we arrest him and put him on trial”?

“Noooooooooooo…,” the entire palace, virtually the entire

city of Mathurā shook with the force of that no. The bizarre scene

was that every member of Kaṃsa’s Sudharmā Sabhā was standing

up and shouting no. Women were crying and imploring Krishṇa.

Kanhaiya, Kanhaiya, Kanhā, Govindā, Keshava…please, please, please.

Your mother is still locked up. On her honour, don’t spare him. Kill

him, kill him, kill, kill, kill…

‘Krishṇa bowed to the people in every direction. He then gave

an expert blow to Kaṃsa’s carotid artery, and another on his jugular

vein. Kaṃsa was dead.

‘Prabala ran into the inner quarters.

Everyone except Jarāsandha was sobbing. Āchārya asked King

and Queen to do the Purṇāhuti. After the Anuṣhṭhana was over, King

and Queen served food to Āchārya Chanḍakaushika. Saudamini said

loudly, ‘I don’t think Magadha should make an enemy of Krishṇa.’

Jarāsandha swore revenge. Asti and Prāpti kept distant. Prabala

looked mortified. He did not know whether he would be rewarded

for saving the princesses or killed for deserting Kaṃsa. Prāpti placed

a hand on his shoulders and comforted him.

‘Karma, Prabala, karma. Mahārāj was killed by his bad Karma.

Your kriyā was wrong, but your karma was right.’

‘Karma,’ smiled Āchārya. ‘You are right, Prāpti. Kriyā is not Karma.

In Kaṃsa’s case both were wrong. His kriyā was so full of depravity

that his karma had to be bad. If only the queens had not got into the