Week 13 Reading Notes: Krishna: An Ally of the Pandavas, Part B

Dvivda

He is an ape with the strength of ten thousand elephants. Enraged by his friend, Narakasura's death, he goes to get revenge on Krishna by creating havoc in Anarta.

• Throws boulders on houses
• Churned sea with his hands until coastal villages submerged
• Kidnapped & held people captive 

Balarama stops him with his favorite weapon, a pestle.

Samba & Princess Lakshman

Duryodhana holds an event since it's time for his daughter to get married.

It's ironic how Duryodhana's daughter is named Lakshmana.

Samba (Krishna's son) kidnaps her in front of everyone. He tries to, fight the warriors himself and his overpowered by the Kauravas and is held captive. Narada tells Balarama and he goes to Hastinapura to persuade them to release Samba. It doesn't work so Balarama causes an earthquake in their kingdom with his weapon. They release Samba and his new wife to prevent Balarama from destroying the kingdom and ask him for forgiveness. 

 So it looks like Duryodhana did do his dharma as a king after all. 

Narada Visits Krishna 

Krishna, The Pandavas and Narada converse with Bhishma who is on the bed of Arrows
Image Source: (Ramanarayanadatta astri)

He was curious about how Krishna was living after marrying so many women. Each of his forms were doing regular things with their families. 

A messenger comes to seek Krishna's help. Several kings have been held captive by Jarasandha in Girivraja. Bheema is sent to handle the issue while Krishna attends a ceremony for the Pandavas at the advice of  his council. 

They go disguised as Brahmins and declare a fight with Jarasandha. He refuses to fight Krishna and Arjuna because he doesn't think they are worthy enough but he fights Bheema and even gives him a mace. They both fight with maces.

Jarasandha seems to be somewhat fair. 

The fight went on for days because both men had equal strength and fighting skills. Krishna gives Bheema a hint by breaking a twig. Jarasandha could be defeated if he was broken like a twig since his mother put two halves together to create him.

Jarasandha's son, Sahadeva, became king afterwards.

He was the good guy unlike his father. 

p. 224 The Yajna

The Pandavas prepare for the Yajna ceremony. A prince gets jealous because Krishna is given the first worship. Some people get angry and leave while others were ready to fight Shishupala for insulting Krishna. Krishna tries to calm everyone down but Shishupala tries to attack him and ends up getting his head cut off by Krishna. 

Duryodhana is jealous of the Pandavas wealth after the ceremony and thinks the palace built by Maya is in an illusion. Everyone but Yudhishthira laughed at him so Duryodhana did not attend the ceremony. 

Bibliography

Bhagwat: The Krishna Avatar by Amar Chitra Katha