Free KRISHNA CORIOLIS#6: Fortress of Dwarka by Ashok K. Banker

Krishna’s attention to return to him. He saw the ocean passing by outside the bubbles of air, vast and dark and forbidding. By now they were traveling at a great depth, so deep that sunlight did not penetrate and all was dark and mysterious. The bubbles captured light with them as well, and within their confines, it was as bright as the sunlight in the sky above—as if Krishna had captured entire snatches of air, complete with the sunlight passing through them and trapped them in the bubbles.  

    This light lit up the ocean passing by, and occasionally Tvasta caught glimpses of a few strange beings that moved ponderously through the depths. They were vast and dark in visage and size and inscrutable. He felt himself cringe at the thought of what might happen if one of those sea giants were to penetrate the bubbles or attempt to assault himself and his companions. Even though he knew Krishna and Balarama were capable of taking on any opponents, he still feared for himself. To distract himself, he turned to his Lord again.  

    “My Lord Krishna,” he said. “Tell me everything, in all its detail? I wish to hear the full extent of the tale?”

    Krishna returned from his distant thoughts and looked at Tvasta again. “And so you shall, good Tvasta. For katha-vidya is the foundation of our cultural heritage. Even the great Vedas, the Books of Knowledge which contain the wealth of our collective wisdom from ages past, convey their greatest messages through the medium of katha. Story is the highest form of shared knowledge, the most exalted form of learning. No mere recitation of facts and numerals can equal the insights conveyed through a simple story effectively narrated. Listen now and I shall tell you the rest of Uttanka’s tale. For there is a message within it that concerns yourself.”

    ***

    It was a long distance to the palace of Raja Paushya and while he was walking, Uttanka saw upon the road the largest bull he had ever seen in his life. Seated atop the bull was the largest man he had ever seen! Intrigued by this extraordinary sight, Uttanka slowed to stare at the enormous bull and the giant seated atop it.  

    As he was staring at them curiously, the man called out to him. ‘Uttanka!’  

    He was startled to hear his name shouted by a stranger. The man called out to him, ‘Uttanka, eat the dung of this bull!’ Uttanka recoiled in disgust at the very thought. Naturally he did not comply with the giant’s request. Once again the giant called out, ‘Uttanka, eat it without hesitation. Your guru himself has eaten in his time.’  
    Despite his disgust, Uttanka felt a powerful urge to do as the stranger said. Somehow, he overcame his repulsion and ate the bull’s fetid dung and even drank its urine.  
    Soon afterward, Uttanka reached the palace of Raja Paushya and went before the king. He introduced himself and announced, ‘Raje, I am the disciple of your guru Rishi Veda.’ King Paushya replied warmly, ‘Then you are as a god to me. Speak. What can I do for you?’  
    Uttanka told him about the earrings his queen possessed, which were desired by Rishi Veda’s wife, to wear for the ceremony before the brahmins. ‘I beg you to give me the earrings that I may present them to my guru’s wife as my guru-dakshina.’ Paushya answered without hesitation: ‘Of course. Go directly into the queen’s palace and ask for my wife. Tell her I sent you and you shall have what you desire.’  
    Pleased to hear this, Uttanka went into the inner apartments of the palace of the queen. He searched everywhere but could not find the queen.  
    Returning to the king, he said with some irritation: ‘Raje, you ought not to have lied to me. You said the queen was in her palace but I looked everywhere and could find no trace of her.’  
    Paushya was taken aback at first, then thought for a moment.  
    Finally he said, ‘There can be only one explanation. You must be somehow impure or polluted. Since she is a faithful