(Image: The Syamantaka Jewel Source: Harekrsna)
I really did not expect Kansa to be defeated so early on in Krishna's story– it came as a bit of a shock! It'd be like if Ravana was defeated by Rama halfway through the story. This occurrence sets Krishna's story apart from Rama's in a major way. There isn't a long build-up to a legendary battle at the end of the story. Krishna fulfills his prophecy in a jiffy– he's the most efficient Indian Epics character that I've read about so far. It'll be interesting to see how a legendary character copes after he has already defeated the big bad in his life. It's kind of like following Luke Skywalker's journey after he defeats Darth Vader. It's good to see how Krishna not only defeats his enemy but also has to rebuild the kingdom that Kansa ruled so tyrannically. It illustrates that evil has long-lasting consequences and that heroism goes beyond fighting giant serpents and vanquishing demon kings– it also involves kindness and wisdom.
Strajit strikes me as a Hanuman character– someone who could be the headliner in his own heroic tale but ends up helping the main hero in his quest. The Syamantaka jewel reminds me of the ring from Lord of the Rings (although less overtly evil). Terrible things befall those who possess it because of its great power. It might be fun to do a story that connects Krishna's story to Lord of the Rings.
Krishna's adventures post-Kansa were not exactly what I expected. The little vignettes (like the imposter king and Balarama's adventures) were fun, but they lacked any real cohesion. Without an antagonist to drive Krishna's efforts, his story seems to lack direction.
It was fun to read about the Mahabharata characters again! Krishna's role in the story is pretty ancillary, but it as interesting to read about characters like Bhishma and Bhima from a more neutral perspective.
Comments
Post a Comment