KRISHNA CORIOLIS#4: Lord of Mathura by Ashok K. Banker Read Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Ashok K. Banker
stepping forward. ‘You said you wanted to eat me alive, did you not? Go ahead then. Here I am. Eat me!’
Agha issued a coughing sound that might have been a peal of delighted laughter.
Then the worm beast turned its maw towards Krishna, raising a cloud of dust.
Krishna stepped into the giant cave-like maw. The instant he set foot onto its inner surface, the overlapping flaps closed like an iris spiralling shut.
Its body shuddered as it began to swallow its prey, moving him forcibly lower down the length of its body to digest him.
7
NANDA heard the sound of the beast before he saw it.
He was leading the main body of the clan’s herds over a hilltop when a deep coughing sound issued from somewhere ahead. The cattle shied momentarily, lowing in puzzlement. The sound was loud, louder than any animal living in these parts could possibly make, and utterly alien in its deep rasping tone.
It was accompanied by a deep rumbling sensation, as the earth itself quivered underfoot. This upset the cattle further, causing some to bolt downhill. Gopas sprinted to head them off and the situation was well under control but Nanda’s heart ran cold as he understood this was yet another asura attack. What else could it be? Things had been so peaceful these past weeks, Yashoda and he had even begun to hope that the worst was over. Despite all that Gargacharya had said, as parents their hearts longed for their Krishna to have a chance at a normal life, playing and frolicking like any normal young gopa.
But now, here was yet another reminder that the devas had a very different fate in store for him.
That was when he saw the beast.
It rose up in a cloud of dust, towering above the tops of the trees in the wooded area to the north-east of Vrindavan where his people seldom ventured. Nanda had explored these parts himself when they first came to dwell here and had written off this region as being inhospitable and uninhabitable. He had had no idea that beyond those dense woods lay several lush green pastures. It had sounded like a miracle when he received news that Krishna and Balarama had found those pastures. But now, looking at the creature that rose from the woods, he wondered if it had indeed been a miracle or a curse.
The creature that towered above the trees resembled an earthworm freshly emerged from the ground, shedding dust and earth and stones from its grimy body. It was enormous, the size of a hundred sala tree trunks clumped together. Rearing up, it swayed from side to side ponderously, like any subterranean creature unfamiliar with the world above the surface. It appeared to be blind, he noted, for he could see no eyes or any other discernible organs. Its maw opened then, wide enough to accommodate the entire herd that roved before Nanda, several thousand heads and more. Its body length stirred sluggishly between the trees, cracking trunks and shaking entire fruit groves till they shed their ripe loads, and he saw that its sinuous body stretched for miles. He clutched his crook tightly, hardly able to comprehend the existence of such a beast, let alone imagine his little Krishna confronting it. His breath caught in his throat at the very thought. What epic new threat was this?
Then the beast’s maw turned towards the hilltop on which Nanda stood, and for a brief moment he could see within that gigantic oral orifice.
He saw the tiny dark form of his beloved Krishna, standing inside the mouth of the beast.
The father in him wanted to cry out and run to his son’s aid. But even in that brief glimpse, he saw Krishna’s stance, as steady and balanced as if standing on solid ground playing his flute. He saw also the deep glow of powerful blue light that exuded from Krishna’s body, spreading outwards to illuminate the dark maw which attempted to consume him and was reminded that this was not merely his adoptive son, it was Vishnu
Agha issued a coughing sound that might have been a peal of delighted laughter.
Then the worm beast turned its maw towards Krishna, raising a cloud of dust.
Krishna stepped into the giant cave-like maw. The instant he set foot onto its inner surface, the overlapping flaps closed like an iris spiralling shut.
Its body shuddered as it began to swallow its prey, moving him forcibly lower down the length of its body to digest him.
7
NANDA heard the sound of the beast before he saw it.
He was leading the main body of the clan’s herds over a hilltop when a deep coughing sound issued from somewhere ahead. The cattle shied momentarily, lowing in puzzlement. The sound was loud, louder than any animal living in these parts could possibly make, and utterly alien in its deep rasping tone.
It was accompanied by a deep rumbling sensation, as the earth itself quivered underfoot. This upset the cattle further, causing some to bolt downhill. Gopas sprinted to head them off and the situation was well under control but Nanda’s heart ran cold as he understood this was yet another asura attack. What else could it be? Things had been so peaceful these past weeks, Yashoda and he had even begun to hope that the worst was over. Despite all that Gargacharya had said, as parents their hearts longed for their Krishna to have a chance at a normal life, playing and frolicking like any normal young gopa.
But now, here was yet another reminder that the devas had a very different fate in store for him.
That was when he saw the beast.
It rose up in a cloud of dust, towering above the tops of the trees in the wooded area to the north-east of Vrindavan where his people seldom ventured. Nanda had explored these parts himself when they first came to dwell here and had written off this region as being inhospitable and uninhabitable. He had had no idea that beyond those dense woods lay several lush green pastures. It had sounded like a miracle when he received news that Krishna and Balarama had found those pastures. But now, looking at the creature that rose from the woods, he wondered if it had indeed been a miracle or a curse.
The creature that towered above the trees resembled an earthworm freshly emerged from the ground, shedding dust and earth and stones from its grimy body. It was enormous, the size of a hundred sala tree trunks clumped together. Rearing up, it swayed from side to side ponderously, like any subterranean creature unfamiliar with the world above the surface. It appeared to be blind, he noted, for he could see no eyes or any other discernible organs. Its maw opened then, wide enough to accommodate the entire herd that roved before Nanda, several thousand heads and more. Its body length stirred sluggishly between the trees, cracking trunks and shaking entire fruit groves till they shed their ripe loads, and he saw that its sinuous body stretched for miles. He clutched his crook tightly, hardly able to comprehend the existence of such a beast, let alone imagine his little Krishna confronting it. His breath caught in his throat at the very thought. What epic new threat was this?
Then the beast’s maw turned towards the hilltop on which Nanda stood, and for a brief moment he could see within that gigantic oral orifice.
He saw the tiny dark form of his beloved Krishna, standing inside the mouth of the beast.
The father in him wanted to cry out and run to his son’s aid. But even in that brief glimpse, he saw Krishna’s stance, as steady and balanced as if standing on solid ground playing his flute. He saw also the deep glow of powerful blue light that exuded from Krishna’s body, spreading outwards to illuminate the dark maw which attempted to consume him and was reminded that this was not merely his adoptive son, it was Vishnu
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