Last week, my nephew Ashwin had conjunctivitis. So he had to stay at home. Since the doctor had asked not to strain the eyes, TV, computer games, and cartoon books were banned. So keeping Ashwin entertained became my primary job.
Since almost all the stories that I know and I made up have been already told several times with several variations I had to find something else. So I asked him which story he preferred. He told me that he would prefer to hear the story of Krishna.
So I started narrating the story. “There was a king called Kamsa. He was a bad king. He had a sister. Her name was Devaki. Even though Kamsa was a cruel and violent person, he was very fond of his sister. Devaki got married to a person called Vasudeva. After marriage, Kamsa was driving Vasudeva and Devaki to Vasudeva’s house. On the way, there was a voice from the sky—“Kamsa, Devaki’s eighth son will kill you!”
I will not bore you with the story as most of you know it. There was no problem until I reached the point where Vasudeva took the young Krishna to Gokul.
Devaki gave birth to her eighth child, Krishna, during a cold rainy night. It was raining heavily and there was heavy storms, thunder, and lightning. As soon as the child was born, Vasudeva’s chains fell off and the prison doors opened as if by magic. Vasudeva looked out and saw the guards in deep sleep. Picking up the child, Vasudeva placed him in a basket. He took the basket and started walking to Gokul.
Suddenly Ashwin asked “Why Vasudeva had to walk?”
What is wrong in walking?
He could have gone in a magic carpet.
But there was no magic carpet at that time.
But walking in the rain is too difficult. It is too hard.
Some things in life, you have to do the hard way.
Like what?
Good question.
That is something you always say when you don’t know the answer.
[&@#^$%@]
OK… Give me an example.
Jesus carried the cross to the top of the mountain; he could have used his powers.
Oh…like that.
Yeah, like that.
Vasudeva placed the young Krishna in a basket and carried him and walked to Gokul in that rain and storm. Gokul was on the opposite bank of the river Yamuna. Because of the heavy rain, the river Yamuna was flooded. Vasudeva didn’t know how to cross Yamuna when the water level was so high and the current so strong. So he started praying for help.
Ashwin interrupted my narration again “No, it is not like that. “
What is not like what?
When Vasudeva reached the banks of river Yamuna, there was a man standing there.
Who was it?
It was Moses!
Whattttttttttt!!!! How did Moses arrive on the banks of Yamuna?
Because God asked him to go.
How did God know that Vasudeva was at the banks Yamuna?
Don’t you know that God knows everything that is happening in the world?
Yes, that is true. [God please help me…]. But why would God ask Moses to go to the banks of Yamuna?
Because he knew that Yamuna was flooded and Krishna needed help.
But Krishna also had powers.
But he was just a baby; you can only perform miracles when you become old.
Why is that?
It is like that. Even Jesus performed his first miracle only after he became old.
Okay, but that is Jesus and this is Krishna.
Jesus and Krishna are friends.
How is that possible?
Uh-oh… you don’t know anything. Both of them live in heaven. And they are neighbors and good friends.
You know a lot of things that I don’t know.
You should watch more TV.
So Moses was standing on the banks of Yamuna when Vasudeva reached three. Moses raised his hands and the waters of Yamuna parted and made way for Vasudeva. Vasudeva then crossed the Yamuna and reached Gokul.
And that is how Moses helped Krishna!!!
Then I asked my nephew, “If Jesus and Krishna are friends, why are people fighting in their name?”
Pat came the reply, “Because they are fools!”
So adorable… indeed a hard job to keep Ashwin occupied.
Congrats on getting published in RD. I haven’t read it yet, so when u get a chance can u please scan it for me … plz…
wow that was too good.. Many a times kids know more and they make us think..
Another Ashwin Gem, the boy seems to be following his uncle’s footsteps intelligence wise. Thanks for sharing this.
“Then I asked my nephew, “If Jesus and Krishna are friends, why are people fighting in their name?”
Pat came the reply, “Because they are fools!”
BRILLIANT ANSWER..! 🙂
Love n kisses for Ashwin ..and for Irene ,too.
Ha ha awesome… Kids these days are tooooo intelligent…
This reminds me of a joke i read somewhere though am not sure whether its allowed here… Well i ll just post it 😉
Teacher was teaching mahabaratha to 6th class studs. “Kamsa heard devaki’s 8th son wud kill him.So he put devaki &vasudev in prison. 1st child born.Kamsa kills it by poison. 2nd son Kamsa kills by sword. 3rd is born…”
At this point a boy raises his hand for a doubt. The teacher is surprised & asks wat?
D boy says “if kamsa knew tat the 8th son wud kill him,then why did he put devaki & vasudev in same cell?”
Teachr faints!
Generation gap !… 😛 😀
Thanu: Thanks. and yes, it is very difficult to keep kids at this age occupied.
Dhanya: Thanks Dhanya.
Paresh: Thank you buddy. How are you and nice poem on your blog.
Sheeba: Thanks Sheeba. Will pass the love n kisses 🙂
Raghav: Thanks buddy. That was a really fantastic joke. And it’s a excellent good question!!!
Perhaps Ashwin would like to take the Mahabharata and the Bible to the 21st century and do a ‘remix’!
That was funny!
I wish people fighting in the name of religion get few lessons from ashwin. That’s why its said “Child is the father of man”
Keep it up Ashwin
@ Alexis: Glad you liked my joke… And yeah its a interesting point to be noted… And i have one more question too… If kamsa heard that devaki’s eighth son is gonna kill him why should he kill the first seven.. Wouldnt it be much simpler if he left em all alive and tried to kill the eighth… lol… Funny…
good one
Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings!
seems like my comment has gone missing!!
And as Ashwin gets older he will discover that way back then surface tension of water was quite strong and it was exactly why Jesus walked on water…I guess as he learns more he will have more questions for you..
Hasnt he yet asked you about the story in which Jesus heals the ears of a solidier which was cut off by Pathrosleha during that betrayal sequence..it reminds me of the scolding i got in Sunday class when i was kid during which i obviously mentioned Fevicol was used back then…After that incident I never did try to find scientific explanations for everything!![;-P]
nice post..this kid doesnt stop amusing me…
Spoken just like a child. Wish I had that clarity of thought!!
There is this anecdote of a Dad telling his kid the story of Krishna. When the narration reached the stage where Kamsa kills the babies one by one, the kid quite puzzled asks his Dad
” If Kamsa was killing the babies then why did they keep having babies??”
Howzzat!! 😛
oop saw Ragjav’s comment just now. It is another version of the same story 🙂
Alexis, you write beautifully. My English Lecturer would have approved. The Language is simple and lucid..so difficult to write in this fashion.
Regards
Nandini
Reshmi: I don’t to give him any new ideas!
Anurekha: Thanks Anu.
Raghav: There is some reason behind that. Actually Kamsa had agree to spare the first seven children when Vasudeva, handed over the first kid. But I think, it was Narada who told about the story of Kamsa’s previous life and how he was killed by Lord Vishnu, which made Kamsa angry and he killed all the kids and imprisioned Devaki and Vasudeva.
Harimohan: Thanks Hari…
Annie: Very true…
mathew: Surface tension of water and Fevicol for healing the ears …LOL. I hope he will have more questions.
Anju: Kids are very clear and their thought process is not complicated. That is why they often surprises us.
Nandini: Thanks Nandini.
Kiddo is one brilliant boy ! I dont think I would have come up with such a spontaneous spark!! As he grows up, am sure you will have to face many like this 🙂
LOL at Mathew’s fevicol number 🙂
Shn
from the mouths of babes, do often come the most profound obeservations…!
Was a good read.
What you said is very true. Kids have uncomplicated thought process.
actually,I have a doubt in the krishna story,Kamsa knew tat only the eight child would kill him,Then why did he put vasudeva and devaki in the same prison cell,he could have definitely saved a lot of trouble if they were put in diff cells.
Well,fools deserve to die dont they 🙂
Sorry,i just comment by raghav,The question has already been asked……sorry to have repeated…
🙂
The final reply from him was great…..even a child is clear that the fanatics are fools…………we have to check whether the so called “adults” (ourselves!!!) shud be called “grown-ups” as of now or something else……
nice post btw……hope u r having nice time with the kids….. 🙂 A kiss for him….. *muaH*…hope he is fine past the red eye…… 🙂
Loved that last part, Alexis. 🙂 Children are of course pure!
Really i miss u both…. ( Alexis sir and aswin)
while reading “Did moses helpd Krishna”… i visualised u both ..
wow that is great moment….. you made me to think of my
‘Achaa”.. thanx.. i never forget you sir
Mishmash! : Yes, I know. That will be fun as well as challenging…
poison : Very true…
Sandeep: Thanks Sandeep. Yes, uncomplicated—that is what the grownups lack 🙂
gireesh: No problems …
emmanuel: Thanks buddy. Yes, he has recovered completely. Have passed on the kiss…
Jo: Thanks Jo
madhu : Thanks buddy…
Alexis introduced me to blogging. Check out my weblogs on http://www.reshmiphilip.blogspot.com and post some comments, if you will. Thanks
I need to develop so will appreciate any feedback. Thanks again and keep blogging!!!!
that was good 😀
I like the way you wrote it too
Have been reading your blog for sometime… nice one. I really enjoy the ones where Ashwin appears 🙂 nice way of writing…
an man who has not seen a lot(or read a lot) is also like a child…the child, when he got the right mentor,gave the right answer…another child,might grow up into being a radicalist…because of wrong teaching…
we can’t really do anything about it…but can be good mentors where-ever we are…whatever we do…ROCK ON
loved the post. Ashwin has more clarity of thought than most of our political party chiefs & spiritual leaders 🙂
‘from the mouth of babes huh’? i think all adults can take a leaf out of that particular book :))
Dear Alexis,
Great to know that Ashwin is as brilliant as his uncle.Wish our religious fanatics had half the wisdom & practical sense of our little Ashwin!! Love to pick up more pearls of wisdom from the little genius. My love & kisses to Ashwin who reminds me of my grandson Acchhu.Hope his eye is okay now.
sreedevi
Brilliant boy!!!!
These days kids are too good!!!!
Arhaha well thanks for the mythology update alexis… I din know that 🙁 well now everyone here knows my history and mythology sucks :'( 😀
btw reshmi, i ll look up your blog too… Hm maybe i should try blogging too… Naa am too shy 😛
That was a brillant one from Ashwin…as usual. If only we learnt some lessons from our children instead of trying to teach them all the time….this world would be a much better place.
Raghav
Shy people particularly could blog as no one needs to know who you are..but you can fulfil all your communication and expressive desires to the full.
Try it, go to blogger.com and follow the instructions step by step and all the mentees of Alexis will encourage you regularly.
Good luck! and Happy Blogging!
Sajiv: Thanks friend…
Deepti: Thanks Deepti…
Abhijeet Kaplish: I completely agree with you and thanks..
Manju : Yes, I know. How are you?
alakananda: I hope so…
sreedevi: Welcome to my blog aunty. Have passed on the kisses and he returns it 🙂 Hugs to Accchu…
Arun: Yes, they constantly challenge and test the limits of our knowledge and intelligence.
Raghav: LOL…Looking forward to your blog.
Suji: Thanks Suji…
Lovely post. From the mouth of babes! What puzzles me is why the children who are so uncomplicated grow up to be such complicated adults.
That was a lovely read. Children sometimes teach us things in a better way !
I remembered this incident, my cousin’s MIL was worried about the prayers they thought her grandson at school. So when she asked him who was Ganesha in the prayer they recited at school everyday, my 5 year old nephew said ” Oh, Ganesha is Yesu with the thumbi kai”
Ashwin, keep going..
This was really good.
” Ganesha is yesu Wit Thumbikai ” lol… Well said… Awesome 🙂 🙂 🙂
alexis…
i wish ashwin had a blog…
wud love to hear his version of the story…:P..
and Alexis and ashwin…can very compete with calvin and hobbes..:)
That’s a nice moment.
I think Ashwin through his childish way of questions has made all the people to think . It seems that children always teach us all a good lesson
‘conjunctivitis’ – Looks like this is the disease of the year…every one around seems to be affected!!
nice stories though 😛
Dear Sir,
I read the article in reader’s digest and wrote to you a mail. when i went to your site, i found this blog connection and it is really nice to read this episode. Narada said “Kamsa, you do not know which wuld be the 8th child whether it is from 1 or reverse.It may be from Number 2 to Number one in another order”. On hearing this, Kamsa got confused and started killing all the children from Number one. I shall go through your blog and interact regularly. thanks.
Prakash
You should nominate him for this years nobel prize for peace..:)
Helloji,
I saw the reader’s digest :). Congrats. I couldn’t read it , my friend is yet to finish it. All of us CETians who read your blog regularly are happy about this .
Hello Mr.Leon,
Let me introduce myself as this is the first time I’m into your blog. I am vijiprym living in a small town in Nilgiris, Tamilnadu. I chose your article to read frist in the RD because you looked good in the cover. After I finished reading it, I felt that you really looked good. I read your article to both my sons who are 10 and 12 years of age. They are inspired.
I think, kids should be told stories in Ashwin’s way only to bring peace in India. I am going to combine Lord Krishna , Jesus and Prophet Mohammad and even Guru Nanak as the characters in my stories as friends who helped each other. This way the old stories might sound like “old wine in a new bottle”.
Regards,
vijiprym
Hi Alexis,
Congrats for getting published in RD. I got to know about this site and blog from the article itself. Very interesting posts and ideas.
Just landed here, so hoping to browse through old posts and linked sites pretty soon.!
Regards,
Vivekananda K.
Then I asked my nephew, “If Jesus and Krishna are friends, why are people fighting in their name?”
Pat came the reply, “Because they are fools!”
Great!!!!!!!!! Loved it!
By the way, a good profile picture there… also on the “more about me” page… Alexis “Philosopher” Leon…. 😀