Jaya: 9 Paperback – August 16, 2010

love this book; started off with My Gita and then ended up reading this book. I admire the author's deep research on the subject and he has made it clear that the story is 5000 years old and hence lot of it is based on folklore and myths. Author has left it to each reader on how to interpret the stories within the Mahabharata -- but has done an excellent job at the end of each chapter to provide a summary and his take on the topic. Love the details and how he has provided extra tit bits on how cultures/practices in different parts of India have different perspective on the contents. This has formed the basis of many of our religious views/edicts/practices/beliefs in different regions of India. I also am wonder struck at how open the author is to topic such a polygamy; alternate life styles etc. He has also given apt references on how Hinduism is very different to the 3 Abrahamic Religions (Judaism; Islam and Christianity). To top it all the illustrations are superb and personally created by the author himself -- it is very clear he comes from a medical background and his display of the human bodies symmetries/depiction in the drawings are very stark. Great work -- so relevant in todays world -- the same old lessons human need to be reminded on stay away from greed; excesses; get along with all and how material aspirations can turn to evil deeds. I never knew the difference between 'heavan' (abode of Indra and other Gods) and 'vaikuntha' (abode of Sri Vishnu) or that not all Vijayas (victories) are the same -- that the only Vijaya that real matters is Jaya (victory over ones own desires)....hence the title of the book Jaya. Look forward to other books by Devdutt Patnaik -- love his shows on Epic TV Channel. Need more of it on Youtube for all worldwide readers to see. Unique Interpretation on a very old/enriched subject.

Great read and a good refresh of Mahabharata from my childhood. Although the way everything is written feels a bit rushed and the narrative is sometimes too shallow in areas where it should not be.The parts covering Pandavas 12 year exile, Bhagvad Gita, Bhisma & Abhimanyu's death .. all the really important events feel a bit too light and breezy and doesn't get the analysis depth that it deserves, which the author has so nicely done in some other areas, specially covering parts related to Draupadi or Karna..The illustrations are great and is probably one of the most creative I have ever seen

Great book.... Read several versions of the Mahabharata, but this version really gives us the facts...it relates the epic in a way that allows the reader to make his own judgement and draw his own conclusions. The way it links the book to the real-life situations in today's world makes one wonder.....In Most of the mahabharta narrations, the kauravas are the adharma ones and the pandavas the dharma followers. But in this book, the author shows the weakness of the pandavas as well...the addiction of Yudhishtir to gambling....the arrogance of Arjuna...the greed of Bhima...kunti's failure as a fair mother....Draupadi's manipulation of her 5 husbands to get what she wants and her regret for not choosing Karna as her husband who according to Krishna would have given her all due respect and never let her go through the humiliation she went through.. Without krishna's influence, the pandava's would not have gone so far...It also shows Karna, son of Surya God was far more powerful than Arjuna who always thought he was the best archer...... Arjuna's chariot was destroyed long time back during the battle.....but the presence of Krishna as charioteer sustained it...only when Krishna moved from the chariot, it blows to ashes.....! Must read!

Excellent account of the great Epic. For me, this really is the pinnacle of research on the Mahabharata because it incorporates several viewpoints of the Epic from all over India, not just the written accounts but also orally told stories and folktales. Thorough, precise, and highly detailed - a must read for anyone interested in understanding the Mahabharata from its roots up. Even readers who have read several books on the Mahabharata before will discover something new in this book.. and in it, the true gems of wisdom.Just a note to readers: To get the best from this book I would suggest keeping a broad and detached mind while reading it and the less judgemental one is, the better - this may be especially true for those who have been exposed more to mainstream thoughts and concepts on the Epic and its key characters.

Jaya connects the dots and enables us understand truth behind the sacred texts that was considered to be superficial stories (at least by me) and some lessons to make life better. I developed an urge to know more about our culture after reading Jaya. The vital difference between Vijaya and Jaya is so well explained that true (non materialistic) purpose becomes the main quest.

The Mahabharata is the longest book written - although I suppose it wasn't originally a written text, but let us not quibble.Anyway, it is SO long and SO repetitive that it makes Marcel Proust look like a skimpy weekend skim….Jaya puts the main points together. And does this in a way that is easy to follow (lots of nice pictures and helpful sidebars).I have the entire translation into English on my Kindle Paperwhite, but it is Jaya that I have read (and listened to [I have an audio version as well…]) 2 or 3 times so far - it helps to realize who is doing what to whom - Arjuna for example is called by many different names through the book and sometimes it is confusing who is what….Jaya helps.And even if you don't want to read the entire story (whimp…), you can impress your friends by knowing the story.