Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Reading Notes: Kincaid's Shri Krishna of Dwarka Part B

Title: Shri Krishna of Dwarka and Other Stories
Author: C. A. Kincaid
Year: 1920

- One of the nobles of Dwarka is given a jewel from the Sun God. It brings good fortune to good men, and death to bad men. Krishna did not think a noble was worthy of this jewel. A story could be told about Krishna looking down upon those not as fortunate as him.

- To recover the jewel, Krishna and the Bear King were locked in a "death struggle" for 21 days. A story could be told about this struggle.

- After recovering the jewel, the Bear King offers his daughter as a wife to Krishna. Satrajit also offers his daughter to Krishna once the jewel is returned to him. A story could be told about Krishna's first wife becoming jealous and leaving Krishna.

- The Sun God's jewel seems to bring deceit and jealousy among any who covet it. Balarama even believes that Krishna is lying to him about having the jewel.

- After the jewel returned to Dwarka, Balarama and Satyabhama, Krishna's third wife and daughter of Satrajit, both claim the jewel. Krishna could have wed those two so they could share the jewel.

- Krishna's first son was thrown into the ocean by a demon named Sambara. He was swallowed by a fish, but unharmed. The fish was caught by a fisherman who sold the fish to Sambara in the marketplace. This story could be told in a lot more detail.

- Another dice game leads to misfortune and death. I should write a story about dice games becoming illegal.

- Usha and Aniruddha fell in love, married, and lived together in the women's apartments with Aniruddha in hiding. This story could be told more in depth.

- Krishna sometimes seems quick to anger and just as quick to act from his anger. In disposing of Prince Shishupala, he tried once to avoid a fight, then kills him with a discus without a fight. I would have liked to see Krishna at least give Shishupala a chance to fight back before killing him.

Death of Balarama
Image Author: Ramanarayanadatta astri
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

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