23. Pandu' Death : Episode 23 (28-07-13)

Scene 1

Vasudeva leaves the prison, carrying Baby Krishna overhead in a basket. The door opens automatically and Vasudeva reaches the river Yamuna. Vasudeva walks along on the river bed, as Serpent Adisesha guards the baby from rain. He reaches Gokula and leaves the baby near Yashoda who is fast asleep. He picks up her new-born girl child and starts his return journey.
The palace guards as well as Kamsa are still asleep when Vasudeva returns and lays down the baby girl near Devaki.

Kamsa wakes up and jerks the sleeping guards into waking. He pulls the baby from Devaki's hands despite her pleas and flings it into the air. The baby disappears and a goddess appears before them. She says she is Yogamaya and informs the shocked Kamsa that his destroyer has already taken birth and is safe. She also tells him that Lord Vishnu was his destroyer even in his previous birth as Kalanemi. She warns that Kamsa should mend his ways or else his death was certain.

Scene 2

Kunti and Pandu begin their prayers to Indra once again in full earnest. Indra appears before them and blesses them with his child. He predicts that the boy would be renowned for his valour in all the three worlds. He would please Lord Shiva and receive Pasupata Astra from Him. He would perform Ashwamedha Yagna with the assistance of his brothers and be known as Arjuna.
A demoness called Putana appears before Kamsa and says she was sent by his father to assist him. She assures him that she would suck the baby's blood wherever he was hiding. Kamsa orders his minister to kill all the babies born in the last seven days.
Putana goes to Gokula and, assuming the guise of Yashoda, enters the house to feed the child when Yashoda goes out to fetch water from the river. Nanda, Yashoda's husband and the head of the gopa tribe, who asks Putana in the guise of Yashoda to feed the hungry baby, now finds the real Yashoda coming home from the river. Alarmed, the couple rush home to find Putana dead and are relieved to find Krishna safe.
Yashoda chides the baby for eating but is astounded at finding the entire universe in the child's mouth.

Scene 3

Pandu, finding his second wife Madri looking at Kunti's children playing together with sad eyes, asks Kunti to teach Durvaasa's mantra to Madri. Kunti agrees and the three sit together in meditation. Ashwini twins appear before them and Madri gets two sons.
The children grow and are seen playing together with Kunti. Madri is alone in the cottage when Pandu comes in. He solicits Madri's company and despite her protests, gets intimate with her. A few minutes later, a sobbing Madri comes out of the cottage and asks Kunti to come in, leaving the children outside. Kunti is shocked to find Pandu dead.

Scene 4

In Gokula, a boy witnesses a serpent swallowing a man and runs home frightened. He recounts the story to Nanda. Krishna, who is listening to the narration, rushes to the river. Yashoda is scared and entreats him to return, but Krishna climbs over the serpent's hood, stamps it and dances. The serpent Kalinga begs for mercy.

Krishna directs him to leave Yamuna river and go to the sea. Kalinga says he is worried about Garuda, but Krishna assures him he would be safe because He had stamped his hood wit His feet and this would protect him.
Krishna is embraced by all the family members: his brother Balarama and his foster mother Rohini, Yashoda and Nanda.

Scene 5

Karna, his foster father the charioteer Adiratha and his wife are sitting on the banks of a river. Karna prays to the Sun god. He explains why he loves the Sun so much. A mendicant appears and asks for the milk they have kept for worship. Radha, Karna's foster mother, asks the beggar to wait till the milk was offered to god, but the beggar says he does no want to wait. Karna intervenes and offers the milk to the beggar who is none other than Surya himself. Surya asks Karna to ask for a boon and Karna asks that he should have a magnanimous heart that would never refuse to give anybody any alms they asked him for.

The mendicant blesses Karna with the boon and leaves. Karna's foster parents are happy that their son is pious and a high-thinking soul.