Shyam Quotes

“Human beings divide the world into mine and yours. We create borders. Include what we like and exclude what we do not like. Thus a rift occurs in relationships. Gandhari is jealous of Kunti, Kunti of Madri, Arjuna of Karna, Duryodhana of Bhima. That is why Yayati favors Puru over Yadu. That is why Satyabhama quarrels with Rukmini. But for Shyam, there are no boundaries. No mine and yours. This no hero or villain. No predator or prey. No them or us. He sides with both killer and killed. For him, in wisdom, everyone is family. Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, Shyam: An Illustrated Retelling of the Bhagavata

“Unlike the unenlightened householder, for whom material life is either a burden or an indulgence, Krishna embodies the enlightened householder: he who lives as a householder but thinks like a hermit, is engaged in everything but possessive of nothing.”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, Shyam: An Illustrated Retelling of the Bhagavata

“Animals are loyal to a pack, a herd, a hive; human beings can choose which side they fight on. And the choice must be based on dharma.”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, Shyam: An Illustrated Retelling of the Bhagavata

“In nature, the strong overpower the weak in order to improve their chances of survival. But in culture, the strong must protect the weak. That is dharma.”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, Shyam: An Illustrated Retelling of the Bhagavata

“You renounced your right to think independently when you let someone else play your game for you. His word is your word. And you must be committed to keeping it. For to keep one's word is dharma. To hate is not dharma.”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, Shyam: An Illustrated Retelling of the Bhagavata

“Don't indulge your senses with bhoga, yoke your emotions with yoga.”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, Shyam: An Illustrated Retelling of the Bhagavata

“When you first give something in order to get something, you are a generous yajaman. If you demand something before you give something, you are a devata. As children you can be devatas, but to grow up means to be a yajaman. When you are able to give without expecting anything in return, you are the greatest yajaman.”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, Shyam: An Illustrated Retelling of the Bhagavata

“Those who believed they were righteous never listened.”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, Shyam: An Illustrated Retelling of the Bhagavata