In the Mahabharata battle, Jayadratha had shamelessly hidden himself away, for Arjuna had taken a terrible vow to put an end to his own life if he failed to kill the villain before sunset that day. With the wise Krishna by his side, would the mighty Arjuna fail to find his mark?

    Things take an unexpected turn when Bheeshma disrupts the swayamvar and kidnaps the three princesses for his brother, Vichi-travirya, the ruler of Hastinapur. Amba vows to avenge the insult meted out to her. She appeals to several kings and princes to help her destroy Bheeshma but they all refuse as he is too powerful an adversary to challenge. Disappointed and filled with rage, Amba decides to take revenge herself and prays to Shiva to guide her. Amar Chitra Katha tells the compelling story of one who played a crucial role in the final outcome of the epic battle of Kurukshetra.

    Pleased, Brahma grants him the city of Vajra, and says that not even air will enter the city, unless Vajranabha wants it to. Now, powerful in his impregnable city, Vajranabha turns his sights on Indra's kingdom. Indra goes to Krishna for help. What Vajranabha does not realise is that his daughter, Prabhavati, has set her heart on marrying Pradyumna, the son of Krishna.

    The princess Lakshmana is determined to marry Krishna. Her father must ensure that during the swayamwara only Krishna will win his daughter. Sage Narada provokes Satyabhama into agreeing to give him Krishna, unless she can find something heavier than him. But all her possessions together prove to be lighter than Krishna.

    His quest was for the image of the blue-colored Krishna or Nilamadhav. The king came very close to achieving his goal but his pride and arrogance snatched it away from him leaving him groping once more in the dark. Contained in this Amar Chitra Katha is the legend behind the temple of Jagannathapuri in Orissa and the images enshrined in it.

    

    Later, the memory of the hills and forests which are his home call him back. Kacha goes back to his people and is made the Kaka or village chief. However, the Hegade or feudal lord authorised to collect tribute on behalf of the king, exploits the villagers by demanding in excess and keeping more than half for himself. Kacha is determined to fight this tyranny. The Elusive Kaka is adapted from the Kannada play, Kakana Kote, written by Masti Venkatesha Iyengar. It speaks of the bond that the Kurubas have with the forest and how they must fight to preserve it, if they must preserve themselves.

    But the gentle and generous nature of the daughter brings good fortune. Six queens plot against the seventh, jealous that she is bearing the King's heir, and accuse her of witchcraft. A thoughtless queen decrees that anyone who cries in her kingdom will be thrown out, not foreseeing that one day she too might feel sorrow. India has a rich heritage of folktales, most of which are never written down, present only in a rapidly vanishing oral culture. Each region and language has its own particular set of stories – though many tales recur across different traditions. The stories here are taken from Bengal.

    What is not so well known, however, is that the gentle, lovelorn Shakuntala immortalized by Kalidasa is very different from the original Shakuntala of the Mahabharata—a strong, fiery woman who stood up for her rights when she was spurned by her beloved.In this thoughtful retelling of the story of Shakuntala, Utkarsh Patel brings to the fore the original heroine, the bold and beautiful daughter of Menaka and Vishwamitra who fights to get herself and her son the recognition they deserve. She does not surrender to anyone, not even the king of Hastinapur. Retold to suit the modern-day context, Shakuntala: The Woman Wronged is a must-read to understand one of the most powerful yet underrated female characters of the Mahabharata.

    But when he tricks the King himself, Sahasramalla realises that there is no longer anyone left to rob and wonders what to do next. Near by, a monk named Vasudda is speaking. Vasudda's words make Sahasramalla realise how many people he has cheated and betrayed. Taken from the Vardhamana-desana, a Jain classic, the story of Sahasramalla is told with compassion. Even a thief is given the option to repent and make up for his crimes.

    She is the power that protects and destroys. She represents the fertile, bountiful earth, and is the protector of all life form. All goddesses are considered to be a manifestation of her. The worship of the goddess has evolved over time. Local village goddesses of the forest, field, river and lake became versions of the one great female principle. Lakshmi, Saraswati and Parvati are also considered to be forms of Adi Shakti. The Devi Mahatmayam or the ‘Glory of the Goddess’, describes her as the fierce and beautiful goddess who fights asuras and wards off evil. She shields the gods against evil and stands up for the worthy.Amar Chitra Katha brings together stories of seven goddesses from the Puranas, folklore and the Devi Bhagavata. Endowed with strength, grace and courage, these goddesses show us the power of being a woman.

    While sheltering in a temple, he meets Durgesh Nandini, the daughter of a Bengali nobleman and falls deeply in love with her. Unfortunately, her father is a sworn enemy of Jagat Singh's father.In this climate of war and hatred, will their love survive. Durgesh Nandini is an adaptation of a novel, written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay (1838-1894).

    One day, he sets off for Patliputra, with his friend Shashi, eager to debate with the scholars there. On the outskirts of the city, they meet a girl picking mangoes. She and Muladeva start arguing but the girl outwits him with ease and then, disappears. Enchanted by her quick replies and her intelligence Muladeva decides that he will not rest until he has found her, outsmarted her, and married her. In this story from the Kathasaritsagar, Muladeva's quest results in an elaborate and prolonged battle of wits.

    The wise, like Nigrodha Kumar, cherish their companions. Pottik's selfless loyalty is rewarded by unexpected riches. On the other hand, for the selfish ingrate Shakha there awaits only a shameful loneliness. Rich or poor, ugly or handsome, powerful or helpless, a friend is one whom you can trust and for this luxury, you should repay your friend with respect and honor.

    During a ride in a forest he meets and falls in love with Princess Padmavati of Kanchi. According to tradition, Purushottam Dev sweeps the chariot of Jagannath during the Car Festival. Padmavati's father is furious when he hears of this and refuses to marry his daughter to one who wields a broom. He humiliates Purushottam Dev who vows to take revenge despite his love for the princess. Padmavati despairs and is ready to end her life. But things suddenly take a turn for the better after Lord Jagannath himself assures Purushottam of his support.This Amar Chitra Katha is based on a legend from Orissa.