Krishna-Leela
Krishna-Leela — 18 kandas, 180 questions. From several texts.
There is no critical edition here as there is for the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Krishna's story is spread across the Bhagavata Purana, the Harivamsha and the Vishnu Purana — and these do not agree with one another. So every episode says which text it is found in, and where the texts collide.
- Kamsa and the voice from the sky — A man was told not the date of his death, but its condition
- Midnight, and a river — On the night the guard was heaviest, somebody walked out
- Putana — A beautiful woman came to Gokul, and asked for the child to hold
- Butter, and the universe in a mouth — Every gopi in Gokul had the same complaint, and the same culprit
- Kaliya — At one bend of the Yamuna no birds flew and no animals drank — and one day a ball landed there
- The forest fire — This kanda belongs to the elder brother — but somebody else swallowed the fire
- Govardhan — A boy told a whole village to stop worshipping Indra. Then the sky broke open
- Raas — One night's dance, which over centuries became a whole theology
- Akrura's chariot — The one sent to carry the invitation knew this was no invitation
- Mathura — Entering the city they met three people, and all three were treated differently
- The killing of Kamsa — An uncle invited his nephews to watch a wrestling match — knowing the invitation would be his death
- Sandipani — The teacher asked, as his fee, for the one thing nobody could give
- Uddhava's message (the Bhramara-Gita) — Krishna sent a philosopher to explain. The gopis taunted him and sent him back
- Jarasandha and Ranchhod — He left the field and ran, and that running gave him one of his names
- Dwarka — The sea had given the land, and one day it took it back
- Rukmini — Everyone called it an abduction, but the plan belonged to the one carried away
- The Syamantaka jewel — A jewel went missing, a man died, and the finger pointed at Krishna
- Narakasura and the sixteen thousand — Thousands of women were shut in an asura's palace. Krishna went not only to free them but to give them back their standing
Questions about Krishna-Leela
How is Krishna-Leela divided here?
This retelling of Krishna-Leela has 18 kandas: Kamsa and the voice from the sky, Midnight, and a river, Putana, Butter, and the universe in a mouth, Kaliya, The forest fire, Govardhan, Raas, Akrura's chariot, Mathura, The killing of Kamsa, Sandipani, Uddhava's message (the Bhramara-Gita), Jarasandha and Ranchhod, Dwarka, Rukmini, The Syamantaka jewel, Narakasura and the sixteen thousand.
What is Krishna-Leela about?
The child who stole butter, the flute-player, and the charioteer who spoke the Gita.
What is the source of this retelling?
From several texts.
Is there a quiz on Krishna-Leela?
Yes. Each kanda ends with 10 questions, and behind every right answer there is a short story that explains it. In all, 180 questions.