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मृत्युंजय [Mrutyunjay]
The search for the meaning of Being is man's eternal quest and the subject of his greatest creations. Shivaji Sawant's Mrityunjaya is an outstanding instance of such a literary masterpiece in which a contemporary Marathi novelist investigates the meaning of the bewildering skein that is life through the personae of the Mahabharata protagonists. For over two decades since its first publication the vast non- Marathi and non-Hindi readership remained deprived of this remarkable exploration of the human psyche till the publication of this English translation by the Writers workshop – a contribution for which there is much to be grateful for.
Mrityunjaya is the autobiography of Karna, and yet it is not just that. With deceptive case, Sawant brings into play an exceptional stylistic innovation by combining six "dramatic soliloquies" to form the nine books of this novel of epic dimensions. Four books are spoken by Karna. These are interspersed with a book each from the lips of his unwed mother Kunti, Duryodhana (who considers Karna his mainstay), Shon (Shatruntapa, his foster-brother, who here-worships him), his wife Vrishali to whom he is like a god and, last of all, Krishna. Sawant depicts an uncanny similarity between Krishna and Karna and hints at a mystic link between them, investing his protagonist with a more-than-human aura to offset the un-heroic and even unmanly acts which mar this tremendously complex and utterly fascinating creating of Vyasa.
Mrityunjaya is the autobiography of Karna, and yet it is not just that. With deceptive case, Sawant brings into play an exceptional stylistic innovation by combining six "dramatic soliloquies" to form the nine books of this novel of epic dimensions. Four books are spoken by Karna. These are interspersed with a book each from the lips of his unwed mother Kunti, Duryodhana (who considers Karna his mainstay), Shon (Shatruntapa, his foster-brother, who here-worships him), his wife Vrishali to whom he is like a god and, last of all, Krishna. Sawant depicts an uncanny similarity between Krishna and Karna and hints at a mystic link between them, investing his protagonist with a more-than-human aura to offset the un-heroic and even unmanly acts which mar this tremendously complex and utterly fascinating creating of Vyasa.
697 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1967
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44062 people want to read
About the author
Shivaji Sawant
12 books549 followersAfter extensive research he wrote a book Mrityunjay (English: Triumph Over Death) based on Karna, one of the leading characters of the epic Mahabharat. This book was translated in Hindi (1974), English (1989), Kannada (1990), Gujarati (1991), Malayalam (1995) and received numerous awards and accolades. In 1980 he wrote a book Chhava based on Sambhaji's life.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 819 reviews
May 13, 2012
I must start off by admitting that this review may be extremely biased. Biased by the fact that I consider the Mahabharata the best epic ever! Every character has an interesting story, and despite a few supernatural elements, every human character is...human. Human, with all the flaws and strengths, and no one is more so than the protagonist of Mrityunjaya, Karna. Since this review also goes on my blog and there is a slight problem with the spoiler HTML tag on my blog, I have removed it. Please stop reading further if you do not want to be exposed to spoilers.
As a kid, I had heard a lot about Mrityunjaya, and seen the book at home, but the fact that it was written in Marathi dissuaded me from touching it. Even though Marathi is my mother tongue, I have never studied it formally and therefore have a greater comfort level with reading English than Marathi. So a combination of my new Nook, Barnes and Noble gift cards from my company (yeah baby!) and Goodreads, revived my interest in hunting for a translated copy. Thanks to an Indian version of Amazon (www.flipkart.com/india), and my sister, I finally laid my hands on a beautiful hard-bound English translation. And then I lived the phrase "lost in translation" right from the first sentence! However, despite the clunky phrases, I was able to translate it back to what it would have sounded like in Marathi in my head and enjoy the beauty of the book.
Even if you haven't read this book, even if your introduction to Karna is through the Mahabharata alone, you cannot help but feel empathy for the eldest son of Kunti. Mrityunjaya only deepens it.
Mrityunjaya was written as a semi-autobiographical take on Karna’s life. The book is written from the POV of six characters. Karna opens and takes us closer to the end of his story, interspersed with chapters by Kunti (his mother), Duryodhana (his best friend), Vrishali (his wife), Shon (his younger foster brother) and a grand ending by the Lord, Sri Krishna himself. Apart from indulging the semi-autobiography of a fictional figure, Sawant touches on one of the biggest realities of human society, one that has not changed since time immemorial. The reality where birth decides the honour/dishonour bestowed upon a child, and not his/her worth. Even though the protagonist is really the son of the Sun-God himself and as radiant as him, the fact that he was fostered in the hut of a poor charioteer strikes out everything right he ever did in his life. The society then treated him as one of low status and unfortunately, because things haven’t changed an iota since then, he’d have been treated as such even now.
Karna is given a three-dimensional personality in Sawant’s version, something which the original Mahabharata does not provide. Sawant also takes a few liberties with the original, but the changes he makes only make the story more realistic. The characters of Vrishali and Shon for example, are given such appropriate voices, that you are left wondering whether Sawant had the fortune of stumbling upon some long lost letters written by them. Kunti’s character is fleshed out very well too, although you can’t help but wonder, what kind of a mother would choose her own honour over her son’s. One revelation on her part would have brought back his lost glory and honour, although it is commonly believed that the war would have happened anyway. Sawant also gives the Pandavas’ characters a darker shade of grey than in any other version of the Mahabharata. Duryodhana’s character remains the same, although it now makes me want to explore Bhāsa’s“Urubhanga”, which is Mahabharata retold from the POV of Duryodhana alone. Some day!
Despite the atrocities heaped upon him throughout his life, Karna grew to be an invincible warrior , a gentle and fair ruler of Anga (after Duryodhana bestowed the title upon him), a loving husband, an indulgent brother, a loyal friend and above all the epitome of generosity. So generous, that when a poor brahmin comes begging even as he lays dying, he breaks his golden teeth to give them away as alms!
While you commend Karna for being a rebel and not succumbing to the unfair norms of the society, you hit upon the obvious flaw in the hero. His egotism. You wonder why he was so ashamed of being recognized as his charioteer father’s son, despite loving his parents immensely. And if that shame, and the resultant blind loyalty to his lone supporter, Duryodhana was the result of his downfall. The Mahabharata is an epic more complex than anyone can ever imagine. You can discuss, debate and argue about it until eternity, and yet cover only a fraction of it.
As a kid, I had heard a lot about Mrityunjaya, and seen the book at home, but the fact that it was written in Marathi dissuaded me from touching it. Even though Marathi is my mother tongue, I have never studied it formally and therefore have a greater comfort level with reading English than Marathi. So a combination of my new Nook, Barnes and Noble gift cards from my company (yeah baby!) and Goodreads, revived my interest in hunting for a translated copy. Thanks to an Indian version of Amazon (www.flipkart.com/india), and my sister, I finally laid my hands on a beautiful hard-bound English translation. And then I lived the phrase "lost in translation" right from the first sentence! However, despite the clunky phrases, I was able to translate it back to what it would have sounded like in Marathi in my head and enjoy the beauty of the book.
Even if you haven't read this book, even if your introduction to Karna is through the Mahabharata alone, you cannot help but feel empathy for the eldest son of Kunti. Mrityunjaya only deepens it.
Mrityunjaya was written as a semi-autobiographical take on Karna’s life. The book is written from the POV of six characters. Karna opens and takes us closer to the end of his story, interspersed with chapters by Kunti (his mother), Duryodhana (his best friend), Vrishali (his wife), Shon (his younger foster brother) and a grand ending by the Lord, Sri Krishna himself. Apart from indulging the semi-autobiography of a fictional figure, Sawant touches on one of the biggest realities of human society, one that has not changed since time immemorial. The reality where birth decides the honour/dishonour bestowed upon a child, and not his/her worth. Even though the protagonist is really the son of the Sun-God himself and as radiant as him, the fact that he was fostered in the hut of a poor charioteer strikes out everything right he ever did in his life. The society then treated him as one of low status and unfortunately, because things haven’t changed an iota since then, he’d have been treated as such even now.
Karna is given a three-dimensional personality in Sawant’s version, something which the original Mahabharata does not provide. Sawant also takes a few liberties with the original, but the changes he makes only make the story more realistic. The characters of Vrishali and Shon for example, are given such appropriate voices, that you are left wondering whether Sawant had the fortune of stumbling upon some long lost letters written by them. Kunti’s character is fleshed out very well too, although you can’t help but wonder, what kind of a mother would choose her own honour over her son’s. One revelation on her part would have brought back his lost glory and honour, although it is commonly believed that the war would have happened anyway. Sawant also gives the Pandavas’ characters a darker shade of grey than in any other version of the Mahabharata. Duryodhana’s character remains the same, although it now makes me want to explore Bhāsa’s“Urubhanga”, which is Mahabharata retold from the POV of Duryodhana alone. Some day!
Despite the atrocities heaped upon him throughout his life, Karna grew to be an invincible warrior , a gentle and fair ruler of Anga (after Duryodhana bestowed the title upon him), a loving husband, an indulgent brother, a loyal friend and above all the epitome of generosity. So generous, that when a poor brahmin comes begging even as he lays dying, he breaks his golden teeth to give them away as alms!
While you commend Karna for being a rebel and not succumbing to the unfair norms of the society, you hit upon the obvious flaw in the hero. His egotism. You wonder why he was so ashamed of being recognized as his charioteer father’s son, despite loving his parents immensely. And if that shame, and the resultant blind loyalty to his lone supporter, Duryodhana was the result of his downfall. The Mahabharata is an epic more complex than anyone can ever imagine. You can discuss, debate and argue about it until eternity, and yet cover only a fraction of it.
June 2, 2022
One of the best Marathi literature I read after such a long time. This is the story of Karna and his role in Mahabharata. Even though the legend of Mahabharata is well known, but the author's narration takes the reader to an uncharted journey. I liked the writing style. The author has chosen different characters Vrushali (wife), Kunti (mother), Duryodhana(friend), Shon (brother), Krishna to tell the tale of this great character, along with Karna's own version of his own life.
Shivaji Sawant tries to shed light on his tragedies and his unfortunate life with the use of captivating words. He beautifully describes the life of Karna - the ever compromising, stronger than everyone yet humble about it, rightfully a prince but denounced as a charioteer. You can see how Duryodhana is just manipulating him.
This book will leave you speechless and make your heart shattered for the life he lived. Every moment, every feeling, every thought of Surya-putra Karna is so amazingly described in this book. Words aren't enough to describe this book. The unique styles of writing where different characters tell the story from their perspective make the reading quite interesting. The character building and mindset of Karna has been described elegantly.
And I suggest my friends to please read the original Mahabharata. Shivaji Sawant is surely a beautiful writer, no doubt there. But there is concern with modern so called Itihasa writers like Devdutt and Amish to name a few. They write with their own interpretation to spice up the story and current readers start thinking that this is the correct story and start arguing with their friends. Please read the original Itihasa.
This book has been translated in several languages Hindi, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Assamese, Tamil, English and many more. I think even audio is there. Highly Recommended. Now I want to read Yugandhar(on Sri Krishna) and Chavva(on Sambhaji Maharaj) from the same author.
Shivaji Sawant tries to shed light on his tragedies and his unfortunate life with the use of captivating words. He beautifully describes the life of Karna - the ever compromising, stronger than everyone yet humble about it, rightfully a prince but denounced as a charioteer. You can see how Duryodhana is just manipulating him.
This book will leave you speechless and make your heart shattered for the life he lived. Every moment, every feeling, every thought of Surya-putra Karna is so amazingly described in this book. Words aren't enough to describe this book. The unique styles of writing where different characters tell the story from their perspective make the reading quite interesting. The character building and mindset of Karna has been described elegantly.
And I suggest my friends to please read the original Mahabharata. Shivaji Sawant is surely a beautiful writer, no doubt there. But there is concern with modern so called Itihasa writers like Devdutt and Amish to name a few. They write with their own interpretation to spice up the story and current readers start thinking that this is the correct story and start arguing with their friends. Please read the original Itihasa.
This book has been translated in several languages Hindi, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Assamese, Tamil, English and many more. I think even audio is there. Highly Recommended. Now I want to read Yugandhar(on Sri Krishna) and Chavva(on Sambhaji Maharaj) from the same author.
August 9, 2013
कर्णकथा
दानशूर कर्ण!
महारथी कर्ण!
ज्येष्ठ कौन्तेय!
राधेय!
सुर्यपुत्र!
कर्ण! कर्ण! कर्ण!
त्याचा त्याग, त्याने भोगलेल्या यातना, सोसलेले कष्ट, त्याचं निखळ मित्रप्रेम, त्याचा आदर्शवाद… सारं कसं सावंत डोळ्यांपुढे जिवंत उभं करतात! बोजड भाषेच्या साखळदंडांना सहज तोडून पुढे उभी राहते, ती ही कर्णकथा! वाचून मन क्षुब्ध करून टाकते, कर्णासाठी डोळ्यांत अश्रू उभी करते, ती ही प्रभावी, प्रेरक, हृदयद्रावक, जिवंत कर्णकथा! वेळ मिळाला तर जरूर वाचावी अशी!
भाषा
जेंव्हा पुस्तक वाचायला सुरुवात केली, तेव्हा वाटलं, "अरे देवा! कोणती बुद्धी सुचली आणि हे वाचायला घेतलं!" जड जड विशेषणांचा वापर करून बोजड झालेली सावंतांची भाषा माझ्या सहनशक्तीचा अंत पाहत होती! बरं, समर्पक तरी असावीत विशेषणं… तेही नाही! "रसरशीत इंगळ्या" म्हणे! साधी, सोपी, सरळ आणि सुंदर वाक्यरचना "मृत्यंजय" मध्ये बघायला मिळणं तसं दुर्मिळच. सावंतांच्या भाषेला जर विशेषणं द्यायची म्हटली, तर "ओघवती" हे माझ्या मनात सर्वात शेवटी येईल.
संस्कृतप्रचुर भाषा मात्र मृत्यंजयला शोभत होती. तोच काय एक तो "मृत्यंजय" च्या भाषाशैलीचा मला आवडलेला पैलू. त्या काळात गेल्यासारखं वाटत होतं! आपणही कर्णाबरोबर हस्तिनापुरात, त्याच्या वाड्यात, राहतो आहोत, फिरतो आहोत, असच वाटलं!
तत्वज्ञान
बापरे! हा आणखी एक अत्यंत कंटाळवाणा आणि रटाळ भाग! संस्कृत श्लोकांचा सरळ-सरळ मराठीत अनुवाद असलेले तत्वज्ञानाचे ते परिच्छेद पाहिले की "आपण एक प्रगल्भ ललितकलाकृती वाचतो आहेत का बाळबोध अध्यात्मिक पुस्तक?" असाच प्रश्न मनाला पडला. पांडवांना लाक्षागृहात पाठवण्यासाठी धृतराष्ट्राला तयार करण्याचं काम होतं आमात्य वृषवर्मांवर. तेंव्हा त्यांनी पाने-नि-पाने भरून सांगितलेलं तत्वज्ञान, आणि नंतरचा धृतराष्ट्राचा निर्णय कोणत्याही तर्कशुद्ध माणसाला पटणार नाही.
प्रत्येक ठिकाणी निसर्गातल्या गोष्टींच्या आधारे कधी रूपक अलंकारातून, तर कधी उपमेच्या मदतीने जीवनाच्या विविध अंगाची सांगड घालून सांगितलेलं तत्वज्ञान संस्कृत श्लोकांत चांगलं दिसत असेलही, पण जेंव्हा सावंत पाना-पानांत सारखं तेच करतात, तेव्हा मात्र जाम कंटाळा येतो! किती वेळा जीवनाला नदी म्हणणार याला पण काही मर्यादा!
दानशूर कर्ण!
महारथी कर्ण!
ज्येष्ठ कौन्तेय!
राधेय!
सुर्यपुत्र!
कर्ण! कर्ण! कर्ण!
त्याचा त्याग, त्याने भोगलेल्या यातना, सोसलेले कष्ट, त्याचं निखळ मित्रप्रेम, त्याचा आदर्शवाद… सारं कसं सावंत डोळ्यांपुढे जिवंत उभं करतात! बोजड भाषेच्या साखळदंडांना सहज तोडून पुढे उभी राहते, ती ही कर्णकथा! वाचून मन क्षुब्ध करून टाकते, कर्णासाठी डोळ्यांत अश्रू उभी करते, ती ही प्रभावी, प्रेरक, हृदयद्रावक, जिवंत कर्णकथा! वेळ मिळाला तर जरूर वाचावी अशी!
भाषा
जेंव्हा पुस्तक वाचायला सुरुवात केली, तेव्हा वाटलं, "अरे देवा! कोणती बुद्धी सुचली आणि हे वाचायला घेतलं!" जड जड विशेषणांचा वापर करून बोजड झालेली सावंतांची भाषा माझ्या सहनशक्तीचा अंत पाहत होती! बरं, समर्पक तरी असावीत विशेषणं… तेही नाही! "रसरशीत इंगळ्या" म्हणे! साधी, सोपी, सरळ आणि सुंदर वाक्यरचना "मृत्यंजय" मध्ये बघायला मिळणं तसं दुर्मिळच. सावंतांच्या भाषेला जर विशेषणं द्यायची म्हटली, तर "ओघवती" हे माझ्या मनात सर्वात शेवटी येईल.
संस्कृतप्रचुर भाषा मात्र मृत्यंजयला शोभत होती. तोच काय एक तो "मृत्यंजय" च्या भाषाशैलीचा मला आवडलेला पैलू. त्या काळात गेल्यासारखं वाटत होतं! आपणही कर्णाबरोबर हस्तिनापुरात, त्याच्या वाड्यात, राहतो आहोत, फिरतो आहोत, असच वाटलं!
तत्वज्ञान
बापरे! हा आणखी एक अत्यंत कंटाळवाणा आणि रटाळ भाग! संस्कृत श्लोकांचा सरळ-सरळ मराठीत अनुवाद असलेले तत्वज्ञानाचे ते परिच्छेद पाहिले की "आपण एक प्रगल्भ ललितकलाकृती वाचतो आहेत का बाळबोध अध्यात्मिक पुस्तक?" असाच प्रश्न मनाला पडला. पांडवांना लाक्षागृहात पाठवण्यासाठी धृतराष्ट्राला तयार करण्याचं काम होतं आमात्य वृषवर्मांवर. तेंव्हा त्यांनी पाने-नि-पाने भरून सांगितलेलं तत्वज्ञान, आणि नंतरचा धृतराष्ट्राचा निर्णय कोणत्याही तर्कशुद्ध माणसाला पटणार नाही.
प्रत्येक ठिकाणी निसर्गातल्या गोष्टींच्या आधारे कधी रूपक अलंकारातून, तर कधी उपमेच्या मदतीने जीवनाच्या विविध अंगाची सांगड घालून सांगितलेलं तत्वज्ञान संस्कृत श्लोकांत चांगलं दिसत असेलही, पण जेंव्हा सावंत पाना-पानांत सारखं तेच करतात, तेव्हा मात्र जाम कंटाळा येतो! किती वेळा जीवनाला नदी म्हणणार याला पण काही मर्यादा!
May 16, 2012
Back in 1999 I was a bachelors student of chemical engineering at IIT Kanpur. This particular IIT has always been very particular about academics & we 2nd year students had to spent 4-5 hrs@daily in the fantastic central library.
The library was three storied & centrally air cooled. In the humid summer of the Gangetic plains (Kanpur) the library the only oasis of certitude.
It was one of those days when our of sheer boredom from my technical subjects, I wandered off towards the 2nd floor section of religious/spiritual section. Therein among the many version of Koran, Gita & Ramayan, tucked away was this book 'Mrityunjaya' English translation by the Writer's Workshop Calcutta.
Flipping away few pages got me hooked & I got this book issued. The book is a absolute gem. I couldn't get myself detached from it ever since. Completed this book within 3 days & was mesmerized.
Read it again 5-6 times in my 3rd & 4th year, till the time I was there in IIT.
Graduation completed, had to leave IIT. Out of all things this book was rigging my imagination. I wanted to keep a copy of this forever with me, tried multiple times to search this book but to no avail (Those were nascent internet days 1999-2002)
At one time felt like keeping this only copy in the library with me & claim to the librarian that it was lost, I would have to pay its price & some additional fine. The book would at least be mine.
Thought it over many times, but than better sense prevailed. I realized to do this heinous crime would be a sure undoing of the philosophy of this book, the purpose of it would have been defeated. Let this book be a testimony to future generations of engineering students. Many could be besotted as me.
Many years later, saw it's Hindi translation in Jabalpur railway station. I couldn't stop myself.
Re-read the Hindi (hindi version is as magical as the English one) atleast 4- times. Recommended & shared my book with as many as 10+ hindi book lovers. They all were as enthralled as me, wondering why didn't they read this before.
Now after so many years I see this English version available in www.flipkart.com.
Looking forward to reading the version I did back in 1999 as a teenager. Nostalgic?!
The library was three storied & centrally air cooled. In the humid summer of the Gangetic plains (Kanpur) the library the only oasis of certitude.
It was one of those days when our of sheer boredom from my technical subjects, I wandered off towards the 2nd floor section of religious/spiritual section. Therein among the many version of Koran, Gita & Ramayan, tucked away was this book 'Mrityunjaya' English translation by the Writer's Workshop Calcutta.
Flipping away few pages got me hooked & I got this book issued. The book is a absolute gem. I couldn't get myself detached from it ever since. Completed this book within 3 days & was mesmerized.
Read it again 5-6 times in my 3rd & 4th year, till the time I was there in IIT.
Graduation completed, had to leave IIT. Out of all things this book was rigging my imagination. I wanted to keep a copy of this forever with me, tried multiple times to search this book but to no avail (Those were nascent internet days 1999-2002)
At one time felt like keeping this only copy in the library with me & claim to the librarian that it was lost, I would have to pay its price & some additional fine. The book would at least be mine.
Thought it over many times, but than better sense prevailed. I realized to do this heinous crime would be a sure undoing of the philosophy of this book, the purpose of it would have been defeated. Let this book be a testimony to future generations of engineering students. Many could be besotted as me.
Many years later, saw it's Hindi translation in Jabalpur railway station. I couldn't stop myself.
Re-read the Hindi (hindi version is as magical as the English one) atleast 4- times. Recommended & shared my book with as many as 10+ hindi book lovers. They all were as enthralled as me, wondering why didn't they read this before.
Now after so many years I see this English version available in www.flipkart.com.
Looking forward to reading the version I did back in 1999 as a teenager. Nostalgic?!
March 15, 2012
This is a tremendously well written book. unlike books written by other Indian author`s who go on about a character's looks for pages and pages, this book has just enough pertinent details to help the reader to instantly 'see' the character and conjure up an image that is as close as possible to the way you see them in your mind.
It is a philosophical and psychological insight into the Mahabharat. It portrays the idiosyncrasy of each character. Their wealthy and decadent lifestyle, which is overpowered by ego, treachery, selfishness on one side and by virtue, selflessness, integrity and love on the other side, which weaves a web called life and consumes a person in the tangles of revenge and rivalry.
This book portrays karna, with all his flaws and does not just show him as an epitome of goodness. The ending is concluded well, with Sri Krishna reciting the ultimate war and karna`s noble death.
Nevertheless this book teaches a lot in terms of good and bad, having the ability to bring tears into the reader`s eyes.
It is a philosophical and psychological insight into the Mahabharat. It portrays the idiosyncrasy of each character. Their wealthy and decadent lifestyle, which is overpowered by ego, treachery, selfishness on one side and by virtue, selflessness, integrity and love on the other side, which weaves a web called life and consumes a person in the tangles of revenge and rivalry.
This book portrays karna, with all his flaws and does not just show him as an epitome of goodness. The ending is concluded well, with Sri Krishna reciting the ultimate war and karna`s noble death.
Nevertheless this book teaches a lot in terms of good and bad, having the ability to bring tears into the reader`s eyes.
November 7, 2014
I think I mostly seem to end up reviewing Mahabharata retellings. That is my current favorite reading, and it reflects in my choices.
Mrityunjaya is definitely one of the more profound retellings I have read. It is on par with Parva. Unfortunately, I have been able to read both these books only as translations, and somewhere that does influence the reading experience. One can appreciate the way the author has recreated the psychological complexity of the characters, but somehow the language remains stilted and there is no thrill in rereading.
But even that aside, Mrityunjaya has been a great reading experience. We get a different perspective on each of the characters, specially the principal narrators, Karna, Kunti, Duryodhana and Krishna and to a lesser extent Vrishali and Shona.
Karna in this story is intensely human. He is neither a villainous crony of the bad Duryodhana, neither is he the poor innocent led into the wrong path by Duryodhana. Indeed Duryodhana himself is not really evil. Karna does not even try to be self-righteous. There is no justification for any of his conduct. Indeed the description of Draupadi's disrobing and Karna's own conduct during the episode is one of the best parts of the book. It gives no justification for his conduct. It is narrated in Karna's own voice, and the raising anger in him as he waits for her to ask for his help and realizes she will not ask for it and it is like a slap on his already sensitive ego. All the energy he is building up to save her is instead turned against her as he insults her and incites the disrobing. After the deed is done, Karna practically mourns for himself as though he is dead. Every routine in his life has lost its meaning, because he hit out at a person in her weak moment, worse because he is a just man and he realizes he took revenge for all the humiliation he had faced in his life on a woman, as though she was the cause of it, when in reality she was only a small part of it. Karna punishes himself for more for his conduct, than any punishment Arjuna or Krishna ever inflict on him.
No doubt to a person with more modern day sensibility, Karna's obsession with his low caste seems strange. Why then can he not get over it? Why does he think it is an insult? At one point he says his whole being recoiled at the thought that he was a charioteers son. But then, it is actually very much in keeping with his character. Karna is part of the system which has accepted the caste system for whatever it is. He chafes against it because it is stopping him from doing something he craves, denying him the recognition he thinks he deserves. But beyond that Karna is no social reformer challenging the caste system. He seems to accept the system, he is just frustrated by where it has placed him.
And even though his foster parents never explicitly tell him that he is adopted, it is almost like he senses it from the beginning. He wonders why he has a flesh armour and earrings when his brother has none. That armour always marks him out as special, in his own mind, and the ego gets pretty hurt when others like Drona fail to recognize this.
This relationship with the flesh armour and earrings is explored well in this book. It is indeed very much a part of Karna himself and he has a great attachment to what it signifies. The pain on parting with it is therefore wrenching. And there are moving descriptions on how Karna learnt to live without them, without the armour which had made him invincible in war. How he learns to cope with pain.
Duryodhana is an interesting character. THe book clarifies that Duryodhana knew about Karna even before he made his momentous entry in the sports arena. In fact, he is one of those who treats Karna with courtesy right from the beginning, which makes Karna warm up to him. His charisma is evident in the way he is able to make Karna feel wanted and recognized, something which Yudhishtra fails to do. Even though Duryodhana as the narrator tries to assume a more negative shade, by stating upfront that he only sought Karna because he always perceived him to be special and therefore useful, at some level, without even stating it, the narrative betrays his deep affection for Karna. He does not have an equal relationship with him, Karna is always his inferior, but there is still a great attachment towards him, and genuine concern for his well being.
The dynamics between the friends is well explored. One always wonders what was the role of Karna in many of Duryodhana's strategems. This book paints neither as saints. Each influences the other towards a particularly stupid or thoughtless piece of action. Karna may not be for the dice game, but he does encourage Duryodhana in the final battle. In fact there is a scene where Duryodhana, after the Virata skirmish, betrays his fear of the Pandavas and wonders if he should make peace. But Karna, full of righteous wrath (his brother Shona has just been killed by Arjuna in the skirmish) openly encourages him to battle, promising the support of all the kings he suppressed in the Vijay yatra.
If at all, there is a negative character in this book, it is Drona.No one seems to have a great opinion of him, not even his son, Ashwathama, who is shown to be a close friend of Karna (at some level, even closer than Duryodhana).
Karna's relationship with the Pandavas is also quite realistic. The Pandavas are not villains in his life. There is a simmerring rivalry with Arjuna, but beyond that he does not seem to nurture an enmity towards them. In fact in some places, he conveys a deep respect for them, for the way they survived Varanavrata, for the way they transformed Khandivaprastha. He also acknowledges that Duryodhana is not always just in his treatment of them. But none of the Pandavas ever make an attempt to engage him in any way, right from the time he was their fellow student, so he has no special feelings towards them and therefore pledges his allegiance to Duryodhana who at least seems to bother that he exists. This is quite realistic, since it would be strange to accept that an independent thinking and otherwise just man would harbor a deep resentment against people who have not done him any great personal harm.
Similarly, there is no great outpouring of affection when he realizes they are his brothers either. The only outpouring of affection is for Draupadi and that has nothing to do with the newly discovered relationship. In fact after the relationship is discovered, Karna does not spend too much time brooding over his brothers at all. It helps that the narrator changes at this section and it is Krishna who narrates those sections of the war, where Karna is on the battlefield. We therefore do not really have a clue as to whether he has any brotherly feelings when he is fighting them. He spares their lives, as per his promise, but with no tenderness. Arjun may now be his blood brother but that does not absolve him of the crime of having killed Karnas first born as well as his foster brother.
The books strongest point is the way it has rooted Karna into his adoptive family. It is them, more than Duryodhana, who give him to strength to refuse Krishna's offer. In fact Karna tells Krishna outright that though they have both been brought up by adoptive parents that is where the similarity ends. Krishna walked out of Yashoda's life, he left behind the Gopikas of gokul. But Karna will not abandon Adhiratha or Radha. Radha has a greater claim to be his mother compared to Kunti. Shona's claim as his brother is much more than Arjuna. And he will not now betray Vrishali, who stood by him all these years, and accept Draupadi.
In fact when I see the inanities of the Star Plus Mahabharat, with its frenzied attempt to paint Duryodhan as a monster and Karna's insipid support for him (Main apne mitr ko nahi chod sakta, whatever), and the teary hindi filmi farewell for Karna on his 'mother's' lap, with all his 'brothers' weeping over him (Duryodhana is conveniently absent from the scene), I am tempted to fling this book at the writers and ask them to get some perspective. Karna's death scene in this book is awe inspiring. And there is no maudlin sentimentality after that, when the Pandavas find out his true identity. The book is not interested in telling us how they reacted to it, because that is not Karna's story. His story died with his death. And how his brothers reconciled to the death is not his business.
Mrityunjaya is definitely one of the more profound retellings I have read. It is on par with Parva. Unfortunately, I have been able to read both these books only as translations, and somewhere that does influence the reading experience. One can appreciate the way the author has recreated the psychological complexity of the characters, but somehow the language remains stilted and there is no thrill in rereading.
But even that aside, Mrityunjaya has been a great reading experience. We get a different perspective on each of the characters, specially the principal narrators, Karna, Kunti, Duryodhana and Krishna and to a lesser extent Vrishali and Shona.
Karna in this story is intensely human. He is neither a villainous crony of the bad Duryodhana, neither is he the poor innocent led into the wrong path by Duryodhana. Indeed Duryodhana himself is not really evil. Karna does not even try to be self-righteous. There is no justification for any of his conduct. Indeed the description of Draupadi's disrobing and Karna's own conduct during the episode is one of the best parts of the book. It gives no justification for his conduct. It is narrated in Karna's own voice, and the raising anger in him as he waits for her to ask for his help and realizes she will not ask for it and it is like a slap on his already sensitive ego. All the energy he is building up to save her is instead turned against her as he insults her and incites the disrobing. After the deed is done, Karna practically mourns for himself as though he is dead. Every routine in his life has lost its meaning, because he hit out at a person in her weak moment, worse because he is a just man and he realizes he took revenge for all the humiliation he had faced in his life on a woman, as though she was the cause of it, when in reality she was only a small part of it. Karna punishes himself for more for his conduct, than any punishment Arjuna or Krishna ever inflict on him.
No doubt to a person with more modern day sensibility, Karna's obsession with his low caste seems strange. Why then can he not get over it? Why does he think it is an insult? At one point he says his whole being recoiled at the thought that he was a charioteers son. But then, it is actually very much in keeping with his character. Karna is part of the system which has accepted the caste system for whatever it is. He chafes against it because it is stopping him from doing something he craves, denying him the recognition he thinks he deserves. But beyond that Karna is no social reformer challenging the caste system. He seems to accept the system, he is just frustrated by where it has placed him.
And even though his foster parents never explicitly tell him that he is adopted, it is almost like he senses it from the beginning. He wonders why he has a flesh armour and earrings when his brother has none. That armour always marks him out as special, in his own mind, and the ego gets pretty hurt when others like Drona fail to recognize this.
This relationship with the flesh armour and earrings is explored well in this book. It is indeed very much a part of Karna himself and he has a great attachment to what it signifies. The pain on parting with it is therefore wrenching. And there are moving descriptions on how Karna learnt to live without them, without the armour which had made him invincible in war. How he learns to cope with pain.
Duryodhana is an interesting character. THe book clarifies that Duryodhana knew about Karna even before he made his momentous entry in the sports arena. In fact, he is one of those who treats Karna with courtesy right from the beginning, which makes Karna warm up to him. His charisma is evident in the way he is able to make Karna feel wanted and recognized, something which Yudhishtra fails to do. Even though Duryodhana as the narrator tries to assume a more negative shade, by stating upfront that he only sought Karna because he always perceived him to be special and therefore useful, at some level, without even stating it, the narrative betrays his deep affection for Karna. He does not have an equal relationship with him, Karna is always his inferior, but there is still a great attachment towards him, and genuine concern for his well being.
The dynamics between the friends is well explored. One always wonders what was the role of Karna in many of Duryodhana's strategems. This book paints neither as saints. Each influences the other towards a particularly stupid or thoughtless piece of action. Karna may not be for the dice game, but he does encourage Duryodhana in the final battle. In fact there is a scene where Duryodhana, after the Virata skirmish, betrays his fear of the Pandavas and wonders if he should make peace. But Karna, full of righteous wrath (his brother Shona has just been killed by Arjuna in the skirmish) openly encourages him to battle, promising the support of all the kings he suppressed in the Vijay yatra.
If at all, there is a negative character in this book, it is Drona.No one seems to have a great opinion of him, not even his son, Ashwathama, who is shown to be a close friend of Karna (at some level, even closer than Duryodhana).
Karna's relationship with the Pandavas is also quite realistic. The Pandavas are not villains in his life. There is a simmerring rivalry with Arjuna, but beyond that he does not seem to nurture an enmity towards them. In fact in some places, he conveys a deep respect for them, for the way they survived Varanavrata, for the way they transformed Khandivaprastha. He also acknowledges that Duryodhana is not always just in his treatment of them. But none of the Pandavas ever make an attempt to engage him in any way, right from the time he was their fellow student, so he has no special feelings towards them and therefore pledges his allegiance to Duryodhana who at least seems to bother that he exists. This is quite realistic, since it would be strange to accept that an independent thinking and otherwise just man would harbor a deep resentment against people who have not done him any great personal harm.
Similarly, there is no great outpouring of affection when he realizes they are his brothers either. The only outpouring of affection is for Draupadi and that has nothing to do with the newly discovered relationship. In fact after the relationship is discovered, Karna does not spend too much time brooding over his brothers at all. It helps that the narrator changes at this section and it is Krishna who narrates those sections of the war, where Karna is on the battlefield. We therefore do not really have a clue as to whether he has any brotherly feelings when he is fighting them. He spares their lives, as per his promise, but with no tenderness. Arjun may now be his blood brother but that does not absolve him of the crime of having killed Karnas first born as well as his foster brother.
The books strongest point is the way it has rooted Karna into his adoptive family. It is them, more than Duryodhana, who give him to strength to refuse Krishna's offer. In fact Karna tells Krishna outright that though they have both been brought up by adoptive parents that is where the similarity ends. Krishna walked out of Yashoda's life, he left behind the Gopikas of gokul. But Karna will not abandon Adhiratha or Radha. Radha has a greater claim to be his mother compared to Kunti. Shona's claim as his brother is much more than Arjuna. And he will not now betray Vrishali, who stood by him all these years, and accept Draupadi.
In fact when I see the inanities of the Star Plus Mahabharat, with its frenzied attempt to paint Duryodhan as a monster and Karna's insipid support for him (Main apne mitr ko nahi chod sakta, whatever), and the teary hindi filmi farewell for Karna on his 'mother's' lap, with all his 'brothers' weeping over him (Duryodhana is conveniently absent from the scene), I am tempted to fling this book at the writers and ask them to get some perspective. Karna's death scene in this book is awe inspiring. And there is no maudlin sentimentality after that, when the Pandavas find out his true identity. The book is not interested in telling us how they reacted to it, because that is not Karna's story. His story died with his death. And how his brothers reconciled to the death is not his business.
June 7, 2012
For months, I tried finding this book in bookstores and libraries but couldn't find it. Thanks to Tim Berners-Lee, I finally managed to buy a copy of it online. But I had to shell out a hefty amount on the hardbound edition with shining golden-bordered pages and velvet coating. But the book is totally worth it.
The book is a psychological insight into various characters of Mahabharat - primarily that of Karna. The English version of the book, although a little hazy with language, nonetheless forms a great read. The highs and lows of Karna's life (and also that of others) are all too vivid. This is one of the very few books that made me empathize for the protagonist. The book is divided into 9 soliloquies - one each by Kunti, Duryodhan, Karna's wife Vrushali, Karna's younger brother Shon, Sri Krishna and 4 by Karna himself. This is one book that would stay on my bookshelf forever.
PS : If you are good with Marathi, read the original Marathi edition of this book.
The book is a psychological insight into various characters of Mahabharat - primarily that of Karna. The English version of the book, although a little hazy with language, nonetheless forms a great read. The highs and lows of Karna's life (and also that of others) are all too vivid. This is one of the very few books that made me empathize for the protagonist. The book is divided into 9 soliloquies - one each by Kunti, Duryodhan, Karna's wife Vrushali, Karna's younger brother Shon, Sri Krishna and 4 by Karna himself. This is one book that would stay on my bookshelf forever.
PS : If you are good with Marathi, read the original Marathi edition of this book.
February 27, 2023
Back in 2000 when I was doing my under-graduation, I went to my college library. I wanted to pick up physics book when I saw an old dusty Marathi book in the corner shelf.
I used to read comics back then but had not read any big bulky book which is called as Kadambari in Marathi. The temptation took over and I got Mrityunjaya instead of that boring physics books and I'm so glad I did.
The librarian looked at me like I must have lost my mind coz nobody had enough time for studies, forget about random reading and there I was picking up a hefty Marathi classic above 700 odd pages. To be frank, it gave me a weird satisfaction to see her flinched face. I was enamoured in my glory. Of course I did bad in the next exams as I couldn't study but it was worth it and I always recovered my grades quite fast. Not to boast but that was how I was back in those days.
So coming to book, it's a classic book everyone should read. Mahabharata is an Indian epic everyone must have heard about. Karna is a grey character in Mahabharata mostly painted in darker shades rather than lighter. Mrutyunjay is a well renowned marathi book. Mrutyunjaya is an outstanding instance of such a literary masterpiece in which a contemporary Marathi novelist investigates the meaning of the bewildering skein that is life through the personae of the Mahabharata protagonists. Mrityunjaya is the autobiography of Karna, and yet it is not just that. With deceptive case, Sawant brings into play an exceptional stylistic innovation by combining six "dramatic soliloquies" to form the nine books of this novel of epic dimensions Mrutyunjay book is awarded by Bhartiya Dyanpith Puraskar.
For me, Karna is the most humane. His story is told through multiple characters his wife, his mother, brother , friend and even Krishna.
“सत्य हे पाहणाऱ्यांच्या वा ऐकणाऱ्यांच्या इच्छेचा विचार कधीच करीत नसतं! ते नेहमीच जसं असतं तसंच पुढे येत असतं. उगवत्या सूर्यदेवासारखं!"
Karna's story is one of a kind. His mother , Kunti was granted the boon to bear a child with desired divine qualities from the gods and without much knowledge, Kunti invoked the sun god to confirm it if it was true indeed. Karna was secretly born to an unmarried Kunti in her teenage years. Fearing outrage and backlash from society over her premarital pregnancy, Kunti had no choice but to abandon the newly born Karna adrift in a basket on the Ganges, in the hope that he finds foster parents. The basket discovered and Karna is adopted and raised by foster Suta parents named Radha and Adhiratha Nandana of the charioteer and poet profession working for king Dhritarashtra. So a firstborn in royal family was raised by as a shudra.
He always found support in Duryodhan, a Kaurav Prince rather than his real family. He is a tragic hero in the Mahabharata, in a manner. He comes to know about his parentage and meets his biological mother late in the epic, and then discovers that he is the older half-brother of those he is fighting against.
Karna is a symbol of someone who is rejected by those who should have loved him but do not given the circumstances, yet becomes a man of exceptional abilities willing to give his love and life as a loyal friend.
His character is developed in the epic Mrityunjay to raise and discuss major emotional and dharma (duty, ethics, moral) dilemmas. He didn't just fought the great battle but a major personal conflict stood in front of him. He had to chose between his blood, his family and his friendship.
As he fought against Pandavas in Mahabharta, he is seen as a dark character and hence Mrityunjay kind of does justice to his story.
The portrayal is so enchanting and gripping that one will feel so dearly for Karna. My emotions were all over the place and it took me a while to gather myself up and get out of the world of Mrityunjaya. The very essence of the character is visioned perfectly and transformed into words, words that pierce the heart and make one feel endearingly caught into the complexity of the karna and his life and the chaos.
A must read for everyone!!!
Few quotes
“श्रद्धा म्हणजे काटेरी जीवनावरची हिरवळ! स्वत:वरच श्रद्धा हवी. ज्याची स्वत:वर – स्वत:च्या दिव्य स्वरूपावर श्रद्धा नाही तो जगासाठी, इतरांसाठी काहीच करू शकत नाही.”
“कारण कुणीही कधीच विसरू नये की, काळ हा अखंड आहे. जीवन ही भीक मागून मिळणारी वस्तू नव्हे. जीवन म्हणजे पूर्णत्वासाठी अनंताकडून अनंताकडे चालू असणारा अखंड प्रवास आहे!”
“आपल्याच विनाशाचे खड्डे खणणारा मानव हा या जगातला एकमेव प्राणी असावा!”
I used to read comics back then but had not read any big bulky book which is called as Kadambari in Marathi. The temptation took over and I got Mrityunjaya instead of that boring physics books and I'm so glad I did.
The librarian looked at me like I must have lost my mind coz nobody had enough time for studies, forget about random reading and there I was picking up a hefty Marathi classic above 700 odd pages. To be frank, it gave me a weird satisfaction to see her flinched face. I was enamoured in my glory. Of course I did bad in the next exams as I couldn't study but it was worth it and I always recovered my grades quite fast. Not to boast but that was how I was back in those days.
So coming to book, it's a classic book everyone should read. Mahabharata is an Indian epic everyone must have heard about. Karna is a grey character in Mahabharata mostly painted in darker shades rather than lighter. Mrutyunjay is a well renowned marathi book. Mrutyunjaya is an outstanding instance of such a literary masterpiece in which a contemporary Marathi novelist investigates the meaning of the bewildering skein that is life through the personae of the Mahabharata protagonists. Mrityunjaya is the autobiography of Karna, and yet it is not just that. With deceptive case, Sawant brings into play an exceptional stylistic innovation by combining six "dramatic soliloquies" to form the nine books of this novel of epic dimensions Mrutyunjay book is awarded by Bhartiya Dyanpith Puraskar.
For me, Karna is the most humane. His story is told through multiple characters his wife, his mother, brother , friend and even Krishna.
“सत्य हे पाहणाऱ्यांच्या वा ऐकणाऱ्यांच्या इच्छेचा विचार कधीच करीत नसतं! ते नेहमीच जसं असतं तसंच पुढे येत असतं. उगवत्या सूर्यदेवासारखं!"
Karna's story is one of a kind. His mother , Kunti was granted the boon to bear a child with desired divine qualities from the gods and without much knowledge, Kunti invoked the sun god to confirm it if it was true indeed. Karna was secretly born to an unmarried Kunti in her teenage years. Fearing outrage and backlash from society over her premarital pregnancy, Kunti had no choice but to abandon the newly born Karna adrift in a basket on the Ganges, in the hope that he finds foster parents. The basket discovered and Karna is adopted and raised by foster Suta parents named Radha and Adhiratha Nandana of the charioteer and poet profession working for king Dhritarashtra. So a firstborn in royal family was raised by as a shudra.
He always found support in Duryodhan, a Kaurav Prince rather than his real family. He is a tragic hero in the Mahabharata, in a manner. He comes to know about his parentage and meets his biological mother late in the epic, and then discovers that he is the older half-brother of those he is fighting against.
Karna is a symbol of someone who is rejected by those who should have loved him but do not given the circumstances, yet becomes a man of exceptional abilities willing to give his love and life as a loyal friend.
His character is developed in the epic Mrityunjay to raise and discuss major emotional and dharma (duty, ethics, moral) dilemmas. He didn't just fought the great battle but a major personal conflict stood in front of him. He had to chose between his blood, his family and his friendship.
As he fought against Pandavas in Mahabharta, he is seen as a dark character and hence Mrityunjay kind of does justice to his story.
The portrayal is so enchanting and gripping that one will feel so dearly for Karna. My emotions were all over the place and it took me a while to gather myself up and get out of the world of Mrityunjaya. The very essence of the character is visioned perfectly and transformed into words, words that pierce the heart and make one feel endearingly caught into the complexity of the karna and his life and the chaos.
A must read for everyone!!!
Few quotes
“श्रद्धा म्हणजे काटेरी जीवनावरची हिरवळ! स्वत:वरच श्रद्धा हवी. ज्याची स्वत:वर – स्वत:च्या दिव्य स्वरूपावर श्रद्धा नाही तो जगासाठी, इतरांसाठी काहीच करू शकत नाही.”
“कारण कुणीही कधीच विसरू नये की, काळ हा अखंड आहे. जीवन ही भीक मागून मिळणारी वस्तू नव्हे. जीवन म्हणजे पूर्णत्वासाठी अनंताकडून अनंताकडे चालू असणारा अखंड प्रवास आहे!”
“आपल्याच विनाशाचे खड्डे खणणारा मानव हा या जगातला एकमेव प्राणी असावा!”
February 9, 2010
I managed to read this book after searching for it for nearly 3-4 years. The English translation is a bit clunky as some sentences are directly translated and therefore they do not hold the same impact. That being said this book is a work of genius.
Shivaji Sawant has written about Karna and re-imagined the Mahabharata around him. The book is made of nine section with 4 of them being from Karna's viewpoint, and the rest from the Viewpoints of Duryodhana, Kunti[His biological mother:], Vrishali[Karna's 1st wife:], Shon[his foster brother:] & Shri Krishna.
The book is not entirely canonical and gives us a rather humane viewpoint into the happenings of the Mahabharata. Karna's valour, his thoughts, his behaviour is entirely laid bare in this book. He's a not a shining knight as this book shows us the grayness of his actions. The Pandavas are also shown in a more humanistic light as most other MBH books often paint them in all bright and Godly colours however they were humans and they too had their bad sides.
The original beauty of the Mahabharata is that the epic showcases humanity in all its glory and viciousness & no characters are truly good or bad. This book has epitomized this principle and has given a rather stark and beautiful picture of the life of one of the greatest human beings who ever lived.
October 21, 2017
There are so many mixed emotions inside me now that I have finished reading this epic based on Karna's life, 'Mrityunjay'.
I am yet to come across an author who has such impeccable research about everything ranging from names and back stories of almost all characters involved, to the names of the food items, flora and fauna, musical instruments, regions and kingdoms (smallest to largest), mountain ranges, weapons used in the war, the rivers and their tributaries and the distance and time taken to travel from one place to another. The language is mesmerizing and even that is an understatement.
'Mrityunjay' takes us through the life of Karna right from his birth till his death, and is a story from different character POVs (including his own) - characters who were close to Karna - like his wife Vrushali, his friend Duryodhan, his brother Shon, his mother Kunti and ends with the POV of Krishna - which makes this book a treat with respect to philosophical learnings and the actual war story. The book is filled with similes and metaphors and one has to be tremendously focussed to get the whole meaning of it. Many sentences are long and filled with vivid imagery. The descriptions are so scintillating and dramatic that the reader is automatically drawn physically inside the story. I could feel myself standing at the banks of Ganga looking into the sun, or right amidst the fighting soldiers of Kurukshetra. I could feel myself crying silently at the loss of Karna's Kavach and Kundals.
Some passages are extremely thought provoking and it is quite evident throughout the book that the author, Mr. Shivaji Sawant has put colossal effort to ensure he doesn't leave us with a single question. Yes, he ensures that the reader reels for quite some time under the heavy philosophy though.
Who was Karna? A victim of casteism and patriarchy? A strong powerful indestructible force? A loyal friend? Who is the villain and who is the hero? It throws some really staggering philosophical questions like the meaning of living, the significance of Dharma and Karma, the inevitability of business and politics, the purpose of a human being. And gives some quite subtle answers to it in the form of the wise ones - Ashvatthama and Krishna. Karna lost the war (or did he?), but its always the loser's (?) story that teaches us the most essential.
It is very difficult to maintain the adventure in a story when the reader most likely knows how the story is going to turn out. This book took the challenge up gracefully and successfully managed to extract the exact extreme emotions out of me despite me knowing in advance where the story would turn.
As a feminist, the patriarchy was evident. Unlike "Yajnaseni" (for which I had gone on a lengthy rant trip) the women here are portrayed exactly as they should have been. These were also women who were victims of patriarchy and the story isn't changed at all but I found the treatment given to the characters is quite different. Each character is portrayed with much charisma. One could still see the strength in them.
I am not sure how the English translation would work out what with all the rich flaming descriptions in Marathi. And still I would say if you can lay your hands on this one, please do. The ones who know Marathi please go for the Marathi one. Its a little tough but its worth it.
I am yet to come across an author who has such impeccable research about everything ranging from names and back stories of almost all characters involved, to the names of the food items, flora and fauna, musical instruments, regions and kingdoms (smallest to largest), mountain ranges, weapons used in the war, the rivers and their tributaries and the distance and time taken to travel from one place to another. The language is mesmerizing and even that is an understatement.
'Mrityunjay' takes us through the life of Karna right from his birth till his death, and is a story from different character POVs (including his own) - characters who were close to Karna - like his wife Vrushali, his friend Duryodhan, his brother Shon, his mother Kunti and ends with the POV of Krishna - which makes this book a treat with respect to philosophical learnings and the actual war story. The book is filled with similes and metaphors and one has to be tremendously focussed to get the whole meaning of it. Many sentences are long and filled with vivid imagery. The descriptions are so scintillating and dramatic that the reader is automatically drawn physically inside the story. I could feel myself standing at the banks of Ganga looking into the sun, or right amidst the fighting soldiers of Kurukshetra. I could feel myself crying silently at the loss of Karna's Kavach and Kundals.
Some passages are extremely thought provoking and it is quite evident throughout the book that the author, Mr. Shivaji Sawant has put colossal effort to ensure he doesn't leave us with a single question. Yes, he ensures that the reader reels for quite some time under the heavy philosophy though.
Who was Karna? A victim of casteism and patriarchy? A strong powerful indestructible force? A loyal friend? Who is the villain and who is the hero? It throws some really staggering philosophical questions like the meaning of living, the significance of Dharma and Karma, the inevitability of business and politics, the purpose of a human being. And gives some quite subtle answers to it in the form of the wise ones - Ashvatthama and Krishna. Karna lost the war (or did he?), but its always the loser's (?) story that teaches us the most essential.
It is very difficult to maintain the adventure in a story when the reader most likely knows how the story is going to turn out. This book took the challenge up gracefully and successfully managed to extract the exact extreme emotions out of me despite me knowing in advance where the story would turn.
As a feminist, the patriarchy was evident. Unlike "Yajnaseni" (for which I had gone on a lengthy rant trip) the women here are portrayed exactly as they should have been. These were also women who were victims of patriarchy and the story isn't changed at all but I found the treatment given to the characters is quite different. Each character is portrayed with much charisma. One could still see the strength in them.
I am not sure how the English translation would work out what with all the rich flaming descriptions in Marathi. And still I would say if you can lay your hands on this one, please do. The ones who know Marathi please go for the Marathi one. Its a little tough but its worth it.
January 20, 2022
As an Indian, I grew up hearing and watching the epics of Ramayana & Mahabharata - two of the oldest and largest epics ever written. While I was aware of most of Ramayana, I always found Mahabharata too complex and mystifying to understand. Perhaps that is the reason why I was sceptical about picking 'Mrutyunjay' as my first read of the 2022 Reading Challenge. Mrutyunjay is a story of an unsung yet highly significant character of the Mahabharata - Karna.
Despite my initial aversions to picking a mythological fiction novel, I am glad that I did it. I have never read a Marathi novel more beautifully written. Penned by Shivaji Sawant, Mrutyunjay seeks to explore the meaning and purpose of the bewildering complexities of life through the life of Karna.
Background: Mahabharata is a story of the great war between the Pandavas (sons of King Pandu of the Kuru dynasty) and the Kauravas (sons of Dhritarashtra - Pandu's cousin).
Karna is the son of the Sun God and princess Kunti (mother of the Pandavas) and thus a demigod. Kunti was granted the boon to bear a child with desired divine qualities from the gods. Without an intention to have a child, Kunti invoked the Sun God to confirm if it was true. Karna was secretly born to an unmarried Kunti in her teenage. Fearing outrage and backlash from society over her premarital pregnancy, Kunti had no choice but to abandon the newly born Karna adrift in a basket on the Ganges in the hope that he finds foster parents. Fortunately for baby Karna, the basket was discovered by a Suta (lower caste) couple Radha and Adhiratha, a charioteer working for king Dhritarashtra. Karna was born with natural unbreakable armour and earrings.
Life of Karna: I grew up listening to stories of Karna - about his unnatural bodily gifts and his celebrated quality of charity. However, I learned about the struggles of his life through Mrutyunjay. Though perhaps only a fictional story, the epic of Mahabharata reflects the evils of the caste system in ancient India, and Mrutyunjay truly captures the essence of it via Karna's life. Despite being the mightiest and unbeatable demigod, Karna had a life full of humiliations, for he was a son of a charioteer, a mere Suta.
Karna spends his whole life finding who he truly is and proving his worth despite his lower caste. His blood relations, the Pandavas, who are unaware of the fact that Karna was their eldest brother, ridicule him for his lower social stature.
The antagonist of the Pandavas, their cousin Duryodhana (son of Dhritarashtra), uses this opportunity and makes the powerful Karna his ally. Ultimately, Karna fights the war of Mahabharata for Kauravas against the Pandavas.
Author Shivaji Sawant in Mrutyunjay makes use of soliloquy to narrate different stages of this story from the perspectives of various characters in Karna's life. The intriguing use of embellished language keeps the readers engrossed in the story. Sage Vyas built this fascinating world of Mahabharata - millennia later, authors like Sawant are only enriching it with such retellings. Mryutyunjay is undoubtedly one of the finest masterpieces in Marathi literature, and for its praise, the words will fall short.
Despite my initial aversions to picking a mythological fiction novel, I am glad that I did it. I have never read a Marathi novel more beautifully written. Penned by Shivaji Sawant, Mrutyunjay seeks to explore the meaning and purpose of the bewildering complexities of life through the life of Karna.
Background: Mahabharata is a story of the great war between the Pandavas (sons of King Pandu of the Kuru dynasty) and the Kauravas (sons of Dhritarashtra - Pandu's cousin).
Karna is the son of the Sun God and princess Kunti (mother of the Pandavas) and thus a demigod. Kunti was granted the boon to bear a child with desired divine qualities from the gods. Without an intention to have a child, Kunti invoked the Sun God to confirm if it was true. Karna was secretly born to an unmarried Kunti in her teenage. Fearing outrage and backlash from society over her premarital pregnancy, Kunti had no choice but to abandon the newly born Karna adrift in a basket on the Ganges in the hope that he finds foster parents. Fortunately for baby Karna, the basket was discovered by a Suta (lower caste) couple Radha and Adhiratha, a charioteer working for king Dhritarashtra. Karna was born with natural unbreakable armour and earrings.
Life of Karna: I grew up listening to stories of Karna - about his unnatural bodily gifts and his celebrated quality of charity. However, I learned about the struggles of his life through Mrutyunjay. Though perhaps only a fictional story, the epic of Mahabharata reflects the evils of the caste system in ancient India, and Mrutyunjay truly captures the essence of it via Karna's life. Despite being the mightiest and unbeatable demigod, Karna had a life full of humiliations, for he was a son of a charioteer, a mere Suta.
Karna spends his whole life finding who he truly is and proving his worth despite his lower caste. His blood relations, the Pandavas, who are unaware of the fact that Karna was their eldest brother, ridicule him for his lower social stature.
The antagonist of the Pandavas, their cousin Duryodhana (son of Dhritarashtra), uses this opportunity and makes the powerful Karna his ally. Ultimately, Karna fights the war of Mahabharata for Kauravas against the Pandavas.
Author Shivaji Sawant in Mrutyunjay makes use of soliloquy to narrate different stages of this story from the perspectives of various characters in Karna's life. The intriguing use of embellished language keeps the readers engrossed in the story. Sage Vyas built this fascinating world of Mahabharata - millennia later, authors like Sawant are only enriching it with such retellings. Mryutyunjay is undoubtedly one of the finest masterpieces in Marathi literature, and for its praise, the words will fall short.
November 8, 2018
I think one of the main differences between The Mahabharat and The Ramayan is ambiguity. Though I have not read the original versions of both the epics but I have read some books based on both of them and also from various other sources.The Ramayan tends on to show a way and strictly describs what is right path and what is wrong path and the characters in The Ramayan are also tend (and I would say a kind of insisted) to follow the path of the rightiousnes which directly or indirectly is centralised towards the parotgonist of the epic- Ram. But in The Mahabharat each and every character chooses it's own path, takes it's own stand and ultimately faces the consequences of the path he/she has taken, the side he/she chooses and the stand he/she takes. The emphasis of The Ramayan's characterisation is on showing its characters as "Perfect Beings" and the emphasis of characterisation of The Mahabharat is on portraying its characters as "Perfect HUMAN Beings". All the characters in the epic are flawed, grey shaded, following their own paths, making mistakes and are open to be judged and interpreted.
'Mrityunjay' is the story of one of the most charismatic and at the same time enigmatic character of The Mahabharat - Karn. Narrated through six perspectives - one of Karn himself and other five of the people who have played pivotal roles in his life. These perspectives include- Kunti- Karn's biological mother, Vrishali- Karn's first wife, Shon- Karn's foster brother, Duryodhan- Karn's best friend and Krishna- the man with whom Karn shares a mysterious and mythical bond. Though the book basically based on the life of Karn yet it's not just another Mahabharat retelling form his point of view. It is a deep and insightful study of Karn's character and life.
The best and the most unique thing about the novel is the multi-perspect narration. Unlike any other book which I have read based on the epic the central point of this book's every perspective is Karn and everything else is secondary. Thematically, in the book Karn is trying to decipher that who and what he is? But at the same time he is also trying to fit in the five perspectives. The restlessness, confusion, anger, and insecurities of loosing these people are shown wonderfully by the author. When Karn tells his story in the book it can be clearly seen that he is like a Sun shrouded by the clouds, due to these clouds he can only shine through the silver linings of these clouds. A Sun who is very desperate to shine with all it's warmth and potential, but at the same time he is bound to these clouds and now he does not want to lose these clouds.
All five perspectives concentrating on one man also raises a very basic existential question about indentity of a man. What makes identity of a human being? Is the identity created by what he thinks of himself or is it formed by the people around him? Like in the novel Karn's individual choices are highly influnced by those five perspectives, and these perspectives, directly or indirectly, are the reason of construction and destruction of Karn. It's almost towards the end Karn realises this great existential confusion, as he says himself - "I am not son of a charioteer, I am not son of Kunti, I am not son of the Sun God, I am just a man who is ready to face every adversity, ready to take every challenge given by life, and this is what I believe in...."
I used to watch B.R. Chopra's Mahabharat and I remember an episode which was the episode after Karn's death. In that episode Samay- the time itself (who is also the narrator of the epic in this TV series) says to the Sun God that his son will be a question mark till the end of the time. The dialogue writer of the show Dr. Rahi Masoom Raza was right. Karn, because of both choices he made and the situations he faced will remain a question mark. A question mark so ambiguous that everyone who will come across it will try to answer it the way one interprets it. And 'Mrityunjay' is my finest read interpretation of the eternal question mark.
A Classic In Every Sense.
'Mrityunjay' is the story of one of the most charismatic and at the same time enigmatic character of The Mahabharat - Karn. Narrated through six perspectives - one of Karn himself and other five of the people who have played pivotal roles in his life. These perspectives include- Kunti- Karn's biological mother, Vrishali- Karn's first wife, Shon- Karn's foster brother, Duryodhan- Karn's best friend and Krishna- the man with whom Karn shares a mysterious and mythical bond. Though the book basically based on the life of Karn yet it's not just another Mahabharat retelling form his point of view. It is a deep and insightful study of Karn's character and life.
The best and the most unique thing about the novel is the multi-perspect narration. Unlike any other book which I have read based on the epic the central point of this book's every perspective is Karn and everything else is secondary. Thematically, in the book Karn is trying to decipher that who and what he is? But at the same time he is also trying to fit in the five perspectives. The restlessness, confusion, anger, and insecurities of loosing these people are shown wonderfully by the author. When Karn tells his story in the book it can be clearly seen that he is like a Sun shrouded by the clouds, due to these clouds he can only shine through the silver linings of these clouds. A Sun who is very desperate to shine with all it's warmth and potential, but at the same time he is bound to these clouds and now he does not want to lose these clouds.
All five perspectives concentrating on one man also raises a very basic existential question about indentity of a man. What makes identity of a human being? Is the identity created by what he thinks of himself or is it formed by the people around him? Like in the novel Karn's individual choices are highly influnced by those five perspectives, and these perspectives, directly or indirectly, are the reason of construction and destruction of Karn. It's almost towards the end Karn realises this great existential confusion, as he says himself - "I am not son of a charioteer, I am not son of Kunti, I am not son of the Sun God, I am just a man who is ready to face every adversity, ready to take every challenge given by life, and this is what I believe in...."
I used to watch B.R. Chopra's Mahabharat and I remember an episode which was the episode after Karn's death. In that episode Samay- the time itself (who is also the narrator of the epic in this TV series) says to the Sun God that his son will be a question mark till the end of the time. The dialogue writer of the show Dr. Rahi Masoom Raza was right. Karn, because of both choices he made and the situations he faced will remain a question mark. A question mark so ambiguous that everyone who will come across it will try to answer it the way one interprets it. And 'Mrityunjay' is my finest read interpretation of the eternal question mark.
A Classic In Every Sense.
October 10, 2017
This book has been on my TBR for a long time, and finally, I managed to finish it. This is known as the best retelling of Mahabharata. This book is originally written in the Marathi language. The author of this book Shri. Shivaji Sawant is also known as ‘Mritunjayakar’.
You may read full review on my blog http://www.haloofbooks.com/mritunjaya...
This book starts with these lines “I want to say something today. Some will startle hearing my words. And wonder: How can anyone swallowed by death speak? But a time comes when the dead have to speak too. When the flesh-and-bones living behaves like the dead, then the dead have to come alive and speak out.”
Vasu is an adopted son of Radha and Adirath. Adirath is a charioteer of King Dhritarashtra in the kingdom of Hastinapur. Vasu was found on the shore of sacred river Ganga. The childless couple Radha and Adirath took him as the blessing of God. After adopting Vasu, Radha gives birth to a son named as Shon.
Both brothers, Vasu and Shon have a very good bonding and they can’t live without each other. As Vasu grew up he gets to know that he is not like the other people. He has an impenetrable armor and has golden flesh earrings which are attached to his body. He seems like a divine person, and due to this he is also called as ‘Karna’.
Since childhood, he has an interest in the weaponry and wanted to be a warrior. But his family profession is of a charioteer and everyone expected him to be the same. Contradictory to this, Karna wanted to be a warrior so Adirath took him to the Hastinapur.
Now here comes the main part, Being the sutaputra Guru Drona does not accept him as his disciple. Karna always felt a closeness to the Sun-god and considered him his Guru. In Hastinapur he meets various people like Arjun, Duryodhan. Arjun becomes his instant rival. Whereas Duryodhan becomes his friend.
Karna has to go through with various ups and down which finally put him in the mouth of death.
You may read full review on my blog http://www.haloofbooks.com/mritunjaya...
This book starts with these lines “I want to say something today. Some will startle hearing my words. And wonder: How can anyone swallowed by death speak? But a time comes when the dead have to speak too. When the flesh-and-bones living behaves like the dead, then the dead have to come alive and speak out.”
Vasu is an adopted son of Radha and Adirath. Adirath is a charioteer of King Dhritarashtra in the kingdom of Hastinapur. Vasu was found on the shore of sacred river Ganga. The childless couple Radha and Adirath took him as the blessing of God. After adopting Vasu, Radha gives birth to a son named as Shon.
Both brothers, Vasu and Shon have a very good bonding and they can’t live without each other. As Vasu grew up he gets to know that he is not like the other people. He has an impenetrable armor and has golden flesh earrings which are attached to his body. He seems like a divine person, and due to this he is also called as ‘Karna’.
Since childhood, he has an interest in the weaponry and wanted to be a warrior. But his family profession is of a charioteer and everyone expected him to be the same. Contradictory to this, Karna wanted to be a warrior so Adirath took him to the Hastinapur.
Now here comes the main part, Being the sutaputra Guru Drona does not accept him as his disciple. Karna always felt a closeness to the Sun-god and considered him his Guru. In Hastinapur he meets various people like Arjun, Duryodhan. Arjun becomes his instant rival. Whereas Duryodhan becomes his friend.
Karna has to go through with various ups and down which finally put him in the mouth of death.
July 25, 2021
मैं कौन हूं? ये एक प्रश्न जीवन भर कर्ण का पीछा करता रहा। कर्ण, वेद व्यास कृत महाभारत, का एक ऐसा पात्र है जो कभी हमारी करुणा तो कभी हमारे क्रोध का भाजक रहा है। तो फिर कौन है कर्ण - सुतपुत्र या सूर्यपुत्र? राधये या कौन्तेय? सर्वश्रेष्ठ धनुर्धर या एक शापित योद्धा? एक सौ एक कौरव या प्रथम पांडव? दानवीर जिसके सामने इंद्र को भी याचक बनना पड़ा या फिर वो जिसने द्युत-सभा में द्रौपदी का अपमान किया? ये ऐसे प्रश्न है जो सदियों से कर्ण को विवाद के घेरे में बांधे रखे हैं... और आगे भी रखे रखेंगे।
शिवाजी सावंत ने इन्ही सब प्रश्नो पर विवेचना करते हुए कर्ण के जीवन के हर पहलू पर दृष्टि डाली है। मृत्युंजय, महाभारत के छह पात्रों के द्वारा कर्ण के जीवन की कड़ियां जोड़ी चली जाती है- कर्ण, कुंती (जन्म-दात्री), दुर्योधन (प्राणप्रिय मित्र), शोण (छोटा भाई), वृषाली (ज्येष्ठ पत्नी) और भगवान कृष्ण। लेखक ने ना केवल कर्ण के जीवन पर ही दृष्टिपात किया है बल्कि इन पात्रों के माध्यम से जीवन-मृत्यु, धर्म-अधर्म, राजधर्म, कर्तव्य जैसे विषयों पर गहन चिंतन किया है। इसमें समाज शास्त्र, नीतिशास्त्र जैसे प्रश्नों पर भी चर्चा की है।
अवहेलना, अपमान, अभिषप्त से संतप्त जीवन में पग-पग पर कर्ण अपने जीवन की सार्थक्ता ढूँढने का प्रयास करता है, अपनी पहचान और अपने कर्तव्य के घोर आत्म-मंथन में झूझ रहा होता है। और जब उसका परिचय भगवान उसके अस्तित्व से कराते हैं तब वो वीर सत्य और वचन में से अंततः वचन को चुनता है।
लेखक ने कर्ण के अंदर के प्रश्न और भावनाओं का झंझावात बहुत ही सुंदर रूप में दर्शाया है। एक-एक शब्द पाठक को कहानी में बांधे रखते हैं। उसका और अश्वत्थामा की विभिन्न विषयों पर मुक्त चर्चा पढते मन नहीं भरता। शिवाजी की भाषा-शैली प्राकृतिक सौंदर्य को चुने हुए शब्दों से जैसे अलंकृत कर रही हो ऐसे प्रतीत होते हैं। कर्ण का सूर्य के प्रति आकर्षण, गंगा के पात्र में घंटों खड़े अर्ध्य देना, पाठकों को भावविभोर कर देता है। कर्ण के दिग्विजय यात्रा पर भारतवर्ष की सुंदरता को जिस प्रकार निरुपित किया है वो कल्पनातीत है। बाल्यवस्था से यौवन में जाते हुए, और प्रेम की प्रथम अनुभूति का प्रकृति के मध्यम से बहुत ही मोहक चित्रण किया है। श्रृंगार-रस, वीर-रस, अलंकार, इन सब से रचना एक रँगों से भरी अल्पना सी प्रतीत होती है।
कर्ण एक वीर योद्धा था, ये सत्य है। परंतु क्या वो न्याय-शील भी था? कर्ण महान दानवीर था। परंतु क्या वह छमा-शील भी था? शिवाजी सावंत ने कुछ प्रमुख जटिल छन्न में जैसे कुशलता से कर्ण का बचाव किया हो। वार्णावत का षडयंत्र कर्ण से छिपाया गया। परंतु ये समझना कि कर्ण पर सत्य कभी विदित ही नहीं हो, ये सही नहीं होगा। और यदि कर्ण को इसका बाद में पता चला तो उसने कुछ कहा क्यों नहीं? वह चुप क्यूँ रह गया? उसने उसका प्रतिकर क्यों नहीं किया? जब राज्य-विभाजन में पांडवों को खांडव-प्रस्थ दिया गया तो लेखक के अनुसार कर्ण वृषाली को वचनबद्ध था। ये तर्क भी न्याय-संगत नहीं लगता। द्युत-सभा में कर्ण द्रौपदी की सहायता इसलिये नहीं करता क्योंकि उसने कर्ण से अपनी रक्षा की याचना नहीं की। तो क्या दानवीर कर्ण, एक स्त्री की मर्यादा की रक्षा भी तबी करेंगे जब वह स्त्री एक याचक के रूप में उनके सामने हाथ पसारेगी? ये कुछ प्रश्न कहानी पढते समय खडी हो जाति है।
कर्ण के प्रति लोगों की परस्पर विरोधी धारणा और कभी न हल होने वाले प्रश्न रहेंगे ही। परंतु जितना मैंने पढ़ा है और समझा है, उसके आधार पर मेरा ये मानना है कि कर्ण की कीर्ति इसलिये भंग नहीं होती की उसने द्युत-सभा में द्रौपदी की रक्षा नहीं की अपितु इसलिय की उसने द्रौपदी को वरांगणा कहकर उसका अपमान किया। एक वीर जब प्रतिशोध लेने एक नारी के वस्त्र तक अपना हाथ बढ़ाता है तो उसका पुरुषार्थ सदा के लिए कलंकित हो जाता है। फिर गंगाजल से कितनी बार भी अपनी अंजलि भरो वो नहीं धुलता। कर्ण इसलिये सर्वश्रेष्ठ योद्धा के आसन से पदच्युत नहीं हुआ की उसने अभिमन्यु का वध किया, वो इसलिय अपने पद से गिरा क्योंकी धर्म-विरुद्ध जब छह महारथी एक साथ उसपर टूटे तो कर्ण भी उनमें से एक था। कर्ण की सुवर्णिम कीर्ति इस अकृत्य क्रिया से सदा के लिए धूमिल हो जाती है, जिसे सूर्य की सहस्र किरणें भी फिर उज्ज्वल नहीं कर पाती।
कर्ण एक पराक्रमी योद्धा था, परंतु जीवन की कसौटी पर उसका अध:पतन भी निश्चय ही हुआ।
शिवाजी सावंत ने इन्ही सब प्रश्नो पर विवेचना करते हुए कर्ण के जीवन के हर पहलू पर दृष्टि डाली है। मृत्युंजय, महाभारत के छह पात्रों के द्वारा कर्ण के जीवन की कड़ियां जोड़ी चली जाती है- कर्ण, कुंती (जन्म-दात्री), दुर्योधन (प्राणप्रिय मित्र), शोण (छोटा भाई), वृषाली (ज्येष्ठ पत्नी) और भगवान कृष्ण। लेखक ने ना केवल कर्ण के जीवन पर ही दृष्टिपात किया है बल्कि इन पात्रों के माध्यम से जीवन-मृत्यु, धर्म-अधर्म, राजधर्म, कर्तव्य जैसे विषयों पर गहन चिंतन किया है। इसमें समाज शास्त्र, नीतिशास्त्र जैसे प्रश्नों पर भी चर्चा की है।
अवहेलना, अपमान, अभिषप्त से संतप्त जीवन में पग-पग पर कर्ण अपने जीवन की सार्थक्ता ढूँढने का प्रयास करता है, अपनी पहचान और अपने कर्तव्य के घोर आत्म-मंथन में झूझ रहा होता है। और जब उसका परिचय भगवान उसके अस्तित्व से कराते हैं तब वो वीर सत्य और वचन में से अंततः वचन को चुनता है।
लेखक ने कर्ण के अंदर के प्रश्न और भावनाओं का झंझावात बहुत ही सुंदर रूप में दर्शाया है। एक-एक शब्द पाठक को कहानी में बांधे रखते हैं। उसका और अश्वत्थामा की विभिन्न विषयों पर मुक्त चर्चा पढते मन नहीं भरता। शिवाजी की भाषा-शैली प्राकृतिक सौंदर्य को चुने हुए शब्दों से जैसे अलंकृत कर रही हो ऐसे प्रतीत होते हैं। कर्ण का सूर्य के प्रति आकर्षण, गंगा के पात्र में घंटों खड़े अर्ध्य देना, पाठकों को भावविभोर कर देता है। कर्ण के दिग्विजय यात्रा पर भारतवर्ष की सुंदरता को जिस प्रकार निरुपित किया है वो कल्पनातीत है। बाल्यवस्था से यौवन में जाते हुए, और प्रेम की प्रथम अनुभूति का प्रकृति के मध्यम से बहुत ही मोहक चित्रण किया है। श्रृंगार-रस, वीर-रस, अलंकार, इन सब से रचना एक रँगों से भरी अल्पना सी प्रतीत होती है।
कर्ण एक वीर योद्धा था, ये सत्य है। परंतु क्या वो न्याय-शील भी था? कर्ण महान दानवीर था। परंतु क्या वह छमा-शील भी था? शिवाजी सावंत ने कुछ प्रमुख जटिल छन्न में जैसे कुशलता से कर्ण का बचाव किया हो। वार्णावत का षडयंत्र कर्ण से छिपाया गया। परंतु ये समझना कि कर्ण पर सत्य कभी विदित ही नहीं हो, ये सही नहीं होगा। और यदि कर्ण को इसका बाद में पता चला तो उसने कुछ कहा क्यों नहीं? वह चुप क्यूँ रह गया? उसने उसका प्रतिकर क्यों नहीं किया? जब राज्य-विभाजन में पांडवों को खांडव-प्रस्थ दिया गया तो लेखक के अनुसार कर्ण वृषाली को वचनबद्ध था। ये तर्क भी न्याय-संगत नहीं लगता। द्युत-सभा में कर्ण द्रौपदी की सहायता इसलिये नहीं करता क्योंकि उसने कर्ण से अपनी रक्षा की याचना नहीं की। तो क्या दानवीर कर्ण, एक स्त्री की मर्यादा की रक्षा भी तबी करेंगे जब वह स्त्री एक याचक के रूप में उनके सामने हाथ पसारेगी? ये कुछ प्रश्न कहानी पढते समय खडी हो जाति है।
कर्ण के प्रति लोगों की परस्पर विरोधी धारणा और कभी न हल होने वाले प्रश्न रहेंगे ही। परंतु जितना मैंने पढ़ा है और समझा है, उसके आधार पर मेरा ये मानना है कि कर्ण की कीर्ति इसलिये भंग नहीं होती की उसने द्युत-सभा में द्रौपदी की रक्षा नहीं की अपितु इसलिय की उसने द्रौपदी को वरांगणा कहकर उसका अपमान किया। एक वीर जब प्रतिशोध लेने एक नारी के वस्त्र तक अपना हाथ बढ़ाता है तो उसका पुरुषार्थ सदा के लिए कलंकित हो जाता है। फिर गंगाजल से कितनी बार भी अपनी अंजलि भरो वो नहीं धुलता। कर्ण इसलिये सर्वश्रेष्ठ योद्धा के आसन से पदच्युत नहीं हुआ की उसने अभिमन्यु का वध किया, वो इसलिय अपने पद से गिरा क्योंकी धर्म-विरुद्ध जब छह महारथी एक साथ उसपर टूटे तो कर्ण भी उनमें से एक था। कर्ण की सुवर्णिम कीर्ति इस अकृत्य क्रिया से सदा के लिए धूमिल हो जाती है, जिसे सूर्य की सहस्र किरणें भी फिर उज्ज्वल नहीं कर पाती।
कर्ण एक पराक्रमी योद्धा था, परंतु जीवन की कसौटी पर उसका अध:पतन भी निश्चय ही हुआ।
April 18, 2020
(Review of the Hindi version)
The Novel is a passionate, powerful and psychological shadow-play consisting of 6 soliloquies of characters from the Mahabharata. A very illuminating read on human nature, the ideals, purpose and realities of life.
If you're fluent in Marathi or Hindi I would recommend reading that version. Although the English version does a good job too.
The Novel is a passionate, powerful and psychological shadow-play consisting of 6 soliloquies of characters from the Mahabharata. A very illuminating read on human nature, the ideals, purpose and realities of life.
If you're fluent in Marathi or Hindi I would recommend reading that version. Although the English version does a good job too.
June 1, 2022
I’ve known about this book for a while but I could never find it when I was in the US. And I kinda forgotten about it until I found this Hindi audiobook in Storytel. It’s more than 35 hours long and I knew it would take a while, and I think it’s been months since I started. But I’m finally done and what an experience this was.
I watch Hindi movies and shows very frequently but I haven’t read a book in the language since school and don’t know how good my reading skills are these days. But when I saw it was an audio, I knew it was the perfect format for me. And I have to say it was very satisfying. It’s been a long while since I’ve watched my favorite Mahabharata TV series, so listening to similar formal language spoken just made me very very happy. It was also quite interesting to listen the story from various perspectives like Karna, his wife Vrishali, his brother Shon, Duryodhana, Kunti and towards the end, Lord Krishna. The story really goes into detail in parts the usual Mahabharata books don’t go into, especially the minds of Kunti during the time she gave birth to Karna and Karna’s whole attitude about wanting to be a warrior but cruelly discriminated against his whole life. Karna’s POV was quite difficult at times because his despair seeps into the narrative very deeply and I was feeling depressed listening to how horribly he was treated by everyone. But then he also makes some choices which frustrate us because we know he is a good person and wouldn’t have made those same choices if the world a bit more kinder to him. Ofcourse, all these feelings are nothing new because ultimately the story of the Mahabharata is not gonna change and I know where it’s going, but it definitely feels a bit eye opening when you get to see what might have been happening in other characters’ lives. Vrishali and Shon were two characters whom I don’t think most versions even mention but they are really very good people who became a part of Karna’s struggles and tried to make him happy as much as possible. I also liked Krishna’s POV towards the very end where he is contemplating what choice to make - this was quite new for me because in most versions, he is god and you wouldn’t expect him to question himself.
Overall, this was an experience that I won’t forget any time soon. It’s Mahabharata made personal and I thoroughly felt it deep in my heart. I would definitely recommend the audio format because the narrators are all very good, particularly in emotional scenes. And this is making me wanna look up other Shivaji Sawant books which unfortunately aren’t on Storytel and not always easy to find in English. Let’s hope I have some luck finding them.
I watch Hindi movies and shows very frequently but I haven’t read a book in the language since school and don’t know how good my reading skills are these days. But when I saw it was an audio, I knew it was the perfect format for me. And I have to say it was very satisfying. It’s been a long while since I’ve watched my favorite Mahabharata TV series, so listening to similar formal language spoken just made me very very happy. It was also quite interesting to listen the story from various perspectives like Karna, his wife Vrishali, his brother Shon, Duryodhana, Kunti and towards the end, Lord Krishna. The story really goes into detail in parts the usual Mahabharata books don’t go into, especially the minds of Kunti during the time she gave birth to Karna and Karna’s whole attitude about wanting to be a warrior but cruelly discriminated against his whole life. Karna’s POV was quite difficult at times because his despair seeps into the narrative very deeply and I was feeling depressed listening to how horribly he was treated by everyone. But then he also makes some choices which frustrate us because we know he is a good person and wouldn’t have made those same choices if the world a bit more kinder to him. Ofcourse, all these feelings are nothing new because ultimately the story of the Mahabharata is not gonna change and I know where it’s going, but it definitely feels a bit eye opening when you get to see what might have been happening in other characters’ lives. Vrishali and Shon were two characters whom I don’t think most versions even mention but they are really very good people who became a part of Karna’s struggles and tried to make him happy as much as possible. I also liked Krishna’s POV towards the very end where he is contemplating what choice to make - this was quite new for me because in most versions, he is god and you wouldn’t expect him to question himself.
Overall, this was an experience that I won’t forget any time soon. It’s Mahabharata made personal and I thoroughly felt it deep in my heart. I would definitely recommend the audio format because the narrators are all very good, particularly in emotional scenes. And this is making me wanna look up other Shivaji Sawant books which unfortunately aren’t on Storytel and not always easy to find in English. Let’s hope I have some luck finding them.
December 18, 2020
There are only a few occasions that I've shed tears but after reading the story of this glorious warrior and noblest of man, Karna, one cannot help but overflow with emotions.
In the longest and probably most interesting Epic of the world Mahabharata, the most tragic story was that of Karna. He is known as Raja of Anga, greatest warrior, world conqueror and son of charioteers. But the most importantly, he is dan veer(hero of charity) Karna. Even, with an arrow in his throat he asked his son to smash his golden teeth and donate them to a mendicant.
Pandavas were known to be best in one particular field, Yudhishthira in Dharma(Morality and Ethics), Bheem (Strength) and Arjun (Archery), but Karna outshone and humbled them in all of these.
His Death brought tears to the eyes of Duryodhana, who did not feel such grief even at the death of eighty of his brothers, who is said to be cold, calculating and incapable of loving anyone but himself.
The avatar of God Vishnu admitted that there were merely four people for whom Krishna had silent bhakti( unquestionable devotion) brimful of love and sacrifice, Karna was one of them.
Even after ask this, he was discriminated by the so called most noblest of people living in that time, people like the pandavas, illustrious kings and citizens of the Hastinapur. Draupadi during her swayamvar( groom selection) mocked and rejected karna only because he was the son of charioteers but later on realises what a horrible mistake she as made by rejecting someone as virtuous as karna.
A must read for anybody interested in Hindu religion or Mythology or simply looking for a masterpiece.
In the longest and probably most interesting Epic of the world Mahabharata, the most tragic story was that of Karna. He is known as Raja of Anga, greatest warrior, world conqueror and son of charioteers. But the most importantly, he is dan veer(hero of charity) Karna. Even, with an arrow in his throat he asked his son to smash his golden teeth and donate them to a mendicant.
Pandavas were known to be best in one particular field, Yudhishthira in Dharma(Morality and Ethics), Bheem (Strength) and Arjun (Archery), but Karna outshone and humbled them in all of these.
His Death brought tears to the eyes of Duryodhana, who did not feel such grief even at the death of eighty of his brothers, who is said to be cold, calculating and incapable of loving anyone but himself.
The avatar of God Vishnu admitted that there were merely four people for whom Krishna had silent bhakti( unquestionable devotion) brimful of love and sacrifice, Karna was one of them.
Even after ask this, he was discriminated by the so called most noblest of people living in that time, people like the pandavas, illustrious kings and citizens of the Hastinapur. Draupadi during her swayamvar( groom selection) mocked and rejected karna only because he was the son of charioteers but later on realises what a horrible mistake she as made by rejecting someone as virtuous as karna.
A must read for anybody interested in Hindu religion or Mythology or simply looking for a masterpiece.
July 14, 2015
A CLASSIC creation in Marathi Literature! It takes you to a different world! The journey of Karna from a charioteers son to Digvijayi Angraj Karna and then to Danveer Karna is worth bows! The reasons for which he stood by Kauravas side makes us look at the epic from a different perspective. The best part is the conflicts that occur in Karna's mind and the decisions made by him. These are the questions that arise in every ones mind. The book helped me resolve many such conflicts and confusions! This book will remain my inspiration in life. It teaches you the ways to deal with the dilemmas between good and bad ; What all people can do to impede you, but if you can gauge everything and remain true to yourself ,nothing else matters!! A master piece by Shivaji Sawant!
January 23, 2013
Although this has been translated in many languages, something is always lost in the process and i have been lucky to read the original book. This is among the best books i have ever read with the characters so alive that kept lingering in my thoughts for several weeks.
Mrityunjay means the one who conquers death and truly Karna does. This book is about Karna life and death. I can never compliment the author enough for presenting a story already known my all in a way that doesn't allow the reader to put down the book.
Mrityunjay means the one who conquers death and truly Karna does. This book is about Karna life and death. I can never compliment the author enough for presenting a story already known my all in a way that doesn't allow the reader to put down the book.
November 3, 2015
ജീവിതകാലം മുഴുവന് മാനുഷികവും ദൈവികവുമായ വെല്ലുവിളികള് ആത്മധൈര്യത്തോടെ നേരിട്ട കര്ണന്റെ ജീവചരിത്രം. കര്ണന്, കുന്തി, ദുര്യോധനന് വൃക്ഷാലി, ശോണന്, ശ്രീകൃഷ്ണന് എന്നിവരുടെ ആത്മകഥാംശരൂപത്തിലുള്ള വിവരണങ്ങളിലൂടെ കര്ണകഥയോടൊപ്പം മഹാഭാരത കഥമുഴുവന് ആഖ്യാനം ചെയ്തിരിക്കുന്നു. കൗന്തേയനായിട്ടും രാധേയനായി തന്നെ മരിച്ച കർണ്ണന്റെ ജീവചരിത്രം, എല്ലാവരാലും അപമാനിക്കപ്പെട്ട ദാനവീരന്റെ ജീവിതം വളരെ മനോഹരമായി അവതരിപ്പിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു . ഒരുപാടു പാഠങ്ങൾ നമ്മുടെ ജീവിതത്തിലേക്കും പകർത്താൻ നമുക്കെല്ലാവര്ക്കും ഒരു പാഠപുസ്തകമാകട്ടെ കർണ്ണന്റെ വ്യക്തിപ്രഭാവം എന്ന് ആശംസിക്കുന്നു.
Currently reading
March 19, 2009I have one "new in a box" book to sell. It is signed by the publisher and is a collector's edition; the cover is made of raw silk. English edition.
Let me know if you are interested.
Let me know if you are interested.
September 29, 2016
If you have read the Mahabharata in any form, this is a must read. You do not have to be a fan of Karna, read it for a different POV where the Pandavas are not always right.
This book takes you through the tumultuous journey of Karna and you'll ride it with him.
I read the Hindi and English versions simultaneously for a better grasp on the story (not really used to reading in Hindi).
Ashwathamann was a surprise - his wisdom and his love for Karna, wasn't aware of that at all and how a man like him turns into a beast by the end of the war.
What I really wanted to read was,
1. Pandavas reaction on finding out the truth of Karna from Kuntis POV
2. Her pain and anguish during the 2 day battle between Karna and Arjuna.
3. Duryodhans POV after Karna is dead and how he breaks down and meets his end.
This according to me would have been a perfect closure to a wonderful book.
The English translation had basic grammatical errors but I'll let that be as the book in itself is so powerful that I didn't mind the elementary English.
A wonderful read! Beautiful!
This book takes you through the tumultuous journey of Karna and you'll ride it with him.
I read the Hindi and English versions simultaneously for a better grasp on the story (not really used to reading in Hindi).
Ashwathamann was a surprise - his wisdom and his love for Karna, wasn't aware of that at all and how a man like him turns into a beast by the end of the war.
What I really wanted to read was,
1. Pandavas reaction on finding out the truth of Karna from Kuntis POV
2. Her pain and anguish during the 2 day battle between Karna and Arjuna.
3. Duryodhans POV after Karna is dead and how he breaks down and meets his end.
This according to me would have been a perfect closure to a wonderful book.
The English translation had basic grammatical errors but I'll let that be as the book in itself is so powerful that I didn't mind the elementary English.
A wonderful read! Beautiful!
February 6, 2014
It is often said that the books of our childhood offer a vivid door to our own pasts, and not necessarily for the stories we read there, but for the memories of where we were and who we were when we were reading them; to remember a book is to remember the child who read that book. Simply put, Mrityunjaya is about the search for meaning of being is a man's eternal quest. The characters of Vrishali and Shon for example, are given such appropriate voices, that you are left wondering whether Sawant had the fortune of stumbling upon some long lost letters written by them.
Even if your introduction to Karna is through the Mahabharata alone, you cannot help but feel empathy for the eldest son of Kunti. In fact, Mrityunjaya only deepens it. Summing up, Mrityunjaya is one of the most eloquently narrated books and is most certainly a book worth adding to one's reading collection.
Even if your introduction to Karna is through the Mahabharata alone, you cannot help but feel empathy for the eldest son of Kunti. In fact, Mrityunjaya only deepens it. Summing up, Mrityunjaya is one of the most eloquently narrated books and is most certainly a book worth adding to one's reading collection.
June 13, 2014
This is a well written book. But I can't give more stars for this and the reason behind that is Randamoozham. While reading Karnan, and I find myself comparing this book with Randamoozham. According to me,Randamoozham was a step ahead in the way story is told, portrayal of all characters, about kurukshetra war etc. (Frankly speaking, i didn't like the way Bhima is shown in this book;) That is another reason for giving less rating:P ). Eventhough it is little dragging in some places, still I can say it is an intresting book.
January 30, 2016
കർണൻ ! ക്ഷത്രിയനായി ജനിച്ചിട്ടും സൂതപുത്രനായ കർണൻ ... കൌന്തെയനായിട്ടും രാധേയനായി ജീവിച്ച കർണൻ...സൂര്യ പുത്രനായി ജനിച്ചു സൂര്യദേവനെ മാനസ ഗുരു ആക്കിയ കർണൻ ! ജന്മസിദ്ധമായ കവച കുണ്ടലങ്ങളുടെ രഹസ്യമറിയാതെ പോയ കർണൻ ... സാവന്തിന്റെ "മൃത്യുംജയ" .. അർജുന ..ഭീമ..യുധിഷ്ഠിരൻ മാരുടെ വിഗ്രഹങ്ങൽ ഉടച്ചു എന്റെ മനസ്സിൽ കർണ വിഗ്രഹം പ്രതിഷ്ടിച്ച ഒരു സൃഷ്ടി തന്നെയാണ്... ഭീമനോടുള്ള ആരാധന മൂലമാകാം..അദ്ദേഹത്തിനെ ഒരു ദ്വന്തയുധവീരനും എടുത്തു ചാട്ടക്കാരനും മാത്രം ആയി ചിത്രീകരിച്ചതിനോടു ഒരു വിഷമവും ആത്മകധാമ്ശ രൂപത്തിലുള്ള കർണൻ വായിച്ചപ്പോൾ തോന്നിപ്പോയി ...
December 28, 2017
The Mahabharat is my favorite epic. I’ve read numerous versions of it and Mrityunjay was always on my list.
‘Birth over Worth’ - an unfortunate yet central theme of Karna’s life is something that is sadly, still relevant even in today’s times. You just can’t help but feel the strongest sense of empathy for him.
He’s always been my favorite character in the Mahabharat and the book certainly reaffirms that.
Karna, you might have had certain character flaws, but you are my hero.
‘Birth over Worth’ - an unfortunate yet central theme of Karna’s life is something that is sadly, still relevant even in today’s times. You just can’t help but feel the strongest sense of empathy for him.
He’s always been my favorite character in the Mahabharat and the book certainly reaffirms that.
Karna, you might have had certain character flaws, but you are my hero.
November 3, 2015
A beautiful book, powerfully written that captures the character of Karan with such an Essence of his values, struggles and decisions between limited choices. The end chapters of the book has left me with such an emptiness as the one that can be imagined after a war is over. This is a masterpiece of the Mahabharata .
August 26, 2014
One of the best Book I ever read! Best writing style. Best story.
I recommend every reader to read this one if you know Mahabharat.
I cried at least for half a day after finishing book - was so much involved.
I recommend every reader to read this one if you know Mahabharat.
I cried at least for half a day after finishing book - was so much involved.
August 5, 2012
It is one of the greatest books i have ever read!
must read at least once.
must read at least once.
October 4, 2011
If one took a poll on the popularity of the various characters of the Mahabharata, Karna would rank amongst the top. His is the legend of a tragic hero. 'Mrityunjay' written by Shivaji Samant is the re-relling of Karna's story. Written originally in Marathi, the English translation of the novel is from the Hindi version of the original. This work reputed to be among the best of contemporary Marathi literature, has an interesting narrative technique. The novel is split into 9 books, each of then narrated as a monologue by Karna and other characters like Kunti, Krishna, (each of the 3 have 2 books of monologue), Duryodhana, Vrishali (Karna's wife) and Shom (Karna's step-brother).
The monologues of Karna are the best of the lot. Though the book is a sort of paean to Karna, it never goes overboard with it and tries to show his flaws as well. For all his poweress, Karna comes across as internally turmoiled, insecure man, insecure due to his origins about his place in society and obsessed about being recognized as the best archer of all. But sadly he was never given the oppurtunity of a level playing field to prove it. If he was denied by Drona during the archery competition at the beginning, then the curses that are heaped on him at the later stage also play a part in ensuring that he remains a tragic hero. It is a matter of conjecture as to what would have happened, if Drona had allowed Karna to compete with Arjuna. Maybe he would have won, he may have indeed lost, but either way, he would have been a more peaceful man, contended with himself and not obsessed with being the best archer which drives almost all his actions resulting in tragic consequences. But it was to not be. Another feeling that he tries to reconcile with vainly till the very end is his origin. Karna is shown in a subtle way as being unable to accept fully his origins. Though he loves his parents, proclaims that he is proud to a charioteer's son, some parts of his monologue subtly let it slip that maybe he is not as confident and secure about his origins as he shows. Maybe he craved that he were born elsewhere, or to put it clearly he may have desired that his parents had been the same but of a higher standing in society. It is borne out by his reactions to the relevation that he is Kunti's son. It's not any great happiness (or anger) that he feels towards Kunti. What comes through mainly is the relief that he is Kshatriya after all, that he cannot be insulted for his birth. It implies that he accepts the social order for all his posturing and that instead of trying to remove it, he is more than happy to know that he has actually jumped up in the order. Interestingly, Samant brings a twist to Karna's much lauded generosity using this turmoil. It is mentioned that his generosity is due to his craving for recognition. This does not reduce the value of his generosity, but only serves to enhance to the reader, the pain that a person must feel on being insulted repeatedly by society for no fault of his own, other than being born in a particular caste and the extreme lengths that he can go to overcome it. This obsession results in giving his body armour to Indra, therby divesting himself of his greatest protection.
The books of Kunti and Krishna (more than one for each) are middlingly good, but rarely offer any great insight into either Karna or themselves. Kunti's monologue is the usual one we have seen/read earlier of a woman torn between Karna and her other sons. The initial parts of her monologue are her reminiscences about her childhood, her being gifted by her father Surasena to Kunti Bhoja, her marriage to Pandu, in both cases without anyone asking her preference or her feelings are the best of the lot. Krishna's monologue too is pretty much the usual one you come to expect. The monologue of Duryodhana is different in that he is shown as a scheming character who treats Karna as more of his personal employee, a weapon to counteract the Pandavas than as his friend. Yes, I agree that their relationship need not have been as close a friendship as is known generally, but a complete flip around of it results in the relationship becoming completely one-dimensional, with no layers to it. Looks like the author decided to do a paradigm shift of popular perception, but in doing that he actually does Duryodhana an injustice. It cannot have been only personal benefit that made him ally with Karna, as it cannot have been only the goodness of his heart. (If he had been so devious, he could very well have forced Karna to fight under Bheeshma during the first 10 days of the war, instead of agreeing with his decision). Interestingly Aswaththama seems to have a more deeper friendship with Karna than Duryodhana. But ironically, even he abuses Karna in a fit of anger as a charioter's son during a tense moment in the war. This in a way exemplifies Karna's relationship with most people. However close he gets to them, how much ever he feels respected by them, at some point his origins are used by the same people to taunt him. That brings us to the other 2 books, that of his wife Vrishali and Shom his step-brother. It is with them that he does not feel the insecurity of being insulted at any time. But he rarely opens up his innermost feelings to even them. The two monologues are basically adulations of Karna by the two, who literally worship the ground he treads on. I had read somewhere else that Karna did not have a happy marital life as his wife who supposedly was royalty, was contempous of his origins and was insulting to him, but here Samant gives us a different version. Maybe one of the above books could have been done away with for a monologue of Arjuna, it sure would have been interesting to get know his views on his arch rival.
Karna's worship of the Sun-god, the unexplainable (to him, but not to the reader) connect that he feels towards the Sun god are very evocative, as is the part where the Sun god teaches him about the astras. (Yes, it is Surya devta who is mentioned as Karna's teacher in the book, because Drona is pre-occupied with teaching the Pandavas and Kshatriyas.). Some other parts too stand out, one being the killing of Sisupala where Karna's eyewitness account of it is almost psychedelic. The other being Karna's turmoil when Draupathi is being insulted after the game of dice. Torn between wanting to stop Duryodhana and held back by Draupathi's earlier insult of him during her Swayamvar he finally makes the fatal decision of joining Duryodhana. The tipping point for this is rooted in the human ego as Samant slips in a subtle variation of the events. As Draupathi asks everyone in the royal assembly for help, she sees Karna, meets his eye and then moves away without asking him anything. This spurs Karna to insult her. (Ironically it is revealed later that Draupathi did not ask for his help since she was already regretting her insult of Karna at her Swayamvar and did not feel worthy of his assistance). The part where Karna cuts off his armor to give to Indra and the subsequent description of his skinless body which is translucent is bound to shock you. But alongside such parts, others like the description of the events of the war get monotonous at places as do Shon's and Vrishali's monologues in their adulation of Karna.
This is a good, but at times uneven read. Personally for me, the best take on the Mahabharata still remains Bhyrappa's Parva. If you have not read Parva and are interested in reading variations on the epic, the first option should be Parva.
A digression from the novel. At the end of the novel, I found myself thinking about another character in parallel to Karna. If Karna can be said the victim of injustice throughout his life, then what of Eklavya. Probably he was the one who was subjected to the most cruel injustice of them all. Why is he not mentioned as reacting the way that Karna did, why for instance did he not join Duryodhana, (Parva mentions Eklavya as joining Duryodhana ) what happens to him after he gives his guru-dakshina to Drona? Why is he not spoken about more like Karna, why is he not so much entrenched in the general consciousness like Karna. Is there any contemporary work that shows Eklavya in a different light than the obedient, almost naive character that he is portrayed as generally. At the beginning of the book, Karna tells that he wants to tell his story because the truth has to be known, so why is the truth about Eklavya not told. Is it because that Karna was a Kshatriya after all and so had to get his share of fame, albeit posthumously while Eklavya is always in the lower echelon of the social order and hence need not betaken seriously? These thoughts do not have anything to do with this particular novel yes, but it seemed pertinent to discuss and compare both Karna and Ekalyva together.
The monologues of Karna are the best of the lot. Though the book is a sort of paean to Karna, it never goes overboard with it and tries to show his flaws as well. For all his poweress, Karna comes across as internally turmoiled, insecure man, insecure due to his origins about his place in society and obsessed about being recognized as the best archer of all. But sadly he was never given the oppurtunity of a level playing field to prove it. If he was denied by Drona during the archery competition at the beginning, then the curses that are heaped on him at the later stage also play a part in ensuring that he remains a tragic hero. It is a matter of conjecture as to what would have happened, if Drona had allowed Karna to compete with Arjuna. Maybe he would have won, he may have indeed lost, but either way, he would have been a more peaceful man, contended with himself and not obsessed with being the best archer which drives almost all his actions resulting in tragic consequences. But it was to not be. Another feeling that he tries to reconcile with vainly till the very end is his origin. Karna is shown in a subtle way as being unable to accept fully his origins. Though he loves his parents, proclaims that he is proud to a charioteer's son, some parts of his monologue subtly let it slip that maybe he is not as confident and secure about his origins as he shows. Maybe he craved that he were born elsewhere, or to put it clearly he may have desired that his parents had been the same but of a higher standing in society. It is borne out by his reactions to the relevation that he is Kunti's son. It's not any great happiness (or anger) that he feels towards Kunti. What comes through mainly is the relief that he is Kshatriya after all, that he cannot be insulted for his birth. It implies that he accepts the social order for all his posturing and that instead of trying to remove it, he is more than happy to know that he has actually jumped up in the order. Interestingly, Samant brings a twist to Karna's much lauded generosity using this turmoil. It is mentioned that his generosity is due to his craving for recognition. This does not reduce the value of his generosity, but only serves to enhance to the reader, the pain that a person must feel on being insulted repeatedly by society for no fault of his own, other than being born in a particular caste and the extreme lengths that he can go to overcome it. This obsession results in giving his body armour to Indra, therby divesting himself of his greatest protection.
The books of Kunti and Krishna (more than one for each) are middlingly good, but rarely offer any great insight into either Karna or themselves. Kunti's monologue is the usual one we have seen/read earlier of a woman torn between Karna and her other sons. The initial parts of her monologue are her reminiscences about her childhood, her being gifted by her father Surasena to Kunti Bhoja, her marriage to Pandu, in both cases without anyone asking her preference or her feelings are the best of the lot. Krishna's monologue too is pretty much the usual one you come to expect. The monologue of Duryodhana is different in that he is shown as a scheming character who treats Karna as more of his personal employee, a weapon to counteract the Pandavas than as his friend. Yes, I agree that their relationship need not have been as close a friendship as is known generally, but a complete flip around of it results in the relationship becoming completely one-dimensional, with no layers to it. Looks like the author decided to do a paradigm shift of popular perception, but in doing that he actually does Duryodhana an injustice. It cannot have been only personal benefit that made him ally with Karna, as it cannot have been only the goodness of his heart. (If he had been so devious, he could very well have forced Karna to fight under Bheeshma during the first 10 days of the war, instead of agreeing with his decision). Interestingly Aswaththama seems to have a more deeper friendship with Karna than Duryodhana. But ironically, even he abuses Karna in a fit of anger as a charioter's son during a tense moment in the war. This in a way exemplifies Karna's relationship with most people. However close he gets to them, how much ever he feels respected by them, at some point his origins are used by the same people to taunt him. That brings us to the other 2 books, that of his wife Vrishali and Shom his step-brother. It is with them that he does not feel the insecurity of being insulted at any time. But he rarely opens up his innermost feelings to even them. The two monologues are basically adulations of Karna by the two, who literally worship the ground he treads on. I had read somewhere else that Karna did not have a happy marital life as his wife who supposedly was royalty, was contempous of his origins and was insulting to him, but here Samant gives us a different version. Maybe one of the above books could have been done away with for a monologue of Arjuna, it sure would have been interesting to get know his views on his arch rival.
Karna's worship of the Sun-god, the unexplainable (to him, but not to the reader) connect that he feels towards the Sun god are very evocative, as is the part where the Sun god teaches him about the astras. (Yes, it is Surya devta who is mentioned as Karna's teacher in the book, because Drona is pre-occupied with teaching the Pandavas and Kshatriyas.). Some other parts too stand out, one being the killing of Sisupala where Karna's eyewitness account of it is almost psychedelic. The other being Karna's turmoil when Draupathi is being insulted after the game of dice. Torn between wanting to stop Duryodhana and held back by Draupathi's earlier insult of him during her Swayamvar he finally makes the fatal decision of joining Duryodhana. The tipping point for this is rooted in the human ego as Samant slips in a subtle variation of the events. As Draupathi asks everyone in the royal assembly for help, she sees Karna, meets his eye and then moves away without asking him anything. This spurs Karna to insult her. (Ironically it is revealed later that Draupathi did not ask for his help since she was already regretting her insult of Karna at her Swayamvar and did not feel worthy of his assistance). The part where Karna cuts off his armor to give to Indra and the subsequent description of his skinless body which is translucent is bound to shock you. But alongside such parts, others like the description of the events of the war get monotonous at places as do Shon's and Vrishali's monologues in their adulation of Karna.
This is a good, but at times uneven read. Personally for me, the best take on the Mahabharata still remains Bhyrappa's Parva. If you have not read Parva and are interested in reading variations on the epic, the first option should be Parva.
A digression from the novel. At the end of the novel, I found myself thinking about another character in parallel to Karna. If Karna can be said the victim of injustice throughout his life, then what of Eklavya. Probably he was the one who was subjected to the most cruel injustice of them all. Why is he not mentioned as reacting the way that Karna did, why for instance did he not join Duryodhana, (Parva mentions Eklavya as joining Duryodhana ) what happens to him after he gives his guru-dakshina to Drona? Why is he not spoken about more like Karna, why is he not so much entrenched in the general consciousness like Karna. Is there any contemporary work that shows Eklavya in a different light than the obedient, almost naive character that he is portrayed as generally. At the beginning of the book, Karna tells that he wants to tell his story because the truth has to be known, so why is the truth about Eklavya not told. Is it because that Karna was a Kshatriya after all and so had to get his share of fame, albeit posthumously while Eklavya is always in the lower echelon of the social order and hence need not betaken seriously? These thoughts do not have anything to do with this particular novel yes, but it seemed pertinent to discuss and compare both Karna and Ekalyva together.
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