Karna's Wife - Book Review

 

Being an ardent fan of Hindu mythology, I have always viewed Karna as a doomed Hero. His prowess, valour and strength were often downplayed because of his upbringing, and an identity crisis that haunted him until his death. Karna's mind was bonded by loyalty and devotion towards Duryodhana, as he found himself stuck between righteousness and wrong. But what about his wife?

'Karna's Wife' by Kavita Kane paints the story of Uruvi, the Princess of Pukeya, right from her childhood. Being a free spirited girl, she turned out to be a bold lady whose decisions were often not appreciated by the royal lineage.

The love between Karna and Uruvi was as powerful as their misfortune. It was not supposed to be a happy ending, and this was accepted by both of them. It was this fear of loss that accentuated their love, and made their union everlasting.

Karna and Uruvi both fought their own battles, the former with bows and arrows, and the latter was bruised by conflicts between her mind and heart. They held on together, even in the most testing of times, making us believe that love is stronger than all other forces.

However, having read 'The Fisher Queen's Dynasty' by the same author before, I couldn't stop myself from comparing the two. Fisher Queen is a winner to me all along, right from its bright cover to the events that unfold in the book. Satyavati as a character had a greater impact than Uruvi, and left a lasting impression. Also, being a decision maker in the growth of the Kuru Dynasty, the journey of Satyavati was more intriguing than that of Uruvi.

Ramayana-Stand Strong - Review

The Ramayana is not a story. It’s a way of life. It’s the game of life.

Life is a constant reminder that nothing, however powerful in one season, remains unchanging. The endless cycles of change can truly us if we are unprepared to face its realities. However, we often see these changing times as problems larger than they really are. Many issues in life when perceived with fear, result in pain; but when perceived with CLARITY, result is FREEDOM.

Situations of helplessness are almost always created by our own limited imagination.

Do you have the courage to face your fears?

Stand Strong, the fourth book in Ramayana: The Game of Life series reminds us through its eternal stories -- such as the tale of brothers Vali and Sugriva -- that life is like a high-risk treasure hunt: one often has to walk through a maze of confusing paths while being chased by dangerously complex dilemmas to find the hidden treasure of wisdom.

About The Author

Shubha Vilas is a spiritual seeker and a motivational speaker. He helps people in dealing with modern-day life situations through the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana and other dharmic traditions. He conducts leadership seminars in premier institutes across the world and inspires deeper human values.

I have been an ardent follower of Ramayana – The Game of Life series, not only because I love reading Indian mythologies, but also because the author Subha Vilas imparts the tales with such lucidity that one seems to be witnessing the story on a first person basis. Along with the fluent narration, Subha Vilas also adds lessons based on the learning from the epic that we can apply to our day to day activities.

‘Stand Strong’ takes the story forward from its prequels, ‘Roar With Courage’ (Book 1), ‘Conquer Change’ (Book 2) and ‘Adopt Patience’(Book 3). As the title suggests, this book imparts the message to be strong and wise in all adversities. The story starts with Rama and Lakshmana’s search for Sita, which takes them to the Rishimukh mountain range. Here, they are spotted by Nala, Nila and Taru, who failed to recognize them and rushed towards Sugriva to warn him of upcoming danger. Thus commences the Kishkinda Kand of Ramayana, which revolves primarily around the vanaras and how they serve Rama in his mission.

‘Stand Stronng’ also introduces one of the most loved characters of Ramayana, Hanuman. We get to know about his birth, childhood, and the boons and curses he went through, in crisp details. We are made aware of his journey, his powers and his prowess. Hanuman is humble and despite being more powerful than Sugriva, he has no qualms in serving the latter. He performs his duties with utmost sincerity, and can rightly be considered as the backbone of this great epic.

The fight scene between Vali and Sugriva is one of the key highlights of this book. Initially, one might be apprehensive towards Rama’s judgement and his actions during the fight between the two brothers, but as we read along, we understand the deeper meanings of Rama’s deeds. We realize how he analyses the situations, and like a true leader, he knows what would be the right decision for a particular course. However, there are moments when Rama feels low and disheartened with the loss of Sita.  He misses her with the change of seasons, comparing her and their love with beautiful metaphorical references to the world around. At such times, his brother and able companion Lakshmana provides him mental support, urging him to have patience and be calm and strong.

As always, Subha Vilas does full justice to the epic. He has narrated the events in such details and with utmost beauty that the readers will be transported to that divine world. The characterization is perfect, with every protagonist in the book being provided with their own space to grow and form an image in the mind of the readers. We, while reading the book, find ourselves questioning the actions and the deeds of the characters, forming our own judgments. This indicates how well the author has managed to create a connect with the readers.

Though I have been familiar with the basic premise of the Ramayana, it’s still a delight reading this version, an added plus point being the numerous back stories and anecdotes which we are not aware of, but which still play integral roles in the development of the plot. This is a must read for all lovers of mythology, and for those who are not, this book might well be able to pique their interest towards this field.

Title: Ramayana-Stand Strong

Authors: Shubha Vilas

Publisher: Jaico Publishing House

Publication Year: 2017

Language: English

Binding: Paperback

Genre: Mythology, Religion

No. of Pages: 316

Price: Rs 295

My Rating: 4/5

Ramayana - The Game of Life (Book 3) : Stolen Hope - Review

In the evil labyrinths of Dandakaranya forest, human values are put to test. Rama’s righteousness, Lakshmana’s loyalty and Sita’s endurance reflect our own sense of values and judgment in difficult times. The story unfolds the facets of human life – the conflict and the trickery, the praise and the slander and, above all, the hope and the despair in the eventful forest life of the Exiled Royals.
Stolen Hope is about extreme deception and extreme love. It is about arrogant power and deep devotion. With every twist and turn, Rama, Sita and Lakshmana find themselves robbed of whatever and whoever they value most.
Exploring the dynamics of human relations – between father and son, husband and wife, teacher and disciple – and the complex game of power and greed, Stolen Hope mirrors our own dilemmas in the modern world and teaches us how we must overcome them.
Seek courage when everything, including hope, is stolen.

About the Author
Shubha Vilas, a spiritual seeker and a motivational speaker, holds a degree in engineering and law with a specialization in patent law. His leadership seminars are popular with top-level management in corporate houses. He addresses their crucial needs through thought- provoking seminars on themes such as ‘Secrets of Lasting Relationships’, ‘Soul Curry to Stop Worry’ and ‘Work–Life Balance’ to name a few.
He believes that a good teacher, no matter how knowledgeable, always sees the process of learning and teaching simultaneously as an inherent aspect of personal and spiritual growth. He also helps individuals in different parts of the world apply the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, the Ramayana and other dharmic traditions in dealing with modern- day life situations.

‘Stolen Hope’, the third installment of Shubha Vilas’s Ramayana – The Game Of Life series, serves as a mood shifter. You feel elated when Rama and Lakshmana defeat the demons in the Dandakaranya forest, relieved when beings under the spell of curse get freed by the divine touch of Rama; you smile when you know that Sita feels happy and contented in the forest solely for the reason that Rama has her full attention here, away from the hustle and bustle of his kingdom, and cry your heart out when she wrongly accuses Lakshmana and questions his character and intentions despite him serving his brother and his sister-in-law selflessly over the years. It’s anger that takes over you when Ravana flies away with Sita to his abode, Lanka, trying to win her love and trust through immoral means, and you start behaving impatiently when the book comes to an end, eager to know what happens next. At least, these are the emotions that travelled within me throughout my journey with this book.

The story of Ramayana isn’t new for most of us. We have read, re-read and listened to the various episodes of this epic from different sources. What then causes Shubha Vilas to stir the readers, engaging them to pick up his latest endeavor? The answer lies in the honesty and the clarity of his efforts. Though we know the basic premise of the Ramayana, we may not be aware of the subplots and the fine nuances that this epic has to offer. In fact, there are several segments, stories and characters which we haven’t heard of, or are acquainted with only a mild familiarity. Shubha Vilas tries to bring these points to the fore, enlightening us with the minutest of details. These pieces of information serve more like a jigsaw puzzle, and when we put the pieces together, we start seeing the Ramayana in a different light altogether, clearer and illuminating.

‘Stolen Hope’ starts where ‘Shattered Dreams’ concluded, in the Dandakaranya forest, highlighting the adventures of the divine trio – Rama, Sita and Lakshmana. As they move from one place to the other, we are introduced to several interesting tales and anecdotes. My personal favourites were the stories about Sage Agastya. Also, true to its essence, this adaptation of the Ramayana is wrapped in learning for our hearts and souls. The footnotes, and the pieces in boxes, are words of pure wisdom, raining the spirit of righteousness and knowledge, and leading us to the path of duty. What is interesting is that these fragments of luminance are relevant even today, and we can adopt them in our day to day activities, making our lives easier, and better.

The book begins on a positive and pleasing note. However, as it reaches its end, we are left enraged by the arrogance and evil of Ravana. As a dedicated reader of this series, I am looking forward to the next volume, where Rama would be able to free Sita from the clutches of Ravana, and punish him for all his wrong doings. Shubha Vilas’s words have magic, his narration simple and fluent, and his story-telling gripping. For all mythological lovers, this book is a must-have asset on your shelves.

Title: Ramayana - The Game of Life (Book 3) : Stolen Hope
Authors: Shubha Vilas
Publisher: Jaico Publishing House
Publication Year: 2016
Language: English
Binding: Paperback
Genre: Religious, Mythology
No. of Pages: 312
Price: Rs 299
My Rating: 4/5