More Tales from the Epics

By Geetha Krishnan

A collection of tales from Hindu mythology covering texts like the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Siva Purana etc. This is a set of stories drawn from the books and the author's imagination.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Geetha Krishnan
• Release date: Feb 22, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224061891

Geetha Krishnan

Geetha Krishnan is an author of books derived from the rich and vast spectrum of Indian mythology. A practising Hindu, their books show their deep knowledge of the religion and customs of ancient India. Their books have won many accolades and have been universally praised for the twists they bring to their retellings. Their books Ayana and Pradyutita have made it to the semi finals of SPFBO 2019 and 2020 respectively, and their short story, The Forgotten Son has won an Honourable Mention in The Writers of the Future Contest. Durga was the Runner up of the Rev PIt 2020. 

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GEETHA KRISHNAN

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First published by Geetha Krishnan 2022

Copyright © 2022 by Geetha Krishnan

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, digital, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

Niranjan K (Geetha Krishnan) asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

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This text is the sole product of the author’s imagination and creativity and has not been knowingly influenced by the assistance of or generated by the use of generative text commonly referred to as artificial intelligence or large language model. The cover art is likewise the product of the creativity of the artist listed below and has not been knowingly influenced by or generated in part or in whole by any generative imagery algorithm.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

REPENTANCE

LOVE TRIUMPHANT

AN OATH

THE HOMECOMING

THE ABDUCTION OF SUBHADRA

THE LAST OF THE KURUS

A MOTHER’S DUTY

A MOTHER’S PAIN

A DAY IN HEAVEN

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THERE WAS ONLY DARKNESS NOW. In this all-pervading gloom, Kaikeyi longed for a ray of light for at least a moment. Yet, that longing vanished as soon as it was born. She did not deserve the light. She never had.

She did not know how long she’d been here, in this village at the edge of Ayodhya’s borders. Her sole relief was that none in that village knew her identity. No one looked at her with hatred or anger, or contempt. There was pity and compassion, neither of which she deserved, but she had always been greedy, and she lapped it up, like a thirsty dog at a water bowl.

When was it that she had left the city of Ayodhya and the palace? How many years might have passed since then? Kaikeyi was unable to recall. It was some years after the death of Dasaratha, after Bharata had more or less exiled her from the capital. Even though he himself swore not to set foot in the city till Rama returned, he had banished her as well. She couldn’t remember how long ago it was. Time had become meaningless to her.

In truth, hadn’t her life ended that day? That cursed day which would never fade from her memory? The day she had demanded Rama to be exiled and Bharata to be crowned King? The day when Dasaratha had looked at her, not with love, not with desire, but with horror. There was also grief there, that she had pretended not to see then. Or rather had