Ami Ganatra > Quotes

“person who does not make a name for himself either by way of generosity, penance, truthfulness, knowledge or wealth creation is as good as human excreta, nothing more.”
― Ami Ganatra, Mahabharata Unravelled: Lesser-Known Facets of a Well-Known History

“Self-praise is akin to committing suicide.”
― Ami Ganatra, Mahabharata Unravelled: Lesser-Known Facets of a Well-Known History

“One who is proud without any learning has luxurious needs despite his poverty and wants to acquire wealth without any hard work is a stupid man.”
― Ami Ganatra, Mahabharata Unravelled: Lesser-Known Facets of a Well-Known History

“The beauty of the Mahābhārata is its honest portrayal of human psychology. However technologically advanced we may have become, the innate desires and psychological traits have remained identical over millennia. That is why, the story of our ancestors stirs us even today. In them, we can see our own selves.”
― Ami Ganatra, Mahabharata Unravelled: Lesser-Known Facets of a Well-Known History

“A value or a conduct that sustains and fosters dharma is a virtue and one that hinders it is a vice.”
― Ami Ganatra, Mahabharata Unravelled: Lesser-Known Facets of a Well-Known History

“While he feels all emotions and deeply so, his decision-making is not sullied by personal emotions, biases or short-term gratifications, even when experiencing extreme despair.”
― Ami Ganatra

“Who Were the Sutas The narrator of the Mahābhārata as we know it is Rishi Ugrashravā Sauti. He was the son of Rishi Lomaharshan and belonged to the Suta community. Hence, the appellation ‘Sauti’. The community was considered a ‘mixed jāti’8 of offsprings of a Brāhmin mother and Kshatriya father. Sutas were considered expert sārthis9. The role of the charioteer was significant in ancient India. Charioteers were usually those who were close friends and confidants of the person they worked with. Their role became even more important in a war. They were to not just steer the chariot but also ensure the warrior they were driving stayed safe and motivated. They acted as guides in the war. The importance of a charioteer becomes evident from the fact that Arjuna asked Krishna to be his charioteer. To match Krishna, Karna asked Shalya, the old king of Madra, to drive his chariot. In addition, Sutas were engaged as storytellers, history keepers and ministers in royal courts. Many were also warriors and commanders. Famous Sutas in the Mahābhārata are: 1. Sanjay, the narrator of the Bhagavad Gitā and the Kurukshetra war to Dhritarāshtra. He played the role of charioteer, friend, trusted messenger and mentor to Dhritarāshtra. 2. Sudeshnā, the queen of King Virāta of Matsya desh, Uttarā’s mother and Abhimanyu’s mother-in-law. She was the maternal grandmother of Parikshita. 3. Keechak, the commander of King Virāta of Matsya desh. He was the brother of Sudeshnā and amongst the most powerful men in Matsya. 4. Karna, though born to Kunti, was raised in a Suta family of Adhiratha and Rādhā. He married women from the Suta community and his children were brought up as Sutas. Duryodhana crowned him the King of Anga desh. A great warrior, considered equal to Arjuna in archery, he was the commander of the Kaurava army after the death of Dronāchārya. Not only Karna but the sons of his foster parents were also trained warriors. They had participated in the Mahābhārata war on the side of the Kauravas. 5. Rishi Bandi, a great sage whose story is narrated in the Vana Parva of the Mahābhārata. In the Rāmāyana, one of the closest confidants and an important minister of King Dashratha of Ayodhyā is Sumantra, who belonged to the Suta community.”
― Ami Ganatra, Mahabharata Unravelled: Lesser-Known Facets of a Well-Known History

“Krishna insists on developing ‘yogastha buddhi’, stable and clear wisdom, to foster objective and unbiased decision-making. This is the gist of the Bhagavad Gitā.”
― Ami Ganatra, Mahabharata Unravelled: Lesser-Known Facets of a Well-Known History

“With the Mahābhārata, given its popularity, and many related works, some imagined stories seem to have become ‘the truth’. Misplaced facts give rise to misplaced conclusions. That is why, for a story of such prominence and influence, it is even more important to know the facts as they were told by Veda Vyāsa, from the authentic sources available to us today.”
― Ami Ganatra, Mahabharata Unravelled: Lesser-Known Facets of a Well-Known History

“Vidura recommends the prioritisation of the greater good. ‘Sacrifice your son to protect the village and sacrifice the village to protect your nation. But to protect your own ātmā, be ready to give up everything,”
― Ami Ganatra, Mahabharata Unravelled: Lesser-Known Facets of a Well-Known History

“Even if there is a chance you may lose your life, you must not give up the fight. Either holler aloud like an eagle unafraid to announce its presence or quietly slink like a rat to look for the chinks in your opponents’ armour. But do not lie down like a dead man struck by lightning. Stand up right now and reclaim your honour with valour. Better to live short but shine like a brilliant flame than cling to your life burning like a stick, flameless and smoke-filled.”
― Ami Ganatra, Mahabharata Unravelled: Lesser-Known Facets of a Well-Known History

“Without initiating an action, our desire will certainly not materialise. It is likely that the outcome may not always be as we desire. But that can be known only after the action is done. That is why, results notwithstanding, wise men continue to engage in their work. Success and failures are anyway ephemeral. Hence, believing firmly that success will come, one must engage in work. You too must now get ready to act.”
― Ami Ganatra, Mahabharata Unravelled: Lesser-Known Facets of a Well-Known History

“While explaining the meaning of dharma, Krishna categorically states, ‘यः स्यात् धारणसंयुक्तः स धर्म इति निश्चयः’ (Yah syāt dhāranasamyuktah sa dharma iti nishchayah)—only that which promotes sustenance is dharma.”
― Ami Ganatra, Mahabharata Unravelled: Lesser-Known Facets of a Well-Known History

“There are two ways of wasting wealth acquired through genuine means—giving to the undeserving and not giving to the deserving.”
― Ami Ganatra, Mahabharata Unravelled: Lesser-Known Facets of a Well-Known History

“At any point, we are a part of various social and professional units. As an involved stakeholder in those, we have various roles to play. Many times, the dharma associated with these different roles comes into conflict with each other. This conflict is what we call dharma sankata or ethical dilemma. That is what Arjuna faced before the Kurukshetra war”
― Ami Ganatra, Mahabharata Unravelled: Lesser-Known Facets of a Well-Known History

“The sin one incurs from killing oneself is even worse than that incurred by killing one's brother.”
― Ami Ganatra, Mahabharata Unravelled: Lesser-Known Facets of a Well-Known History

“The role and responsibility of an administrator is to protect the stakeholders from those within and outside the set-up who refuse to live by the set norms, thus posing an existential threat to the stability of the system at large.”
― Ami Ganatra, Mahabharata Unravelled: Lesser-Known Facets of a Well-Known History

“There are no straightforward context-free answers about dealing with ethical dilemmas.”
― Ami Ganatra, Mahabharata Unravelled: Lesser-Known Facets of a Well-Known History

“Like the snake-eating peacock adorns himself with feathers of many hues, the king should display the various hues of his personality befitting a king in accordance with the requirement of the time and place. He must be strict if needed, or display crookedness if the situation demands it. He should exhibit fearlessness, truthfulness, sincerity and, at the same time,”
― Ami Ganatra, Mahabharata Unravelled - II: The Dharma Discourses

“Not by birth, not by education, not by listening to scriptures does a person become a Brāhmin. Only by virtuous conduct can a person be considered a Brāhmin. Hence, one must focus on his conduct.”
― Ami Ganatra, Mahabharata Unravelled - II: The Dharma Discourses

“One who is not indebted to anyone, not away in a foreign land and eats food in the fifth or sixth part of the day cooked in his own house even if with scanty vegetables is truly happy.”
― Ami Ganatra, Mahabharata Unravelled: Lesser-Known Facets of a Well-Known History

“for a country, community, family or even a professional unit to sustain, there are certain norms, behaviours and considerations that are expected of the stakeholders. The norms and the systems have to be such that nourish the involved entities. The overarching governing principle of such units of interdependent entities that helps define the norms, behaviours, duties and codes of conduct for interaction and ensures their symbiotic existence is called dharma.”
― Ami Ganatra, Mahabharata Unravelled: Lesser-Known Facets of a Well-Known History

“Hearing the high talk of dharma from Karna, Krishna was livid. ‘It is indeed fortunate that you are reminded of dharma now. People always blame their destiny when faced with calamity. Never do they remember their misdeeds.”
― Ami Ganatra, Mahabharata Unravelled: Lesser-Known Facets of a Well-Known History