युद्ध

राम-कथा #7

by नरेंद्र कोहली, Narendra Kohli

'दीक्षा', 'अवसर', 'संघर्ष की ओर' तथा 'युद्ध' के अनेक सजिल्द, अजिल्द तथा पॉकेटबुक संस्करण प्रकाशित होकर अपनी महत्ता एवं लोकप्रियता प्रमाणित कर चुके हैं। महत्वपूर्ण पत्र पत्रिकाओं में इसका धारावाहिक प्रकाशन हुआ है। उड़िया, कन्नड़, मलयालम, नेपाली, मराठी तथा अंग्रेज़ी में इसके विभिन्न खण्डों के अनुवाद प्रकाशित होकर प्रशंसा पा चुके हैं। इसके विभिन्न प्रसंगों के नाट्य रूपान्तर मंच पर अपनी क्षमता प्रदर्शित कर चुके हैं तथा परम्परागत रामलीला मण्डलियाँ इसकी ओर आकृष्ट हो रही हैं। यह प्राचीनता तथा नवीनता का अद्भुत संगम है। इसे पढ़कर आप अनुभव करेंगे कि आप पहली बार एक ऐसी रामकथा पढ़ रहे हैं, जो सामयिक, लौकिक, तर्कसंगत तथा प्रासंगिक है। यह किसी अपरिचित और अद्भुत देश तथा काल की कथा नहीं है। यह इसी लोक और काल की, आपके जीवन से सम्बन्धित समस्याओं पर केन्द्रित एक ऐसी कथा है, जो सार्वकालिक और शाश्वत है और प्रत्येक युग के व्यक्ति का इसके साथ पूर्ण तादात्म्य होता है।

344 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

Padmashree Narendra Kohli is one of the most eminent and well-known Hindi writers of our times. His novel based on the Ram-Katha, Abhyuday, shifted the course of Hindi novel-writing. Another of his novels, Mahasamar, based on the Pandava-katha went on to become just as popular. His novel-series, Todo Kara Todo is considered the greatest and foremost novel in any language on the life of Swami Vivekananda. Abhigyan, Vasudev, Sharnam, Aatmaswikriti, Varunaputri, Sagar-Manthan, Ahalya etc. are his other well-known works. Apart from the Padmashree, he has also been awarded the Hindi Akademi award; Delhi Salaka Samman; Uttar Pradesh Hindi Sansthaan award; Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Samman, Lucknow; K.K. Birla Foundation award; Vyasa Samman, New Delhi; Madhya Pradesh government and Bhopal’s Maithili Sharan Gupt Rashtriya Samman, among numerous other honours.

डॉ॰ नरेन्द्र कोहली (जन्म ६ जनवरी १९४०, निधन १७ अप्रैल २०२१, चैत्र शुक्ल पंचमी, नवरात्रि) प्रसिद्ध हिन्दी साहित्यकार हैं। उन्होंने साहित्य के सभी प्रमुख विधाओं (यथा उपन्यास, व्यंग्य, नाटक, कहानी) एवं गौण विधाओं (यथा संस्मरण, निबंध, पत्र आदि) और आलोचनात्मक साहित्य में अपनी लेखनी चलाई है। उन्होंने शताधिक श्रेष्ठ ग्रंथों का सृजन किया है। हिन्दी साहित्य में 'महाकाव्यात्मक उपन्यास' की विधा को प्रारंभ करने का श्रेय नरेंद्र कोहली को ही जाता है। पौराणिक एवं ऐतिहासिक चरित्रों की गुत्थियों को सुलझाते हुए उनके माध्यम से आधुनिक सामाज की समस्याओं एवं उनके समाधान को समाज के समक्ष प्रस्तुत करना कोहली की अन्यतम विशेषता है। कोहलीजी सांस्कृतिक राष्ट्रवादी साहित्यकार हैं, जिन्होंने अपनी रचनाओं के माध्यम से भारतीय जीवन-शैली एवं दर्शन का सम्यक् परिचय करवाया है। जनवरी, २०१७ में उन्हें पद्मश्री से सम्मानित किया गया।

Reviews

[E.T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 Done with book 4/5 of the Ramayana retelling. While the first 3 books of the series were mediocre, this one was much better. Perhaps because both Rama and Sugriva were purposeful led by their burning desires. On to the last book Yuddh-2.

[Prabhat sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yudh -2 (Hardcover) by Narendra Kohli- It is the last book on Ramayana series by the author. The book starts with Ram searching for the locaion of his estrnged wife Sita and comes Rishyamook hill where he meets Hanuman and Surgriva. Bali the King of Vanar tribe considers his younger brother Sugreev as unfaithful to him and has kept his wife with him and forced Sugreev away. They from a friendship.Ram convinces Sugreev that he is enough powerful to kill Bali. Sugreev with the help of Ram and Lakshman is able kill Bali. Sugreev is declared king of the Vanaras. Rainy season is about ot begin. Sugreev informs Ram as Ram has vowed not to live in towns, therefore, he has located a natural large hole on a hill which will not be effected by rains and Ram and Lakhsman can stay her for two months. After this period, he will send his army all round the world to locate Sita. However, absolute power corrupts Sugreev and he forgets the duty assigned by Ram to him. Lakhsman comes to his palace and Sugreev afraid, sends his envoys round the world in search of Sita. One team under Angad son of Bali alongwith Jambwant, Hanuman and other important commanders is sent towards South where it is doubted that Ravana has taken Sita to his kingdom in Lanka. Hanuman crosses the sea, reaches Lanka, finds Sita and is arrested by Ravana's commanders at Ashok garden. On reaching the Durbar of Ravana, Haunuman faces Ravana and informs the message of Ram- that you should return Sita or fight the impending war. Ravana plans to punish Hanuman for entering his territory, destroying his garden and killing his son and army men. The punishment is burning his tail by tying a cloth drippedi in oil and clarified butter. After his tail is tied with cloth and dripped in oil, it is burnt. As soon as the flames rise, Hanuman is able to burn the cloth tying his hands and feet. After being free, he dodges the guards, comes out of the palace and burn the palace and city. He extinguieshes his tail by jumping in the sea. Hanuman meets Sita, takes her message forRam, crosses the ocean and returns to Ram. Now Ram plans for the war with the help of Sugreev. The army leaves for the sea coast. Here the army constructs a bridge over the sea and move to Lanka. Here the war starts. One by one all commanders of Ravana army are killed. Ravana is also killed after a tough resistance and after showing his might.
More important thing is that after the popularity of the Ramayana series by the author, the publishers find that there is a craze in reader to know more about Indian epics. Thus books by Ashok K Banker, Anand Neelkanthan, Amish Tripathi and other have been published. This is an encouragement for more books on Ramayana and Mahabharata. Anand Neelkanthan has written the Ramayana series from the point of view of Ravana.
Overall, this book is a good read for all.

[E.T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 It took me 3 yrs to finish 5 books of Abhyuday - retelling of Ramayana. The first 3 books were a bit dry and incidents/philosophy seemed out of place. Fortunately, this (last) book and the one before it were much better.
Looking forward to reading his non-fiction analysis of Ramayana. Have read a few analysis of Mahabharata but his "Mere Ram, Meri Ramkatha" will perhaps be my first such book on Ramayana.

[Prabhat sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yudh -1 (Hardcover) by Narendra Kohli- In the previous Book, Sangharsh ki Aur- when Ravana kidnaps Sita and brings her to Lanka, a discussion begins between Ravana and Sita,. first allegation on Ravana is that after defeat of Khar,Dushan and Trisara his commanders, Ravana should have taken an army and fought with Ram and tried to defeat him. Second, his act of kidnapping is not bravery befitting a a King. Third, Sita should be shifted from the palace to a suitable place in Lanka for one year and if she with her sweet will, agrees to marry Ravana then only Ravana could marry Sita. Fourth, when Mandodari's brother Dundubhi was killed by Bali, Ravana did not attack Bali to take revenge because Dundubhi was her brother and not brother of Ravana. The next Book,- YUdh-1 begins from this point. Dundubhi is a wild buffalo who is hitting the main door of Kishkindha with his horns. Thus challenging Kishkindha King to come and fight with him. Bali is a king, he comes to know about the challenge of Dundubhi from his messengers. Bali knows that being King, he is also a hunter. He moves immediately to the main gates and faces Dundubhi. Bali is now aware that Dundubhi is not an ordinary Buffalo but a wild and powerful one. He would happily take his challenge and fight him. Bali hit him with his large and heavy mace. Dundubhi did not run. He faced Bali. Both attacked one another. Bali was too swift and quick with mace and hit Dundubhi again and again. Ultimately Dundubhi ran back away. Bali could not let him get away. Bali chased him. Both ran towards the Matang forest. Dundubhi had been hurt, his bones had cracked, still he turned back and attacked Bali. Bali quickly moved away and struck a final blow on Dundubhi. Dundubhi fell on the ground and died. The noise of mace hitting Dundubhi reverberated in the forest and a group of Matang animals ran towards Bali. Bali was feeling weak after the fight. He knew that he could not face another fight so the picked up his mace and ran back towards his palace. Running away from facing a challenge was not the temperament of Bali but the situation was such that he ran back and saved his life. His servants put him on a palanquin and brought to his palace. Bali called his precursor and inquired about the future result of the incident. He was advised that in future if Bali moves towards Matang forest, he might face death. He also advised him to thank Sun God for his success over Dundubhi. Next morning Bali thanked Sun and Ocean God and returned back to his Court room. All courtiers were present and noticed that Bali was not his real self, he was weak. Sugreev his younger brother said that after fighting Dundubhi, Bali must we feeling tired so he must rest. Bali immediately responded that Bali is not like Sugreev, weak, he is still strong. Anther Courtier said that Kishkindha is happy that Bali has bravely killed Dundubhi and so the citizens will celebrate and Bali must rest. Bali orders to postpone the matters for the next and returned to his palace. His wife Tara came to know and she came to welcome him. She was surprised that the Brave King never postpones matters before him. Next chapter Bali and Sugreev differ on matters and Sugreev leaves Bali and stays in Matang forest. Ram, Laxman move towards south to find Sita. They meet Hanuman and through him meet Sugreev. Friendship is stuck between them and Sugreev promises to help Ram in finding where Sita has been taken after being kidnapped. The Book is popular with youth because it provides replies to unresolved questions of Ramayana. First question is why was Bali afraid to visiting Matang forest. Reply - Bali's precursor advised him that if he visits Matang forest again, he may face death. The Book reveals that Ram is a bold human being and is able to face challenges . The book must be translated in all Indian and Foreign languages so that national and international readers are able to appreciate these the contents of the Book. It is a class book for readers of all ages.

[kukku [u donno me] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Final book of the series....
must read