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G. K. Bhat
deviation therefore points to, in my opinion, either to a different source than the two puranas, or rather to an early phase of the Krşna legend
I am inclined to think that the early phase looked upon Krsna as the seventh child and some traces of it can be discovered in the existing purāņa version,
The purāņa story clearly states that Kamsa killed six issues of Devaki before the turn came for Krsna The statements in tlie Bhasa play are similar. But the legend now takes a turn. The seventh foetus is no doubt divine; but it is treated as a part of Vişnu called agraja or the elder brother of Krsna by name Sarkarşaņa in the Harivansa and Ananta or Sesa in the Bhagavata. This foetus is transferred to Rohini and at the same time Vişnu enters the womb of Devakr'. As a matter of fact, this could well be treated as the seventh conception, since it is a case of transference and substitution. It seems, therefore, the purāņa legend treats Kışņa as the eighth child, (although it is the seventh conception in order to accommo. date the new idea that Rama or Balarāma is also Devaki's child though born of Roblại and that he too is a divine incarnation. The punning on the name Sankarşaņa appears to be a poetic ingenuity to fit the myth of transference of foetusio.
That Krsna could have been the seventh child but was treated as the eighth in order to accommodate Sankarşaņa or Bala-rāma as the seventh is indirectly supported by another legend which the Harivamsa narrates and mixes up with the birth of Krşña : This legend is of demons, dwelling in the nether world, who were the sons of Kalanemi and known by the name Şad-garbha (lit. six foetuses). They worshipped Brahmā with severe austerities and begged from Him a boou that they would not be killed by gods, semi-divine beings or men, or by the curse of sages or by weapons. This boon was granted. It enraged Hiranyakaśipu as he was bypassed. He cursed these demons that they will be true to their names : They will remain merely as foetuses and will be killed in the womb by their father : the demons are six; Devaki will have six foetuses; and Kamsa will kill them as they lay in the womb. Vişnu on his visit to Patala saw the great demons, Şadgarbhas, being asleep in water in the womb, under the spell of deathsleep. He entered their bodies, revived them, and asked Nidra to arrange that the Şadgarblia demons will be put in Deyaki's womb in due order. It Is further said that Nidra will receive Vişnu's favour for this work and she will be regarded as the goddess of the world. This legend enables the linking of the issues of Devaki and Yasoda, because Nidra or Yogamāyā will be born as Yasoda's child and the exchange easily facilitated: And it also underlines the original detail of only six issues. The supposition therefore, that in the earlier phase Krsna was looked upon as the seventh child
