Mahabharata! There is no single method to define the Mahabharata. Every character has their own interpretation of the story, their own point of view, and reading from their point of view reminds us that each of us has a trip to experience; all we need to do is trust the universe and trust Krishna.
Having read so many books on Mahabharata, books on various Mahabharata characters, and untold Mahabharata stories, I am now giving a list of books that you can read if you want to gain a deeper understanding of what the characters went through.
Each narrative provides us with fresh insights and interpretations.
The Palace of Illusions
Chitra Divakaruni weaves a heartwarming tale narrated by Draupadi; it’s a fascinating read with depth. It was possible to feel Draupadi’s emotions, thoughts, and situations. It’s all about her, Yagyasheni.
The story follows Panchaali from her mystical birth in the fire as the daughter of a king to her lively balancing act as a lady with five husbands who had been duped out of their father’s country.
Shakuni: Master of the Game
Ashutosh Nadkar’s narration from Shakuni’s point of view provides us with a different viewpoint on Shakuni. It’s one of my favorite books because it provided answers to many of my queries concerning Shakuni. We don’t know much about Shakuni, and this book is fantastic.
Arjuna the Greatest Lover
Arjuna is regarded as a brilliant warrior and archer, but did you know he was also the best lover who ever lived? Arjuna won Draupadi as his bride at her swayamvar, but did you know he also had three other wives? Arjuna’s son was Abhimanyu. Arjuna, on the other hand, had four more sons, one of whom became his arch-adversary.
On the route, he meets Ulupi, the Naga princess, Chitrangadha, the warrior queen, Subadhra, Lord Krishna’s sister, and Urvashi, the celestial nymph and dancer. In Arjuna the Greatest Lover, these women who adored Arjuna narrate the story of his love and life adventures.
Abhimanyu: The Warrior Prince
The author describes Abhimanyu’s journey, his childhood, his years of training, his love for his uncle and parents, and how he went to locate Arjuna, encountered Uttara, and fought the fight in this book. It’s a fast-paced tale with riveting storytelling. The author’s description of what transpired on the battlefield will give you goosebumps. How he fought the masters alone until his dying breath.
Krishna’s Sister
In this book, the author discusses Abhimanyu’s travels, his childhood, and his years as Krishna’s sister, Subhadra, who played an important role in the Mahabharata. A powerful woman, God’s sister, and a warrior who formed the Mahabharata despite losing everything. It’s a narrative of her sacrifice, faith in her brother, and faith in herself. Arjun’s heart was governed by a warrior. It’s a fantastic novel. A lovely and light read in which to lose oneself. The author’s narration of the story is remarkable. The novel is easy to relate to.
The Curse of Gandhari
Aditi Banerjee saves Gandhari from being reduced to a simple symbol of her blindfold in this smart and empathetic portrayal. She constructs her, as Ved Vyasa did, as an unorthodox heroine of immense strength and iron will – who, when crossed, started on a convoluted relationship with Lord Krishna, becoming the queen who cursed a God. Gandhari has only one day to live.
Also, Read Shikhandi: The Transgender Warrior Of The Mahabharata
Jaya
Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling Of The Mahabharata condenses the entire epic, originally known as Jaya, into a little capsule in this book. Aside from repeating the interesting sections of the Mahabharata, what makes this book a reader favorite is Pattanaik’s representation of the different local folklore and tales related to the epic, which has been presented in a whole new genre. The author has masterfully expanded the tale by integrating lesser-known folklore stories from the epic while retaining its original structure and tone.
Mahabharata Tales -1
The 12 previously unseen stories will amaze you. The stories are too interesting, whether about friendship or love, the curse of Gandhari or the birth of Duryodhana, or the magnificence of Sahadeva. The stories recall important episodes from the epic and provide insight into the famed Mahabharata characters.
Panchaali The Princess Of Peace
From her childhood in Panchaal to how she felt when she was born, she desired to comprehend emotions and unconditional love. The author writes a fantastic tale of friendship and love, of a bold princess, with a unique writing style. The dialogues between Krishna and Draupadi were my favorites. Wow was the way Krishna described Draupadi and expressed himself. From Damyanti’s narrative to what love is for Draupadi, chapters like Krishna and Panchaali, Pandavaas, and Mahabharata are magnificent.
Karna’s Wife: The Outcast’s Queen
Urvi, a talented Kshatriya princess, falls for the Sutputra-Karna, eventually dismissing Arjun. Many people are outraged when she picks Karna over her childhood friend Arjun. Urvi’s tribulations as the outcast’s queen have been examined, as she is caught between the social repercussions of her act of disobedience and her efforts to obtain respect and affection from her spouse.
Duryodhana’s Queen
A trip of a Kuru Queen who was lost in the annals of time. Learn about Duryodhana and Bhanumati’s love tale. Did Duryodhana go forward with the Kurukshetra war on purpose? Was he aware of the war’s result, and if so, why did he proceed? What happened to the Kauravas women after the great war? This is the narrative of a Queen who was born to rival Draupadi only to perish in the end.
The Kaunteyas
A book containing Mahabharata secrets. I appreciated how the author described Kunti’s life. What she felt when she told Karna the truth when she told the Pandavas the truth, and so on. The reader is kept interested throughout due to the interesting writing style. I enjoyed how it was told; with a fluid flow of words, the author kept the readers interested.
