Amar Chitra Katha #571
In "Ashtavakra," a young boy born with a physical deformity defies fate through the power of wisdom, challenging the sage Bandhi in a debate that reshapes his destiny. Written by Shailaja Ganguly and Malati Shenoy and illustrated with striking clarity by Ram Waeerkar, this story unfolds the legend of a mind unbroken by body, culminating in a revelation that ties ancient sages to a divine yagna. The cover by R. S. Umrothkar captures the tale’s solemn grandeur, a 25.00 INR comic from 1998 that brings an enduring Indian epic to life.
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While still in the womb, Ashtavakra is cursed b his father Kahoda and is born deformed. Kahoda challenges the sage Bandhi to a debate and loses and is drowned in the river as a result. While still a young boy Ashtavakra gains his revenge by defeating Bandhi in a debate. Bandhi then reveals that he is the son of Varuna and that the sages he defeated were sent to perform a yagna for his father. He goes to the river and all the sages including Kahoda return alive. On his return home Ashtavakra is cured of his deformity.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).