Free Epic Retold: The Mahabharata in Tweets by Chindu Sreedharan

and twist. The old king is limp. The mighty Jarasandha has stopped breathing.
    Panting, I rise. The spectators watch me, stunned and silent.
    Without looking at the broken body at my feet, I make my way out. The crowd parts as I approach.
    I have won. But it doesn’t feel like a victory.



SISUPALA
EPISODE
14
TWEETS
30
    The challenge comes from someone I least expect. Who would have thought Sisupala had the spine?
    The coronation had promised to be a tense affair from the start. Nobody had expected the Kauravas to be pleased with the idea.
    Invitations were sent as per custom. And rulers came from far and wide for the investiture of king of kings on Yudhistira.
    Mostly they came, I suspect, to see what we had made of the wasteland the Kauravas had tricked us into accepting.
    Mayan had outdone himself. The court hall he built for the coronation could rival the palace of gods, its floor paved with blue marble.
    The way he arranged pillars and allowed light to filter through made it appear as if the hall changed shape as one walked around.
    The floor too was deceptive. Where it reflected light, it resembled a body of water from certain angles.
    The Kauravas had fallen prey to Mayan’s magic. Duryodhana took great care not to step in what he thought was water, providing much merriment.
    And now, on the morning of the coronation, the rulers are gathered in the same hall. The priests have finished their preparations.
    Before the ceremony can begin, the assembled rulers must appoint a leader, someone to bless the congregation.
    Trouble begins when Bhishma names Krishna for the honour.
    Resentment is writ on many faces. Clearly, Krishna is not a popular choice. But the kings hesitate to challenge Bhishma’s decision.
    Sisupala stands up quickly and asks, ‘What right has the Yadava cowherd to lead us?’
    I can see many are pleased the question has been asked aloud. But I had not expected the Chedi ruler, one of our cousins, to ask it.
    Bhishma launches into a long speech about Krishna’s qualities. But, sensing he has the crowd’s support, Sisupala interrupts again.
    ‘Why do you argue for the Yadava, patriarch?’ he asks, his ire now directed at Bhishma. ‘What has he done for you?
    ‘Your past is the history of interference on behalf of your kin. Is this Krishna’s reward for plotting the murder of Jarasandha?’
    Sisupala has gone too far. I glance at Yudhistira. He looks flustered. Beside him, Krishna sits composed.
    The king of Chedi has not finished. ‘You kill a great king by trickery. Then you proclaim yourself king of kings!’
    I have had enough. Shaking off Arjuna’s restraining hand, I get up.
    ‘I am the one who killed Jarasandha. In a fair fight. If you are unwilling to accept that, come, discuss it with me.’
    ‘Discuss with you?’ Sisupala scoffs. ‘You are just a blockhead who does what he is told. It is the cowherd I have an issue with!’
    Out of the corner of my eye, I see Krishna rising. The Chedi king’s accusations appear not to have affected him in the least.
    From then on, everything is a blur. Sisupala pushes past me, hand on sword hilt. Krishna’s discus appears in his hand out of nowhere.
    The next thing I notice is blood on the marble.
    Krishna walks over and retrieves his favourite weapon. He stands by the fallen Chedi king, silently challenging the would-be protestors.
    No one rises.
    The tableau ends only when Krishna returns to his seat. Sahadeva signals to the head priest, who hurriedly resumes his chants.
    As the attendants from Chedi approach Sisupala’s body, there are murmurs from the gathering. I see a few kings walking out in protest.
    I look at Krishna. His face is serene.



ROLLING DICE
EPISODE
15
TWEETS
87
    It is Uncle Vidura who comes to invite us to Hastinapur. Apparently, the blind king wishes to bless Yudhistira after his coronation.
    ‘Duryodhana is organizing a feast in your honour,’ Uncle Vidura says. ‘He also invites you to a game of dice