Reading Notes: Bhagawat: The Krishna Avatar Part F

I’m back for part 6 of this adventure through this fun comic book. Krishna starts the chapter by having to deal with the invading armies of Jarasandha. He has to do this immediately after defeating the armies of Kalayavana. Krishna tricks Jarasandha by faking his death in a massive fire on the mountain.

Krishna decides to marry Rukmini in this chapter. His reasoning is that she is very beautiful, and that she is also very intelligent. Rukmini is also thinking that she wants to marry Krishna based off the stories she has heard of his exploits and his attractiveness. Rukmini’s brothers are also thinking about a husband for Rukmini. One of them suggests Krishna but he is vehemently vetoed by the eldest brother who hates Krishna. Instead Rukmini is betrothed to Shishupala, a friend of Rukmi, Rukmini’s eldest brother. Rukmini is distressed by this arranged marriage and falls into a deep depression. She sent for a brahmin to help decide how to act. She told the brahmin that she wanted to marry Krishna and nobody else. The brahmin said that she should send a message to Krishna and get him to come save her. She sent the brahmin to deliver this message. Krishna shows up at her wedding in the guise of just attending it. He shows up alone. Balarama followed with the army. Krishna waited till the middle of the ceremony and then he absconded with Rukmini and left everyone scrambling to figure out what happened. All of the armies of the kings attending the wedding follow them and are defeated by Krishna’s army. Krishna humiliated Rukmi and caused him to swear and oath of vengeance.

At the end of the chapter Krishna fights Jambavan, the king of the bears. It is weird to see a bear anthropomorphized so. It is hard to know it is a bear at first glance.

Krishna fighting Jambavana. Screenshot

Bibliography

Bhagawat: The Krishna Avatar. Amar Chitra Katha. Link