The Book of Yudhishthira

Krishnavatara #7

by Kanaiyalal Maneklal Munshi

Krishnavatara is a 7-volume reconstruction of Krishna's life and adventures by weaving a romance around him. Wise ad valorous, he was, loving and loved, far-seeing and yet living for the moment, gifted with sage-like detachment and yet intensely human; the diplomat, the sage and the man of action with a personality as luminous as that of a divinity. The first part, which ends with the death of Kamsa has been named The Magic Flute, for it deals with his boyhood associated with the flute, which hypnotized men, animals and birds alike, sung with such loving tenderness y innumerable poets. The second volume, which ends with Rukmini Haran, is named as The Wrath of an Emperor, as the central theme is the successful defiance by Sri Krishna of Jarasandha, the Emperor of Magadha. The third part is entitled The Five Brothers and ends with Draupadi's Swayamvara. The Fourth is titled The Book of Bhima, Fifth part The Book of Satyabhaama, the sixth volume The Book of Vyaasa, the Master. The seventh and concluding volume, incorporating 7th part and unfinished 8th part, is titled The Book of Yudhishthira.

Genres: Mythology, India, Fiction

215 pages, Paperback

First published June 5, 1969

About the author

K.M. Munshi is one of Gujarat's most well-known literary writers. His historical novels have contributed profoundly to the sense of past that Gujarat lives with. A multi-faceted personality, he was a prominent lawyer, freedom fighter and politician. He was also the founder of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.

Reviews

[Anand Ganapathy]

Tinge of sadness that volume 7 was the last in Krishnavatara series due to Kulapati Munshi's demise.

[Sriti Patra]

I can't believe the series ended, a breathtaking read, I could read all of it again and still be spell bounded by the simplicity of the language with which book has been written a must read for every one.

[Hridundan Shivaramakrishnan]

It was a well written book, and it really changed my understanding of Yudhishthir and what he was willing to do to avoid war. After reading this book, I questioned whether Yudhishthira was perfect after all. Very interesting.

[Johnny Whitestone]

You need to know Yudhishthira!

[Savita Ramsumair]

Beautiful

A most beautiful edition of this series. It's a pity that the author died before he could complete the entire series.

[Pradeep Rajput]

युधिष्ठिर जिन्हें धर्मराज की संज्ञा प्राप्त है, उनके जीवन पर प्रकाश डालती यह पुस्तक पठन योग्य है। युद्ध की संभावनाओं को टालने हेतु उन्होंने अनेक प्रयास कर देखे, पर धर्म की हानि इस स्तर तक हो चुकी थी की अब धर्म की स्थापना हेतु युद्ध ही एकमात्र मार्ग शेष रह गया था। भाइयों में युद्ध न हो, इस बात को ध्यान में रखते हुए और दुर्योधन के प्रति भी अपने भाइयों जैसी ही प्रीत रखते हुए उन्होंने द्यूत का निमंत्रण स्वीकार किया। पर उस द्यूत सभा में ये प्रकट हो गया कि नियति ने युद्ध को ही एक मात्र मार्ग क्यों चुना धर्म की स्थापना हेतु।

युधिष्ठिर के सच्चे चरित्र को समझाती यह पुस्तक, बहुत ही सरल भाषा में लिखी गयी है, यदि महाभारत जैसा विशाल ग्रंथ पढ़ने का समय नहीं निकाल पा रहे हैं, तो कन्हैयालाल मानेकलाल मुंशी जी की ७ खंड में उपलब्ध ये कृष्णावतार पुस्तक पढ़कर आप संक्षिप्त रूप में महाभारत का ज्ञान पा सकते हैं।

[Ashish Jaituni]

The book is too fast paced as compared to the previous volumes! The incomplete 8th volume is included in the 7th volume. Unfortunately because of the author's demise, we have to deal with an abrupt end to the "Krishnavatara"