प्रच्छन्न

Mahasamar #6

by नरेंद्र कोहली, Narendra Kohli

पांडवों का अज्ञातवास, महाभारत-कथा का एक बहुत आकर्षक स्थल है । दुर्योधन की गृध्र दृष्टि से पांडव कैसे छिपे रह सके ? अपने अज्ञातवास के लिए पांडवों ने विराटनगर को ही क्यों चुना ? पांडवों के शत्रुओं में प्रछन्न मित्र कहाँ थे और मित्रों में प्रच्छन्न शत्रु कहाँ पनप रहे थे ? ऐसे ही अनेक पश्नों को समेटकर आगे बढती है, महासमर के इस छठे खंड प्रच्छन्न की कथा ।

480 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2009

About the author

Padmashree Narendra Kohli is one of the most eminent and well-known Hindi writers of our times. His novel based on the Ram-Katha, Abhyuday, shifted the course of Hindi novel-writing. Another of his novels, Mahasamar, based on the Pandava-katha went on to become just as popular. His novel-series, Todo Kara Todo is considered the greatest and foremost novel in any language on the life of Swami Vivekananda. Abhigyan, Vasudev, Sharnam, Aatmaswikriti, Varunaputri, Sagar-Manthan, Ahalya etc. are his other well-known works. Apart from the Padmashree, he has also been awarded the Hindi Akademi award; Delhi Salaka Samman; Uttar Pradesh Hindi Sansthaan award; Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Samman, Lucknow; K.K. Birla Foundation award; Vyasa Samman, New Delhi; Madhya Pradesh government and Bhopal’s Maithili Sharan Gupt Rashtriya Samman, among numerous other honours.

डॉ॰ नरेन्द्र कोहली (जन्म ६ जनवरी १९४०, निधन १७ अप्रैल २०२१, चैत्र शुक्ल पंचमी, नवरात्रि) प्रसिद्ध हिन्दी साहित्यकार हैं। उन्होंने साहित्य के सभी प्रमुख विधाओं (यथा उपन्यास, व्यंग्य, नाटक, कहानी) एवं गौण विधाओं (यथा संस्मरण, निबंध, पत्र आदि) और आलोचनात्मक साहित्य में अपनी लेखनी चलाई है। उन्होंने शताधिक श्रेष्ठ ग्रंथों का सृजन किया है। हिन्दी साहित्य में 'महाकाव्यात्मक उपन्यास' की विधा को प्रारंभ करने का श्रेय नरेंद्र कोहली को ही जाता है। पौराणिक एवं ऐतिहासिक चरित्रों की गुत्थियों को सुलझाते हुए उनके माध्यम से आधुनिक सामाज की समस्याओं एवं उनके समाधान को समाज के समक्ष प्रस्तुत करना कोहली की अन्यतम विशेषता है। कोहलीजी सांस्कृतिक राष्ट्रवादी साहित्यकार हैं, जिन्होंने अपनी रचनाओं के माध्यम से भारतीय जीवन-शैली एवं दर्शन का सम्यक् परिचय करवाया है। जनवरी, २०१७ में उन्हें पद्मश्री से सम्मानित किया गया।

Reviews

[Mohit · Rating 5 out of 5]

With each part I am becoming more and more close to the soul of Narendra Kohliji and that is my honest submission on the very craft of his. Book 6 in this magnificent series covers the period of वनवास & अज्ञातवास and ponders over the questions of Dharma, especially how far can Dharma stretch if it comes to that. The detailing of every small aspect of Mahabharata that we know of, is so beautiful that at so many instances I had to keep the book down, lest I get overwhelmed. It is such kind of a book.

May Kohliji love forever.

[Swasti · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really amazing book

[Viren · Rating 5 out of 5]

very good

[Vikram · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its good

[Prabhat sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pandavas have to spend One year incognito. Pandavas are brought up in Hastinapur. They can be identified by their language. They decide to spend one year in Matsya Kingdom as farmers from Hastinapur. Draupadi speaks language of Panchal area. She plans to show as a panchal married lady. Yudhistar is Kank who plays dice with King Birat. Bhim is Vrihannala chief cook for the palace. Arjun is Vrihannala the dance teacher for Uttara daughter of Birat. Nakul is Tantpal, keeper of cows and other animals for the King. Sahdev is Granthik for the King. Draupadi is maid to Queen Sudeshana wife of king Birat. Kauravas are on the look out for Pandavas living in cognito. There is no end for voes of Pandavas at Matsya also. Here the Commander in chief of the Matsya Army is Kitchak. While visiting her sister, Kitchak, sees Sairadhanri and is enamoured by her beauty. Sairandhari informs Kitchak that she is a married woman and her husband will take revenge if he tries to molest her. Sudeshana knows that her husband is weak and Kitachak has helped to keep enemies away from borders of Matsya. She orders Sairandhri to take wine plate to the room of Kitchak. Kitchak catches her and insults her. Next day, Draupadi informs Bhim about the incident. Bhim knows that Kitchak is a known mace fighter and can be competed by Balram, Duryodhana and Bhim himself. They ask Draupadi to invite him to dance hall. The hall is dark. Kitchak enters and sees a lady whose face is covered. He lifts the veil and finds Bhim in place of Draupadi The fight begins. Arjun plays the drum loudly so that the noise of fight is not heard outside the hall and palace residents think that dance practice is going on. Bhim kills Kitchak was his hands without using mace. Ktichak's face is not recognizable because of the beating. In the morning, the palace people are disturbed. Funeral of Kitchak, they bind Draupadi to be burned as his wife. Bhim uproots a tree and kills all the brothers and supporters of Kitchak. Funeral is completed. Duryodhana comes to Matsya on hearing about Kitachak's murder but he is unable to trace the Pandavas. Queen Sudeshana informs her husband that it is possible that Draupadi has a hand in the killing of her brother Kitchak and she must be punished. At the same time, the Kauravas come to understand that king of Matsya is now weak. Therefore, from one border of Matsya kingdom, King Sushama and Trigart attack Matsya and gather the cows and other dairy animals and start taking them away. Sudeshana sends King Birat to encounter and reply to the attack. From the other border, Kauravas attack Matsya. In the palace, only young son of Birat named Uttar is there. She calls for help and Brihannala - Arjun becomes his chariot driver, takes to battle and with his sound archery drive away both the warring armies and return back to the palace. One year period is over and Panadavas disclose their identity. The story depicts negativity of Duryodhana- after being declared as Crown Prince and after taking the kingdom of Pandavas, ouster of Pandavas for 12 years and one year incognito, he is not satisfied. He tries his best to identify them during is period but fails. In part of the story, Duryodhana requests Rishi Durwasa to visit Pandavas and live with them alongwith their disciples. The reason is that the food stock of Pandavas may exhaust and they die due of hunger. Even today, the people are still the same. Enmity, winning competition by hook or crook is still grey part of human mind. The book is relevant today. It must be translated in Indian languages and in foreign languages so that readers can know about Indian values and philosophy. It is must read for all.

[Prabhat sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prachchhann : Mahasamar -6 (Kindle edition) Prachchan- Hidden- Mahasamar 6- The one year incognito they live as peasants from Hastinapur in the palace of King of Mataya, named Virat. Yudhistar's name is Kank. His role is of dice player with the King. Bhim is Vrakodar the head cook for the palace. Arjun is Vrihannala, dance teacher for Uttara, daughter of Virat. Nakul is Tantpal, who looks after the cows and other animals of the King, Sahdav is Granthik, the writer for King. Druapadi is maid to Queen Sudeshana. Here the Pandavas are never at peace. Kitchak, Commander in Chief of Virat army and brother of Queen Sudshana sees Sairandhri and is enamored by her beauty and wants to sleep with her. She avoids him and tells him that she is a married and if bothered her husband will take revenge. She informs Vrakodar about Kitchak. Bhim plans with Vrihannala and calls the Commander at the dance hall in the night. Here Bhim starts a fight with him while Vrihannla plays the drum loudly so that the noise of fighting is curbed. Ultimately, Bhim kills Kitchak. Kauravas are aware of the beginning of time of incognito and start tracing the Pandavas. They find that Kitchak has been killed. Kitchak is a well known warrior and can only be defeated in Mase fighting by Balram, Durgodhana and Bhim only. They visit Matsya kingdom but are unable to locate the Pandavas. On the death of her brother Kitchak, Sudeshana doubts that Sairandhri has a hand in the death of the brother. She informs her husband to take action against Sairandhri. By this time, one year period ends. Kauravas doubt that Pandavas are hiding in Viart Kingdom and that their brave commander of the army is dead and they are invincible. They ask Susharma and Trigart kings to attack Matsya from one border. King Virat fights them. From the other border, Kauravas attack. Now only young son of Matsya, Uttar is in the palace. Sudeshana asks for help. Kauravas away the cows of King Virat. Vrihannala drives the chariot of Prince of Matsya, Uttar. Ultimately, both armies of Susharma, Trigart and Kauravas are defeated. The Book has depicted the story in charming way. This book depicts Indian culture and philosophy well. It should be translated into various Indian languages and also in foreign languages so that international readers are aware of epic Mahabharata. It is a must read for all.

[knots · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the glimpses into the psyche of the Kuru Elders like Bhishma.We understand why he took the part of Duryodhana in the Great War.Equally intriguing are Drona's reasons for supporting the Kaurava princes.His rivalry with Karna and the latter's ascendancy in the political scenario of Hastinpura while the former's star is fading is interesting.The fictional conversation between Gandhari and Shakuni, or between Kunti and the wives of the Kauravas princes really takes the book to another level.The author has done a good job of coloring between the lines by providing us with these extra scenes.

But the glorification of Yudhistira or Dharmaraj is irking.I can understand why he thinks the way he does but really, does the author need to sing paeans in his favor too?Apparently Dharmaraj's philosophy is the 'right' philosophy and Draupadi and Bheem are mistaken souls who have not yet ascended to his level.Arjun is a mini-Yudhistira who follows the latter's way of thinking and obeys him implicitly.I have always been a steadfast member of Team Arjuna but Karna has not been been treated fairly in this book.He's apparently a coward and his friendship with Duryodhana is motivated only by self-interest on the side of either parties.To put it in simple terms the Pandavas are Knights in Shining Armors while the Kauravas(except Vikarna) are the blackest of the black.This is too simplistic and takes away much from the philosophy of the book.

[Siddhartha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is 6th part of the Mahasamar, focusing on the last part of Vanavaasa and then covering the 1 year of incognito life too. Almost half of the book is focusing on the plan of Duryodhana instigated by Karna to insult Pandavas during the final phase of their life in forest. How the Kurus plan to make a whole family visit to show off their wealth with all women so excited to show off their clothes and ornaments in front of Draupadi in revenge to how Draupadi showed off at Indraprastha during Raajasooyam. How Gandarva Chithrasenan makes the plan to fail is explained in detail. Once that plan is failed, Duryodhana makes a new plan with his brother-in-law Jayadradha to kidnap Draupadi and insult Pandavas.

Then followed by the life in incognito in Virata kingdom. This part of the novel ends with Pandavas coming out of incognito and planning the wedding of Abhimanyu and to use the occasion to get support from various kings in their quest to regain the kingdom they lost to Duryodhana in gambling.

[Ved Prakash · Rating 2 out of 5]

धीमा....बहुत ही धीमा।
कई जगह वार्तालाप को जबरदस्ती खिंचा गया है।

पांडवों के वनवास का कुछ भाग(दिव्यास्त्र आदि की प्राप्ति के बाद वाला वनवास फेज जिसमें दो मुख्य घटनाएं हैं ― गंधर्वों द्वारा दुर्योधन को बंधक बनाना और जयद्रथ द्वारा द्रौपदी के अपहरण का प्रयास) और अज्ञातवास की समाप्ति तक के घटनाक्रम को इसमें समेटा गया है। अज्ञातवास के दौरान भी मुख्य घटनाएँ दो ही है ― कीचक और उप-किचकों का वध तथा कौरव द्वारा मत्स्यों पर किये आक्रमण का अर्जुन द्वारा प्रतिकार।

कर्ण के चरित्र को न केवल घोर अधर्मी बल्कि बहुत ही भीरु भी दिखाया जा रहा है। जितना कायर उसे दिखाया जा रहा है उतना कायर तो उसे कहीं नहीं पढ़ा; in fact उसे कहीं भी कायर के रूप में नहीं पढ़ा।



इस खण्ड से कुछ विशेष हासिल नहीं हुआ बस
कर्ण के कवच कुंडल से सम्बंधित एक नया विश्लेषण मिला :

कर्ण का कवच-कुंडल और इंद्र द्वारा छलपूर्वक कवच-कुंडल मांग लेने के बदले में एक अमोघ अस्त्र कर्ण को देने की बात को दुर्योधन द्वारा फैलाया गया गप के रूप में दिखाया है ताकि लोग कर्ण की अपराजेय होने की बात जानकर उससे डरें।

[Ganesh Sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

As awesome as ever

Only thing I don't like is spellings mistakes during creation of kindle book. May be they realise later. Overall great work.

[Kapil]

Mahasamar 6 - Prachhann by Narendra Kohli








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