Week 10 Story: Krishna's Fight for Glory

Krishna killing Kansa. Source: Wikimedia

Shri Krishna of Dwarka and Other Stories, by C. A. Kincaid.

Krishna was almost ready to become a man.  He had bested many beasts so far, and to him, it looked like no one could challenge his might.  Krishna began to hear tales of a mighty beast in the forest that was supposedly stronger than any he had faced.  He set out immediately to challenge the beast and test his strength.  When he arrived in the forest he explored around for a bit until he came upon the beasts path of destruction.  Massive trees were snapped in two like twigs along the warpath of this voracious beast and there wasn't a living being in sight.  Krishna followed the path and eventually caught up with the raging beast.  When he arrived at the end of the trail he found a gargantuan Bull that was feasting on the creatures of the forest.  Once the bull noticed Krishna it charged straight for him.  Krishna, without missing a beat, grabs the bull by the horns and launches it 100 meters away, snapping a horn in the process.  Krishna then takes the horn and beats the beast with it until it is a pile of pulp, unrecognizable from its previous form.  Krishna became sad because he thought this beast would prove to be a worthy challenge, but it ended up being just like all the rest.  He accepted that there might not be any being that could challenge him and went home. 

King Kansa, in the meantime, was making preparations to send more assassins and monsters to send after Krishna.  He stopped his preparations when he heard how Krishna had easily beaten the demon bull in the forest.  Kansa didn't even send that monster after Krishna and it was much stronger than anything he had in his arsenal.  Kansa and his consort decided that the best way to deal with Krishna was to lure him to a trap in the form of a grand wrestling tournament where he would summon all of his strongest men to take down Krishna all at once.  They thought that they had better deal with Krishna soon before he becomes a man and no one can challenge him.

Krishna hears of the tournament and is aware of the plot, but still decides that he must go.  He arrives in the city and many fall at his feet worshipping his glory.  Krishna enters the arena and is immediately attacked by all of King Kansa's strongest men.  He beats them all with ease and turns to face Kansa as all of the spectators start to cheer and celebrate his great victory.  Krishna leaps up to Kansa's high throne and drags him to the arena. Kansa, knowing his fate already, gives a pitiful attempt to defend himself and perishes.  Krishna had fullfilled Kansa's prophecy, even though Kansa had tried everything in his power to prevent it. 

Author's Note:  I decided to simplify this story a bit.  I tied Krishna's fight with the bull into his fight with Kansa because it flows a little better and makes more sense that they would be related.  I also removed Balarama to make it more about Krishna vs. Kansa. 

Reading Notes: Shri Krishna of Dwarka Part B

Death of Krishna. Source: Wikimedia

Shri Krishna of Dwarka and Other Stories, by C. A. Kincaid

Chapter 13: The Passing of Krishna

Prince Samba went with some of his friends to play a joke on Vishvamitra and other mighty sages.  Samba dressed as a woman and had his friends ask the sages for a blessing of a child.  Instead, Vishvamitra tells the boys that Samba will have a mace that will destroy the Yadava race.  When Ugrasena heard the story, he ground up the mace and threw the handle and the grounds into the ocean. Someone picked up the handle later and made an arrow with it.

Troubling times started and all of the Yadava men were sent to worship at a temple.  Instead of worshipping they drank and got into a fight.  The fight resulted in all of their deaths but Krishna and Balarama.  Daruka, who had fashioned the arrow from the mace handle, thinking Krishna was a deer shoots him in the foot.  Krishna and Daruka both ascend to heaven and the Yadavas are gone. 

Reading Notes: Shri Krishna of Dwarka Part A

Krishna killing Kansa. Source: Wikimedia

Shri Krishna of Dwarka and Other Stories, by C. A. Kincaid

Chapter 4: The Manhood of Krishna

A new demon that was more powerful than any Krishna had ever faced appears in the forrest near Gokula.  He came in the form of a giant bull.  Krishna happened upon it in the forrest one day and it immediately charged him.  Krishna grabbed it by the horns and drove it back 20 paces.  The bull charged again and Krishna broke its horn off and beat it to death.  

King Kansa contemplates how to deal with his impending doom in Krishna.  He decides to invite them to the palace to kill them while they are young and not at full strength.  They are invited to a wrestling tournament and Krishna decides to attend.  At first Kansa sends an elephant after Krishna and Balarama, but it is quickly defeated.  Krishna and Balarama make quick work of Kinsa's finest wrestlers too.  Krishna finally brings down Kansa and kills him, while Balarama kills Kinsa's brother.  

Week 9 Story: Duryodhana's Defeat

Duryodhana facing off against Yudhishthira (in my story at least). Source: Flickr

Duryodhana in the Lake, from Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie.

Karna had been slain. It was the worst possible outcome for Duryodhana's forces.  He couldn't believe the situation he was in.  Just days ago he was boasting of his superior military strength to the seemingly unassuming force of Yudhishthira, now Yudhishthira's forces were marching on his position now, with not much in their way.  Since Karna was slain, Duryodhana's forces had been scattered and in a panic.  They were still a bigger force, but they had no one leading their movements or devising strategy.  Duryodhana had to pick a new general, or his army would be destroyed in no time at all.  Duryodhana picked Shalya as the next general in command of his army, but by the time he got what little forces Duryodhana had left together, the enemy was already upon them.  Shayla lead Duryodhana's forces in a head on last resort attack on Yudhishthira's encroaching army with disastrous results.  Shayla was slain and the fragments of Duryodhana's forces either dispersed and fled or joined the other side.  Moments before Yudhishthira and his brethren reached Duryodhana's location, Duryodhana fled with his mace to hide away from the coming judgement at the bottom of a lake where he could survive indefinitely .  While he did this most of his brothers were slain by Yudhishthira and his company.  Soon all that remained of Duryodhana's grand army was Ashwathaman, Kripa, Kritavarman, and himself.  It took many days for Yudhishthira's men to discover the location of Duryodhana's hiding place, but eventually Bhima discovered where it was.

When they arrived Yudhishthira called out to Duryodhana saying, "Duryodhana, come forth and face judgment, so your Kingdom can once again be mine."

Duryodhana called back out to Yudhishthira saying, "You can have my kingdom, just leave me at peace, and you can do whatever it is you desire."

Yudhishthira refused this request, citing that he can only claim that which he has rightfully obtained in combat.  Duryodhana accepts this fact and makes a deal with Yudhishthira to fight his forces one by one until he is beaten.  Yudhishthira decides he will deal with Duryodhana immediately so he is the first to face him.  It is a greater risk, but will end the conflict sooner.  Duryodhana emerges from the lake and they begin their fight.  To no ones surprise, Yudhishthira defeats the weakened Duryodhana hastily and claims his Kingdom.

Author's Note: I didn't like how Yudhishthira didn't just take care of Duryodhana immediately, so I changed the story to give it a more abrupt and satisfying end.  

Reading Notes: Mahabharata Part D

Duryodhana hiding  in the lake. Source: Wikimedia

Duryodhana in the Lake, from Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie.

After Karna is defeated Duryodhana's forces start to fall apart.  Kripa tells Duryodhana that he should sue for peace since his defeat is inevitable.  Duryodhana denies this request and says they must fight it out till the end.  Shayla becomes the new leader of Duryodhana's army, but they are soon after defeated, causing Duryodhana to flea with his mace.  He decides to hide at the bottom of a lake because he has the power to survive under water.  Shayla was slayed by Yudhishthira and Duryodhana's army completely fell apart.  As Duryodhana hid, all of his brothers and warriors were killed except a small few that were left.  Yudhishthira's party finds out where Duryodhana is hiding after a long while and go to the lake to confront him. Duryodhana offers to hand over the kingdom to Yudhishthira, but he cannot accept.  Yudhishthira says he can only accept such a thing that he has won in battle.  Duryodhana agrees to fight them if they will fight one by one.  Bhima is the first to face him but he breaks the rules of combat and breaks Duryodhana's knee.  Yudhishthira smacks him and scolds him for what he did.  Krishna prevents Balarama from disciplining Bhima. 

Week 8 Progress

1. I am mostly happy with my progress, but I'vs fallen off of my weekly routine the last two weeks because of other classes ramping up all at the same time.  I enjoy the story assignments and plan to start doing extra credit assignments soon.
2.  I want to start doing extra credit to make up some missed points.

Source: Wikimedia

Week 8 Comments and Feedback

1. The feedback has been very good from fellow students for the most part.  The most useful comments to me are the ones that aren't all positive that actually have some suggestions to make it better. 
2.  I think I have been giving good feedback.  I try to stay positive but at least give one improvement tip to be more constructive.  I think analyzing others writing is a great way to improve your own.
3.  I think I am getting to know the people whose pages  I visit.  It's nice to get a snapshot into other people in this class' lives.  I am happy with my introduction and the comments on it I have received.
4.  I don't know if I have any suggestions for improving the feedback system.  I think it works well as is.  I don't want to change my blog, I think it works well.
5.  I like this image cause I think it's kinda funny and reminds me of some video games I used to play. Source: growthmindsetmemes

Week 7 Story: The Field of Battle

Arjuna and his charioteer Krishna. Source: Wikipedia

From Indian Myth and Legend, by Donald A. Mackenzie

It was the eve of the great battle.  Both sides had been preparing for what felt like an eternity.  Yudhishthira's side was about half the size of Duryodhana but they didn't seem to phased by that gross imbalance of military force.  They were not phased because they had Krishna on their side, and they knew that he would be the one to tip the scales in their favor.  Duryodhana had taken everything from Yudhishthira trough deceit and trickery and didn't have the foresight to see past the military might Krishna had bestowed upon him in leu of his own help, which he gave to Arjuna and Yudhishthira.  Duryodhana could not foresee the great help that Krishna would be for the other side when he took the army over Krishna because he thought that since Krishna would not fight, he would be of no use. 

Duryodhana was so confident of his victory, from his overwhelming military strength that he decides to taunt Yudhishthira, Krishna, and Arjuna.  He sends a messenger telling them, "You guys are weak.  You talk all of this shit, but never follow through.  When this battle starts you dudes are going to get wrecked! I have a bigger and better army and you can't do shit, even with Krishna."  This message angered Krishna who responded with, "For sure bro.  You have no idea how fucked you are, I'm going to wreck your whole army with fire and soon enough you'll have nothing left you scumbag."
Once Duryodhana's army heard Krishna's response to his boasting many became weary of their allegiance to Duryodhana.  They all knew Krishna could ball out and they didn't want to be on the receiving end of it.  Yuyutsu, the half brother of Duryodhana, decides that he can't remain with Duryodhana because he knows him and his entire army is about to get wrecked.  He tells his decision to Duryodhana and leaves him being welcomed openly into Yudhishthira's ranks.  At this point Duryodhana comes to realize his situation, but still decides to meet Yudhishthira's forces in battle, which lets just say it doesn't go well for him. 

Author's Note:  I decide to tell this story with a little more modernized banter between the two sides.  I think it sounds more fun and interesting when told in this way.