Jaya: 9

love this book; started off with My Gita and then ended up reading this book. I admire the author's deep research on the subject and he has made it clear that the story is 5000 years old and hence lot of it is based on folklore and myths. Author has left it to each reader on how to interpret the stories within the Mahabharata -- but has done an excellent job at the end of each chapter to provide a summary and his take on the topic. Love the details and how he has provided extra tit bits on how cultures/practices in different parts of India have different perspective on the contents. This has formed the basis of many of our religious views/edicts/practices/beliefs in different regions of India. I also am wonder struck at how open the author is to topic such a polygamy; alternate life styles etc. He has also given apt references on how Hinduism is very different to the 3 Abrahamic Religions (Judaism; Islam and Christianity). To top it all the illustrations are superb and personally created by the author himself -- it is very clear he comes from a medical background and his display of the human bodies symmetries/depiction in the drawings are very stark. Great work -- so relevant in todays world -- the same old lessons human need to be reminded on stay away from greed; excesses; get along with all and how material aspirations can turn to evil deeds. I never knew the difference between 'heavan' (abode of Indra and other Gods) and 'vaikuntha' (abode of Sri Vishnu) or that not all Vijayas (victories) are the same -- that the only Vijaya that real matters is Jaya (victory over ones own desires)....hence the title of the book Jaya. Look forward to other books by Devdutt Patnaik -- love his shows on Epic TV Channel. Need more of it on Youtube for all worldwide readers to see. Unique Interpretation on a very old/enriched subject.

Pro: Told with a good sense of storytelling. it never gets boored although you know the main stories already, because there are lots of special perspectives and new angles. Smooth and easy to read for a western educated person. The traditional burden of ancient indan terminology is really kept to a minimum. Each chapter has a section of enlightening comments. Con: none. I would like more.

An ingenuous format for the summarizing of the fantastic Mahabharata. The telling of stories intermingled with "blocks" giving interpretations from various regions of the sub-continent and a sampling of religious interpretations. The illustrations are simple, but elucidating. I purchased the book in print and from Audible. That may seem foolish, but I can assure anyone that it was not. It made for an enriching experience. First, the Audible version was free as I bought it with a credit, and I got to follow the paperback, taking note as I am want to do in a book I like, while I got to listen to the rich Indian accents of the various narrators. It was educationally very sound, by the way, to get the input via two senses simultaneously. For me, it was pure delight.

Great book.... Read several versions of the Mahabharata, but this version really gives us the facts...it relates the epic in a way that allows the reader to make his own judgement and draw his own conclusions. The way it links the book to the real-life situations in today's world makes one wonder.....In Most of the mahabharta narrations, the kauravas are the adharma ones and the pandavas the dharma followers. But in this book, the author shows the weakness of the pandavas as well...the addiction of Yudhishtir to gambling....the arrogance of Arjuna...the greed of Bhima...kunti's failure as a fair mother....Draupadi's manipulation of her 5 husbands to get what she wants and her regret for not choosing Karna as her husband who according to Krishna would have given her all due respect and never let her go through the humiliation she went through.. Without krishna's influence, the pandava's would not have gone so far...It also shows Karna, son of Surya God was far more powerful than Arjuna who always thought he was the best archer...... Arjuna's chariot was destroyed long time back during the battle.....but the presence of Krishna as charioteer sustained it...only when Krishna moved from the chariot, it blows to ashes.....! Must read!

Great read and a good refresh of Mahabharata from my childhood. Although the way everything is written feels a bit rushed and the narrative is sometimes too shallow in areas where it should not be. The parts covering Pandavas 12 year exile, Bhagvad Gita, Bhisma & Abhimanyu's death .. all the really important events feel a bit too light and breezy and doesn't get the analysis depth that it deserves, which the author has so nicely done in some other areas, specially covering parts related to Draupadi or Karna.. The illustrations are great and is probably one of the most creative I have ever seen

The style of the book with the little illustrations on it make it a light and entertaining read. However this book can be read only if one has already read the Mahabharatha and is familiar with the characters and the main plot. It is a good read for those who would like to read about the Mahabharata in a different light. The synopsis at the end of each chapter are quite insightful.

Excellent book. Brilliantly written in simple language. The book is embellished all over with very stylish yet simple and artistic illustrations by the author. The story of MAHABHARAT is something every reader should read. It is such a complex story that it outshines any other mythological story from anywhere in the world. The author has wonderfully managed to rewrite this world's longest epic in very a concise manner without losing it's teachings, essence and it's grandeur. Highly recommended.

After Rajaji's Mahabharath, I find this book to be precise as well as concise. It has many little relevant stories and the necessary history behind the events that take place. A worthy read and a worthy use of your time.

Si buena lectura y sus ricos comentarios.

The most beautiful book I have ever read. It took me on an emotional roller coaster, and had the most brilliant ending and numerous life lessons. This is one book I plan to read every year, for the rest of my life.

So for me personally, I grew up in North America without much religious upbringing about Hinduism or Hindu culture. I just knew I was born a Hindu, and my parents are originally from the Indian subcontinent. This book was truly a great introduction about the Hindu mythology for me. The book is divided into 18 parts, and the whole first part is used to outline certain laws and ancestral stories that play a contextual role later on into the story. I loved this book! It's not heavy on Hindi jargon, and if there is no English translation/substitution for the word, it provides a nice, simple explanation of what they are. The notes at the end of each chapter also help to make sense of the story, and how they have different versions of that same story in certain parts of India, Nepal, Indonesia, etc. And they also provide cool cultural, social, or historical details about the story which was really cool! So, if you're a white-washed south asian growing up in the US/UK/Canada, and want to learn more about Hindu mythology without much Hindi jargon, I would 100% recommend this book!

For years I tried to understand Mahabharat by reading different writings, tv serials but could not understand end to end. This book I most liked that provides summary comments and compilation of many conclusions. It's comparison with Ramayana is awesome. I felt elevated after reading/studying this book. Certainly this book will continue to be a reference in future for me. Thanks to Devdutt ji.

Good quality, packaging and condition