Nilanjana recounts the tale of Krishna in Mathura after he had vanquished Kamsa, in the weekly column. A Different Truths exclusive.

Pariskhit was also moved to tears by the incidents that Sukha was narrating at Mathura.

Sukha continued narrating, “Mathura was now a happy city. Everybody was rejoicing the end of a tyrant. Meanwhile, Krishna went towards the prison where his parents had been held as a captive for so many years. Devaki and Vasudeva had been told about the new turn of events at the palace. Eventually, they got the opportunity to see their sons.

Now, Devaki and Vasudeva were fully aware that their sons were not mere mortals but the incarnation of Narayana. So they felt embarrassed when the sons touched their feet – a custom practiced even today in many parts of the world. Krishna knew that his parents would not behave with them like regular parents. He knew the suffering they had gone through, the imprisonment, the excruciating pain of seeing their children being killed and the sorrow and humiliation that they have experienced.  Devaki and Vasudev did not look upon Krishna and Balaram as parents would. They were devotees who loved the divine. Krishna loved them too. So he decided to reduce their pain by making them forget that divinity was born through them. They would know of Balarama and Krishna as their sons and not as an incarnation of the divine.

Krishna cast the spell of Maya on them and they instantly forgot the truth that Balarama and Krishna are incarnations of God. They embraced their sons as parents and the sons in return promised to look after their parents in their old age.

Krishna then released the old king, Kamsa’s father Ugrasena from captivity. He was requested to take up the role of the king again. The old king refused; he was too old. Krishna reminded him of the curse of Yajati, their ancestor – that no Yadava was allowed to sit on the throne. They said they will support Ugrasena, while he ruled the kingdom.

Krishna called back all those, who had left the city owing to the tyranny of Kamsa. The city was again a city of peace and contentment.

It was time for Nanda and the gopalas to leave for Vrindavan. Krishna embraced his father dearly. Yashoda and Nanda had unconditionally showered all their love on this child. Krishna remembered those days when he would roam around without a care in the world. It was not easy to bid farewell for Nanda or for Krishna. He promised to go and meet Yashoda and the gopisas soon as he could.

Now Krishna had to bid adieu to his playmates, the gopalas. With a very heavy heart, they had to go back without their childhood companion. They were always happy to know that Krishna was by their side and would come to their rescue anytime. Now, those days were far behind.

As Nanda and his people left in the slow and meandering cart, Balarama and Krishna stood still knowing that the carefree days of boyhood were over and they were princes now. 

 (To be continued)

Footnote: Srimad Bhagavatam is often called the Bhagavad Purana. Authored by Ved Vyasa, the stories are about the various avatars (incarnations) of Lord Vishnu, also known as Narayana. These stories are narrated by Ved Vyasa’s son Sukhadeva to King Parikshit.

©Nilanjana Dey

Photos from the Internet

#KrishnaTales #StoriesOfLordKrishna #SrimadBhagavvatam #Nanda #Balarama #Myth&Mythology #DifferentTruths

Nilanjana Dey

A story-teller at heart, Nilanjana Dey is on a journey to experiment with fiction and poetry. Her first novel, largely aimed towards children, is titled ‘The Adventures of Puti – The Cheese Trail’. Her poems have been published at various prestigious portals. An alumni of English Literature from Jadavpur University (Kolkata), she is a marketing and communication professional based in Mumbai. She volunteers with a Mumbai based NGO working with the marginalised sections of the society.

See Full Bio