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Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 10: Chapter 4: Verses 15-27
"Oh ! cousin ! Oh ! brother-in-law, alas, many a son of yours has been killed by me, a sinner (as I am), (even) as an ogre may kill his (own) progeny. Having forsworn compassion and disowned my kinsmen and (other) relatives indeed, and (virtually) dead, though breathing, to what (infernal) regions shall I actually descend like a slayer of Brahmanas, a notorious wretch as I am ? Not only mortals but gods as well utter falsehood, putting faith in whom I, a sinner, killed my cousin's babes ! (Pray,) do not lament your sons, who only reaped what they had sown (in their previous existence), 0 highly blessed souls ! Living beings do not, as a rule, live for ever, or at one place (even) so long as they live, being under the control of destiny. As earthen pots come and go (appear and disappear) on the earth, so do bodies (of living beings) in the Self. And even as the earth undergoes no change consequent on the earthly beings undergoing transformation, so the Self (too) does not change consequent on the bodies undergoing changes (in the form of birth, death and soon).
In him who is not really cognizant of this fact arises misapprehension regarding the self (in the form of self-identification with the body, which is other than the self), from which proceeds the notion of difference (between the self and the not-self). Thence come about the union with and separation from other bodies (viz., those of his sons and other near and dear ones) and (the result is that) transmigration (and the resultant harvest of joys and sorrows) does not cease (in his case so long as his aforesaid misapprehension does not disappear. Therefore (although in truth neither they were your sons nor did I kill them), 0 blessed lady, do not sorrow for your sons, though slain by me; for everyone helplessly reaps the fruit of one's own (past) actions.
The fool who does not cognize his (true) self and identifies himself with a (material) body assumes the role of a victim or agent of persecution (only) so long as he feels that 'I am slain or I am the slayer.' (Pray), forgive you both my wickedness; for pious souls (like you) are (as a rule) fond of the afflicted." Saying so, and with his face wet with tears, Kamsa (the brother-in-law of Vasudeva) forthwith clasped the feet of his cousin and her husband. Reassured by the utterance of the (divine) girl, he rid Devaki and Vasudeva of (their) chains, exhibiting his affection (for them). Having vouchsafed her forgiveness to the cousin, who was fully repentant, Devaki gave up her anger as well; while Vasudeva laughingly spoke to him as follows:-"It is precisely as you say, 0 highly blessed one! The feeling in embodied beings .that 'I am this body etc., from which proceeds the distinction that 'this is mine' and 'that is not mine', has its origin in ignorance. Full of grief, delight, fear, hatred, greed, infatuation and pride, those possessed of a differentiating eye, do not perceive God (manifested as the Time-Spirit) destroying beings through the agency of (other) beings by recourse to mutual strife."
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