51 Lesser Known Tales From the Mahabharata (Mahabharata Companion, #1)

by Sharath Komarraju

If I could rewrite the story, therefore, I would make it so that when Yudhisthir scales the mountain and gets to the top, he finds nothing. No heaven. No golden chariots welcoming him. No heaven gates opening. Nothing. He just goes to the top, realizes that his vanity was no different to that of Arjun’s, and falls to his death just like his brothers and wife. After all, that was what must have really happened.

Jaya and Vijaya became Hiranyakashyapu and Hiranyaksha in one life, Ravana and Kumbhakarna in the second, and Sisupala and Dantavakra in the third.

‘vijaya’ signifies victory over external events, while the word ‘jaya’ means victory over self. Vijaya implies a victor and a loser, whereas Jaya implies victory for all.

The only quote I loved from this book.