Summary

In Chapter 15, Krishna turned a wing in his palace into a “simulacrum of the world of his divine namesake” (203). He commissioned 108 women to play cowherds, milkmaids, consorts, and maidservants in this realm. One would be queen and two would be her companions. Krishna deemed himself the realm’s Krishnadevaraya, or “God-King” (204).

Worried about the consequences of Krishna’s games, Timmarasu invoked Pampa’s help. She became his teacher and “the instructor and confidante” of Krishna’s consorts (205).

Although Pampa begrudged her work with the gopis, Zerelda was pleased by Pampa’s participation “in the enterprise” (208). She hoped Krishna would choose her as queen. Pampa was surprised that she felt jealous. She told Zerelda Li that being queen “isn’t all that great” (209). Zerelda insisted otherwise, saying Krishna looked at her with love. Pampa argued that he looked at her “in the exact...