vedas and deep devotion to Lord Shiva, let arrogance and lust destroy him. His obsession with Sita led him down the path of destruction.

Kamsa, on the other hand, was consumed by fear and insecurity. Despite being warned repeatedly, he chose to murder innocent children to avoid his own end. His cruelty was driven by his desire to control fate.

So, who was more cruel? The one who couldn’t control his desire, or the one who couldn’t escape his fear?

What do you think?