Stories Made Simple

  Kamsavati begged her husband. “Don't kill our child. He has done nothing wrong.” Devashravas shouted back at his wife, hiding his guilt and grief behind an aggressive facade. “The soothsayers have proclaimed he will be a blot and danger to our society. As a responsible Yadava royal and the younger brother of the illustrious Vasudeva, I am duty-bound to keep my society safe.” Kamsavati couldn't hide her grief the way her husband did. “It was our desire that brought forth this child. If anyone has to be blamed, it is you and me.” “Stop this nonsense! What has to be done has to be done!” So saying, he snatched his newborn baby from his wailing wife and ordered the servants to restrain her to prevent her from following him. He came to the gate and saw the man waiting there. He glanced at his son, and the warmth of fatherly love seemed to melt his cold heart, just for an instant. He quickly gave the tightly wrapped baby to the man at the gate, “Get rid of it!” The executioner took

Ganga looked down on earth from her heavenly abode and, as usual, was delighted by the sights; verdant valleys, majestic snow-capped mountains, lush green fields, gently-falling, and sometimes, torrential rains, delicate dewdrops on flowers and leaves, and most of all, the joyous inhabitants, the handsome, beautiful human beings going about their lives, happy and carefree, living harmoniously with numerous other life forms.  Ganga enjoyed watching men, women and children as they went about their daily tasks taking everything in their stride; laughing when happy, crying when sad, reacting impetuously, and even imprudently, in anger and frustration, relishing every moment of their lives despite knowing death was imminent.  Ganga wondered at the dichotomous magic of the human world. How could they live so freely knowing they are all going to die one day or the other, despite all the bondages that they are so tightly gripped in?  She was fascinated by the idea of human beings being born an

“Don't go now, my dear husband,” pleaded Queen Kayadhu. “You know I’m pregnant and I need you by my side.” “I’m sorry, Kayadhu,” replied Hiranyakashipu. “I have a duty towards my brother. I have to go into the forest for intense tapas to please Lord Shiva. I need the boon of immortality to avenge my brother’s murder. I cannot rest in peace until I annihilate all the devas including their leader, Vishnu, my brother’s killer.” His eyes blazed fire with hate and anger. When he saw his wife’s scared and forlorn face, he calmed down. “Don't worry, my dear queen. My powerful Asura guards will keep you and our child safe. No harm will come to you. I will return more powerful than before.” Kayadhu watched helplessly as her husband left her alone. She was scared for herself and her child. The enmity between the devas and asuras was so strong that each was always looking for weak spots in the other to attack and conquer. But, she was helpless.  Just as she feared, the devas attacked Hira

Puru stared unseeing into the horizon as the setting sun swathed the entire landscape in its resplendent radiance. The young prince was immune to the beauty of nature because his mind was on a pressing, nagging problem. He knew his father, King Yayati, would call him soon, and he needed to be ready with his answer. Yadu and Turvasu, born to his father’s first wife, Devyani, were already summoned. He himself was the youngest son of his father’s second wife, Sarmistha, and was born after Druhyu and Anu. That his two mothers’ histories were deeply intertwined was one of the primary reasons he was deliberating on his answer to his father’s impending question.  Devyani was the daughter of Shukracharya, the guru of the Asuras. Sarmishtha was the daughter of the Asura king, Vrishaparva. Guru Shukracharya was indispensable to the Asuras considering he was a master of the mritasanjeevani mantra that could revive the dead. Devyani and Sarmistha had been close friends once. However, the friendsh