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Rise of Dharma
An unrighteous emperor makes the country suffer.A kingmaker strives to restore Dharma in the land.A fugitive prince is the only hope for Bharatavarsha’s future. Losing father in young years and growing within conspiracies of cousins with a threat on life would make any other person curse his fate. But prince Yudhishthira sees his responsibility to bring a change to the fates of many. He struggles to make his father’s land a realm of justice, which costs him severely.Sent away from his homeland, thrown into a murder attempt, moving in disguise in land of cannibals, - can Yudhishthira make Dharma rise again in a broken Bharatavarsha?About the majoring in Physics, Semanti Chakraborty turned to her area of passion - The Mahabharata. She hopes to revive and rekindle interest in the knowledge of Bhagavan Vyasa through her reimagination of the story of Yudhishthira. A teacher by profession and a writer by passion, she balances between science and spiritual wisdom in her daily life. Rise of Dharma is her debut novel and is to be followed by two more books, titled “Trials of Dharma” and “Triumph of Dharma” respectively, in Samrat Yudhishthira series. Apart from this trilogy, she also has plans to write on some underrated epic characters in future. She can be reached at her twitter handle @Semanti_C and at scalbarosa@gmail.com.
- GenresMythology
357 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 3, 2020
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September 24, 2020As the editor of the book, I cannot rate it. But I can say that I am proud to have worked with an author who was as passionate about Mahabharata as I am. If the topic interests you, do give it a try, guys. This book does not disappoint.
September 5, 2020
Fabulous read!
The book 'Rise of Dharma' glued my interest to cruise through one chapter after another, and I finished reading in approx. 1.5 days. A very well written book. More info required? -- Detailed review is presented below, patience is all yours!
**Caution: Long Post ahead**
I usually stay away from mythological-‘retellings’ fearing to see the original story in disfigured and distorted shape. But here my reading experience of this book was pleasant. This author didn't disappoint!
Unlike the usual reviews, where people write about what the book 'Is', here I would first like to talk what this book 'Is NOT'! That would help us appreciate the work better. Of course, we would also discuss what this book 'Is', but afterwards.
WHAT THIS BOOK IS NOT!
In today's world where there are books which lift storyline and the characters from the works of Vyasa or Valmiki and then in the name of author's imagination couples chaste Draupadi with Karna in extramarital affairs, or glorifies villains like Ravana to the skies while vilifying Rama's glory; this book "The Rise of Dharma" comes as a 'dhArmika' ray of hope to the readers like me who value sanctity of the original story above everything else. May be this book could be taken as inspiration by future authors interested in 'mythological FICTION' genre, to know how they could build their own story without 'damaging' the original scriptural narrative.
I do not say, this book doesn't have any creative liberties, it surely has! In fact, if the genre is 'fiction' one cannot stay 100% true to original script. That 100% sanctity would work in 'non-fiction' or 'commentary' genres alone. Therefore, yes, this author has also developed the storyline by making it her own. But I must emphasize that it is a brilliantly told story which doesn't deviate from the ‘core’ of the original scripture.
WHAT THIS BOOK IS!
Mahabharata is such a vast ocean that retelling it in exact same way as done by Vyasa is next to impossible. Therefore, what the writers do these days is, they elaborate one perspective in detail and give us food for thought while also summarily touching other characters. This 'Rise of Dharma' is also one such well written book narrating Mahabharata events from the eyes of the eldest Pandava! If the reader loves Mahabharata as a whole, instead of being a fan of one hero/heroine (other than Yudhishthira), this book would not disappoint such readers. Though the Divine acts have been presented in earthly manner, the amalgamation of the events and the story is beautifully done. Let's talk about some salient features.
1) This book 'Rise of Dharma' is a narrative depicted through the perspective of Yudhishthira. While there are other books written on one central character among the Pandavas, where the central hero is hailed but one or more of the Pandavas are abused; in this book, a neutral reader would not find any other character being ridiculed. Though much wider space is given to the central protagonist, yet the worth of the other heroes is also acknowledged. Chapter-11, for instance, shows Yudhishthira understanding his own mistake listening to the answer that Arjuna gives there to Drona. And that Yudhishthira's acknowledgement of his own error comes with a smile on his face. Likewise, there are more instances to find.
2) Majorly, the story remains same as the epic, but wherever the original scripture didn't detail things out, this author has filled the gaps to bring the story to the same meaningful stage where the original scripture lands us without telling the intermediate story. In short, this author has beautifully connected the dots! For instance – On the question of – What all things would have led the subjects of Hastinapura towards unconditionally loving and revering Yudhishthira as opposed to Duryodhana? – has been beautifully brought to life by the author.
3) Author's language and style of presentation is awesome as like as a seasoned writer. Good vocabulary is used, and the choice of special words has made them beautifully ring in the mind while reading. Many sentences from the author's narration could be used as 'quotes'. I wouldn't spoil the excitement of the potential buyers by quoting here all the golden phrases but am severely itching to cite my favorite 3 quotes. I request the readers not to consider these as spoilers, rather consider them as ‘teasers’ or ‘trailers’ to generate interest (if still someone doesn’t want to see them before reading the book first hand, they may skip the below bullets (a) to (c) and jump to point 4):
4) Author's style of giving subtle hints makes us pause for a moment to think, 'what could it connect to?' makes the reading interesting. For example, mentioning Yudhishthira’s year of birth. I'm sure with a little application of thought we might have understood its significance. Those who are new to Mahabharata and couldn't guess the connection, never mind, the book would connect the dots nicely.
5) The narration is very vivid and picturesque. While reading each chapter, the story would display the motion picture (movie) in our mind's screen. Every finer element of decoration of the kingdom also is beautifully described. Not even a minute expression of faces has escaped the author’s pen! Brilliant! Especially what made my jaw dropped is the fight scenes, which are described as if the author herself is a trained fighter. We wouldn't 'read' this book, we would 'see' the events happening in our mind, period!
6) Last but not the least, the author has not just written the character of Yudhishthira, for the sake of writing; rather, she has lived the character of the protagonist. Otherwise certain apparent least important gestures would have escaped the pen even though for the real characters those gestures would have been little but important duties. For instance, Chapter-40, where a messenger brings a pleasant news which soothes the heart of Yudhishthira, and there the author wearing the shoes of Yudhishthira doesn’t forget to ‘reward’ the messenger for the job. It was mesmerizing to note that the author wrote the book by being Yudhishthira, perhaps stopping at every sentence and asking herself, "What would Yudhishthira have done in this case?" Brilliant effort!
Here I conclude, with these 6 points about the book, symbolizing the five Pandavas and their one common lifeline, viz. Draupadi!
Lastly, my advice to the potential readers of this book who have 'No-prior-background' in Mahabharata, is -- "This book is good, and worth reading as it gives us insights of Yudhishthira in great depths. But after reading this, I suggest that one should next read the original Mahabharata, then with both these texts put together, one would be able to appreciate the greatness of that eldest Pandava in a better way”.
The book 'Rise of Dharma' glued my interest to cruise through one chapter after another, and I finished reading in approx. 1.5 days. A very well written book. More info required? -- Detailed review is presented below, patience is all yours!
**Caution: Long Post ahead**
I usually stay away from mythological-‘retellings’ fearing to see the original story in disfigured and distorted shape. But here my reading experience of this book was pleasant. This author didn't disappoint!
Unlike the usual reviews, where people write about what the book 'Is', here I would first like to talk what this book 'Is NOT'! That would help us appreciate the work better. Of course, we would also discuss what this book 'Is', but afterwards.
WHAT THIS BOOK IS NOT!
In today's world where there are books which lift storyline and the characters from the works of Vyasa or Valmiki and then in the name of author's imagination couples chaste Draupadi with Karna in extramarital affairs, or glorifies villains like Ravana to the skies while vilifying Rama's glory; this book "The Rise of Dharma" comes as a 'dhArmika' ray of hope to the readers like me who value sanctity of the original story above everything else. May be this book could be taken as inspiration by future authors interested in 'mythological FICTION' genre, to know how they could build their own story without 'damaging' the original scriptural narrative.
I do not say, this book doesn't have any creative liberties, it surely has! In fact, if the genre is 'fiction' one cannot stay 100% true to original script. That 100% sanctity would work in 'non-fiction' or 'commentary' genres alone. Therefore, yes, this author has also developed the storyline by making it her own. But I must emphasize that it is a brilliantly told story which doesn't deviate from the ‘core’ of the original scripture.
WHAT THIS BOOK IS!
Mahabharata is such a vast ocean that retelling it in exact same way as done by Vyasa is next to impossible. Therefore, what the writers do these days is, they elaborate one perspective in detail and give us food for thought while also summarily touching other characters. This 'Rise of Dharma' is also one such well written book narrating Mahabharata events from the eyes of the eldest Pandava! If the reader loves Mahabharata as a whole, instead of being a fan of one hero/heroine (other than Yudhishthira), this book would not disappoint such readers. Though the Divine acts have been presented in earthly manner, the amalgamation of the events and the story is beautifully done. Let's talk about some salient features.
1) This book 'Rise of Dharma' is a narrative depicted through the perspective of Yudhishthira. While there are other books written on one central character among the Pandavas, where the central hero is hailed but one or more of the Pandavas are abused; in this book, a neutral reader would not find any other character being ridiculed. Though much wider space is given to the central protagonist, yet the worth of the other heroes is also acknowledged. Chapter-11, for instance, shows Yudhishthira understanding his own mistake listening to the answer that Arjuna gives there to Drona. And that Yudhishthira's acknowledgement of his own error comes with a smile on his face. Likewise, there are more instances to find.
2) Majorly, the story remains same as the epic, but wherever the original scripture didn't detail things out, this author has filled the gaps to bring the story to the same meaningful stage where the original scripture lands us without telling the intermediate story. In short, this author has beautifully connected the dots! For instance – On the question of – What all things would have led the subjects of Hastinapura towards unconditionally loving and revering Yudhishthira as opposed to Duryodhana? – has been beautifully brought to life by the author.
3) Author's language and style of presentation is awesome as like as a seasoned writer. Good vocabulary is used, and the choice of special words has made them beautifully ring in the mind while reading. Many sentences from the author's narration could be used as 'quotes'. I wouldn't spoil the excitement of the potential buyers by quoting here all the golden phrases but am severely itching to cite my favorite 3 quotes. I request the readers not to consider these as spoilers, rather consider them as ‘teasers’ or ‘trailers’ to generate interest (if still someone doesn’t want to see them before reading the book first hand, they may skip the below bullets (a) to (c) and jump to point 4):
a) "Fire cannot extinguish fire. Arrogance can be challenged only with courteous firmness". -- Deep import exists here. One should read the book to cherish this in depth.
b) "Little did they know that my marriage was my pride, and my wife was my strength" -- Ah! had everyone felt the same for their spouses (gender neutral), today the bane called 'divorces' would have got curbed.
c) "Without the nectarine love & care from its rulers, even a fertile land fails to feed everybody" -- It has a deep meaning, which I wouldn't elaborate, let the readers understand after reading. This quote is very true and relevant even in today's times.
4) Author's style of giving subtle hints makes us pause for a moment to think, 'what could it connect to?' makes the reading interesting. For example, mentioning Yudhishthira’s year of birth. I'm sure with a little application of thought we might have understood its significance. Those who are new to Mahabharata and couldn't guess the connection, never mind, the book would connect the dots nicely.
5) The narration is very vivid and picturesque. While reading each chapter, the story would display the motion picture (movie) in our mind's screen. Every finer element of decoration of the kingdom also is beautifully described. Not even a minute expression of faces has escaped the author’s pen! Brilliant! Especially what made my jaw dropped is the fight scenes, which are described as if the author herself is a trained fighter. We wouldn't 'read' this book, we would 'see' the events happening in our mind, period!
6) Last but not the least, the author has not just written the character of Yudhishthira, for the sake of writing; rather, she has lived the character of the protagonist. Otherwise certain apparent least important gestures would have escaped the pen even though for the real characters those gestures would have been little but important duties. For instance, Chapter-40, where a messenger brings a pleasant news which soothes the heart of Yudhishthira, and there the author wearing the shoes of Yudhishthira doesn’t forget to ‘reward’ the messenger for the job. It was mesmerizing to note that the author wrote the book by being Yudhishthira, perhaps stopping at every sentence and asking herself, "What would Yudhishthira have done in this case?" Brilliant effort!
Here I conclude, with these 6 points about the book, symbolizing the five Pandavas and their one common lifeline, viz. Draupadi!
Lastly, my advice to the potential readers of this book who have 'No-prior-background' in Mahabharata, is -- "This book is good, and worth reading as it gives us insights of Yudhishthira in great depths. But after reading this, I suggest that one should next read the original Mahabharata, then with both these texts put together, one would be able to appreciate the greatness of that eldest Pandava in a better way”.
September 6, 2020
Many of us think that Yudhisthira was a gambling fool who followed the path of Dharma blindly. Narrated through Yudhisthira’s point of view, Rise of Dharma is an extremely captivating read, especially for those who love myths or the Indian religious history. The first book talks about the events before the war. Their time at the ashrama, the poisoning of Bhima’s food, the marriage with Draupadi. Everything is told through Yudhisthira’s point of view. The responsibilities as the eldest brother, the limitations that came with, the selflessness, and the makings of a good king. Yudhisthira always thought of his subjects foremost, even if it was at his cost. The rivalry between the Pandavas and the Kauravas has been described too. Duryodhana’s hostile behaviour which Yudhisthira calmly dealt with. There were many situations where making a decision was hard, but the Dharmaraja decided only in favour of his subjects, changing my perspective about him.
Personally, I deeply enjoyed reading the book. There were many misconceptions I previously had about the eldest Pandava which has been cleared through this book. The descriptions are very vivid too and the cover is stunning. The language is easy to comprehend. In all, the author has done a wonderful job. I would definitely recommend this book.
Personally, I deeply enjoyed reading the book. There were many misconceptions I previously had about the eldest Pandava which has been cleared through this book. The descriptions are very vivid too and the cover is stunning. The language is easy to comprehend. In all, the author has done a wonderful job. I would definitely recommend this book.
September 20, 2020
Off to a journey on path of Dharma guided by Yudistira himself!
Being a Mahabharata enthusiastic I generally won't recommend or even read modern retellings of the Epic.
That being said I am glad to have found this book which follows the journey of embodiment of Dharma, Dharma putra, Dharma Raja, Dharmatma Yudistira.
Yudistira is one character in Mahabharata who is hated by almost everyone. Kourava and Karna supporters hate him because they feel he is not the rightful heir. Draupadi fans hate him because of the Vastraharan episode. Arjuna and Bhima fans hate him because they feel he just used his innocent brothers.
The root cause of all this hatred for once Ajatasatru is nothing but ignorance. And I must laud the author Sri Semanti for her effort for doing a wonderful job in addressing the issue. No sane person can hate Yudistira after reading this book.
The author though a debutant has already mastered the art of story telling and captured the reader in me.
Yudistira is considered as a boring person by many for his strong sense of Dharma which will bar any character arcs because he was always perfect! That's why we seldom find perfect characters as they are boring. But the author took this as a challenge and wrote this book in such a way that it is nothing but boring.
Pros:
1) Yudistira Yudistira Yudistira, where there is Dharma there is Krishna and where there is Krishna there is victory. We get to know lot about Yudistira, how he thinks, how he acts and how he bears the weight of thousands of people on his shoulder. His moral dilemmas and his reasoning behind his controversial decisions.
2) Draupadi: This book is a delight to every Draupadi fan. The author has deeply and carefully narrated her greatness. How she laughed at the obstacles thrown her way by the life.How she consoled and kept pushing Yudistira to achieve greatness. How she took the responsibility of being a queen. More importantly her adherence to Dharma. Afterall perfect Yudistira needs perfect heroine in his story.
3) Krishna: This book is a delight to Krishna Bhakats. I personally got goosebumps when he beheads sisupala his infamous cousin.
Cons:
Readers may feel other Pandava brothers didn't get much time but that is understandable because it is the story of Yudistira.
Will I recommend it?
My first preference always will be Vyasa Mahabharata but in the alternative I will definitely recommend this book as it is true to his version with just minor deviations and it certainly preaches his words.
The reason for giving five star rating:
The task of generating an intrest in me so as to read a book on already known events should alone justify my rating.
Mostly I liked Yudistira-Vidura relationship especially during Kandavavana episode. How they both understood each other even after communicating in a language that is not known to many. How each other strived for welfare of others on times sacrificing their comfort and even risking their lives.
This book does not beat around the bush. Most debutant authors on field of Mahabharata won't challenge Karna, even the established ones. But the author is bold! Afterall what can harm those who seek refuge with Dharma!?
Being a Mahabharata enthusiastic I generally won't recommend or even read modern retellings of the Epic.
That being said I am glad to have found this book which follows the journey of embodiment of Dharma, Dharma putra, Dharma Raja, Dharmatma Yudistira.
Yudistira is one character in Mahabharata who is hated by almost everyone. Kourava and Karna supporters hate him because they feel he is not the rightful heir. Draupadi fans hate him because of the Vastraharan episode. Arjuna and Bhima fans hate him because they feel he just used his innocent brothers.
The root cause of all this hatred for once Ajatasatru is nothing but ignorance. And I must laud the author Sri Semanti for her effort for doing a wonderful job in addressing the issue. No sane person can hate Yudistira after reading this book.
The author though a debutant has already mastered the art of story telling and captured the reader in me.
Yudistira is considered as a boring person by many for his strong sense of Dharma which will bar any character arcs because he was always perfect! That's why we seldom find perfect characters as they are boring. But the author took this as a challenge and wrote this book in such a way that it is nothing but boring.
Pros:
1) Yudistira Yudistira Yudistira, where there is Dharma there is Krishna and where there is Krishna there is victory. We get to know lot about Yudistira, how he thinks, how he acts and how he bears the weight of thousands of people on his shoulder. His moral dilemmas and his reasoning behind his controversial decisions.
2) Draupadi: This book is a delight to every Draupadi fan. The author has deeply and carefully narrated her greatness. How she laughed at the obstacles thrown her way by the life.How she consoled and kept pushing Yudistira to achieve greatness. How she took the responsibility of being a queen. More importantly her adherence to Dharma. Afterall perfect Yudistira needs perfect heroine in his story.
3) Krishna: This book is a delight to Krishna Bhakats. I personally got goosebumps when he beheads sisupala his infamous cousin.
Cons:
Readers may feel other Pandava brothers didn't get much time but that is understandable because it is the story of Yudistira.
Will I recommend it?
My first preference always will be Vyasa Mahabharata but in the alternative I will definitely recommend this book as it is true to his version with just minor deviations and it certainly preaches his words.
The reason for giving five star rating:
The task of generating an intrest in me so as to read a book on already known events should alone justify my rating.
Mostly I liked Yudistira-Vidura relationship especially during Kandavavana episode. How they both understood each other even after communicating in a language that is not known to many. How each other strived for welfare of others on times sacrificing their comfort and even risking their lives.
This book does not beat around the bush. Most debutant authors on field of Mahabharata won't challenge Karna, even the established ones. But the author is bold! Afterall what can harm those who seek refuge with Dharma!?
September 16, 2020
Title - Rise of Dharma
Author - Semanti Chakraborty
Genre - mythology
Pages - 257
Format - kindle
.
.
'Rise of Dharma' is the book 1 in Samrat Yudhisthira Trilogy. This book is written from Yudhisthira's point of view and mainly centralised on living of Hastinapur before the war of Kurukshetra. The story starts when Yudhisthira returns to Hastinapur after his father's death. Read the book to know more about Yudhisthira's life, a character about which almost everyone knows very less.
The cover of the book is simple yet nice. The title of the book is apt and this is the title which induced me to pick it up.
The plot of the story is intriguing as it describes the childhood of Pandavas and Kauravas. The author has given many life lessons and advice of Vidhur, Pandu, Krisha, Vayas, Pitamah and above all Dharamraj Yudhisthira in this book.
The book mainly highlighted the qualities of Dharamraj like dharma, self sacrificing and protective attitude.
Language used is simple.
The book is divided into 42 chapters which is readers friendly. Glossary provided at the end is very helpful for the understanding of Sanskrit words.
The flow of the book is balanced.
Overall, a great read.
.
.
Rating - 4.4/5
.
.
I recommend this book to all specially to mythological lovers.
Author - Semanti Chakraborty
Genre - mythology
Pages - 257
Format - kindle
.
.
'Rise of Dharma' is the book 1 in Samrat Yudhisthira Trilogy. This book is written from Yudhisthira's point of view and mainly centralised on living of Hastinapur before the war of Kurukshetra. The story starts when Yudhisthira returns to Hastinapur after his father's death. Read the book to know more about Yudhisthira's life, a character about which almost everyone knows very less.
The cover of the book is simple yet nice. The title of the book is apt and this is the title which induced me to pick it up.
The plot of the story is intriguing as it describes the childhood of Pandavas and Kauravas. The author has given many life lessons and advice of Vidhur, Pandu, Krisha, Vayas, Pitamah and above all Dharamraj Yudhisthira in this book.
The book mainly highlighted the qualities of Dharamraj like dharma, self sacrificing and protective attitude.
Language used is simple.
The book is divided into 42 chapters which is readers friendly. Glossary provided at the end is very helpful for the understanding of Sanskrit words.
The flow of the book is balanced.
Overall, a great read.
.
.
Rating - 4.4/5
.
.
I recommend this book to all specially to mythological lovers.
September 19, 2020
Well to begin let me tell that , this the story of Mahabharata . Almost all of us aware of it story how the war , why the war took , the gambling and role of Krishna etc. . For some of us it is the of the sacred text and a part of their religion . While for others like me it is has become a sort of cultural things . But nevertheless we all know it , the characters their pain and everything .
And just author mentions in his note Yudhishth is the most underrated character of the them all . Even I had ignored and the heroes for me Krishna and Arjun .
But this book , let me tell you is going to change your perspective . The author has done a remarkable job is bringing out Yudhishth's character and trails in a breakthrough manner.The research is done in depth which is a great thing.The characterisation is great and the writing style is very refreshing .
Overall I think it was a great book would highly recommend it.
And just author mentions in his note Yudhishth is the most underrated character of the them all . Even I had ignored and the heroes for me Krishna and Arjun .
But this book , let me tell you is going to change your perspective . The author has done a remarkable job is bringing out Yudhishth's character and trails in a breakthrough manner.The research is done in depth which is a great thing.The characterisation is great and the writing style is very refreshing .
Overall I think it was a great book would highly recommend it.
September 22, 2020
Rise of dharma by semanti chakraborty is the first book from the Samrat Yudhishthira trilogy. This story is the retelling of the great Mahabharata which focuses on the life of eldest child of the king pandu and queen kunti 'Yudhishthira'
The story is narrated from the perspective of Yudhishthira. The author has narrated the whole story so detailed and precise.
The cover is beautiful and the title is apt to the story. The language used is easily understandable also the vocabulary used by author is admirable.
The writing style of the author is very Lucid and beautiful. The book is about 300 pages with 42 chapters.
This was my first time reading about a underrated character from Mahabharata and I enjoyed the experience alot.
I had a false impression about Yudhishthira till now but the author has helped me clear some of them and gave some reasoning about his behaviour.
I would definitely recommend this book if you want to learn more about Yudhishthira
Stars - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 5
The story is narrated from the perspective of Yudhishthira. The author has narrated the whole story so detailed and precise.
The cover is beautiful and the title is apt to the story. The language used is easily understandable also the vocabulary used by author is admirable.
The writing style of the author is very Lucid and beautiful. The book is about 300 pages with 42 chapters.
This was my first time reading about a underrated character from Mahabharata and I enjoyed the experience alot.
I had a false impression about Yudhishthira till now but the author has helped me clear some of them and gave some reasoning about his behaviour.
I would definitely recommend this book if you want to learn more about Yudhishthira
Stars - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 5
January 5, 2021
▶A strong narrative of Dharmaraj Yudhishthira makes this book a must read.
#INSIGHT: The Book 'Rise of Dharma' is the first part of the Trilogy that is based on the eldest Son of Pandu, Yudhishthira and how he progressed towards establishing a Dharma Raj along with the support of his four brothers and cousin Krishna. The book also has an underlying message of abiding by the Dharma i.e. following what is true and beneficial for the society.
#REVIEW: The love of the Authoress towards this character is visible with the way she has written about him. Taking references and inspirations from different translations of Mahabharata, the Authoress has written the story in such a way that it seems very personal, individualistic and unique. Strong narrative and exceptional portrayals make this book a nice read.
#BEST QUOTE: if the criminals are fearless and innocents are in fear, that indicates the kingdom is in anarchy. Justice never prevails there, neither does Dharma exist.
#STRENGTH: The title for one, was the most suitable. The language of the book was easy to understand. Dictionary and bibliography provided at the end helped a lot. The plot was perfectly researched and executed. The characters were well written and one can get a lot to learn from this book about the ancient cultures. The best part of the novel was the fact that the flow of the story was maintained throughout and I did not find any part of the novel to be fast paced or slow.
#WEAKNESS: Such deep content with an animated cover did not go down well with me. I found a few grammatical mistakes here and there. Other than that the book was perfect.
#TARGET READERS: People who like reading mythology, this is the book for you.
#AGE GROUP: Above 14 years
#GENRE: Mythology
#RATING: 4.3/5
#INSIGHT: The Book 'Rise of Dharma' is the first part of the Trilogy that is based on the eldest Son of Pandu, Yudhishthira and how he progressed towards establishing a Dharma Raj along with the support of his four brothers and cousin Krishna. The book also has an underlying message of abiding by the Dharma i.e. following what is true and beneficial for the society.
#REVIEW: The love of the Authoress towards this character is visible with the way she has written about him. Taking references and inspirations from different translations of Mahabharata, the Authoress has written the story in such a way that it seems very personal, individualistic and unique. Strong narrative and exceptional portrayals make this book a nice read.
#BEST QUOTE: if the criminals are fearless and innocents are in fear, that indicates the kingdom is in anarchy. Justice never prevails there, neither does Dharma exist.
#STRENGTH: The title for one, was the most suitable. The language of the book was easy to understand. Dictionary and bibliography provided at the end helped a lot. The plot was perfectly researched and executed. The characters were well written and one can get a lot to learn from this book about the ancient cultures. The best part of the novel was the fact that the flow of the story was maintained throughout and I did not find any part of the novel to be fast paced or slow.
#WEAKNESS: Such deep content with an animated cover did not go down well with me. I found a few grammatical mistakes here and there. Other than that the book was perfect.
#TARGET READERS: People who like reading mythology, this is the book for you.
#AGE GROUP: Above 14 years
#GENRE: Mythology
#RATING: 4.3/5
September 11, 2020
At first I was surprised to see that the book is written on Yudhishthira. I have read many mythological retelling focusing on various characters like Draupathi, Krishna, and even Shikandhini...
But seeing a book on a least noticed character like Yudhishthira provoked my interest. He is not much an highlighted character in Mahabharata. But the way the author retells his life as the main theme makes him crucial.
The story starts with Yudhishthira, being a young one, reaches Hastinapur with his mother and brothers, as his father dies. The country was great and everyone there wailed for his death.
A good king treats his subjects as children and his demise made his people feel bad. Now, Yudhishthira becomes a king. Could he rise dharma again?
The writing style is good and it had some deep messages in it. How a king should be! How a good king will be respected and how his demise will hurt the people's heart.
Another thing I loved in this book is the usage of great vocabulary. Also I admired the method of her storytelling. It gave a different perception on Mahabharata and the story telling style reflects that it was a well researched work.
The book cover is good looking. This book has 42 chapters and that amazed me how the author had patience to write such a long book.
I recommend this book for all mythology lovers.
But seeing a book on a least noticed character like Yudhishthira provoked my interest. He is not much an highlighted character in Mahabharata. But the way the author retells his life as the main theme makes him crucial.
The story starts with Yudhishthira, being a young one, reaches Hastinapur with his mother and brothers, as his father dies. The country was great and everyone there wailed for his death.
A good king treats his subjects as children and his demise made his people feel bad. Now, Yudhishthira becomes a king. Could he rise dharma again?
The writing style is good and it had some deep messages in it. How a king should be! How a good king will be respected and how his demise will hurt the people's heart.
Another thing I loved in this book is the usage of great vocabulary. Also I admired the method of her storytelling. It gave a different perception on Mahabharata and the story telling style reflects that it was a well researched work.
The book cover is good looking. This book has 42 chapters and that amazed me how the author had patience to write such a long book.
I recommend this book for all mythology lovers.
September 11, 2020
Rise of Dharma by Semanti Chakraborty.
First of all let us take a minute and appreciate the author for writing such beautiful and interesting book making the righteous king yudhishthira as the centre character and giving us all an insight into the mind of the king whom Krishna supported much to make him the crowned King of hastinapura after the great kurukshetra war.
The story is very much is the epic, just from the least considered and most misunderstood character's perspective.
What could you possibly look for in this book?
-This book certainly develops a new perspective on the focused character in the book.
-Vivid Narrative style has made this book a bit more captivating read.
- The newly added details into the epic's underrated or less concentrated episodes made this more interesting.
- The usage of peculiar vocabulary is another thing that I really really liked.
- How the author has managed to develop a new perspective on the most misunderstood character, without damaging the original Mahabharata script is very very impressive.
I believe in the case of mythological retellings, details add life to the story. "The more, the merrier", and that is what exactly happened in the case of "rise of Dharma" as well.
Overall a very captivating and gripping read.
Do I recommend this?
Yes, whoever likes mythological retellings with detailed narrative shouldn't miss this book.
First of all let us take a minute and appreciate the author for writing such beautiful and interesting book making the righteous king yudhishthira as the centre character and giving us all an insight into the mind of the king whom Krishna supported much to make him the crowned King of hastinapura after the great kurukshetra war.
The story is very much is the epic, just from the least considered and most misunderstood character's perspective.
What could you possibly look for in this book?
-This book certainly develops a new perspective on the focused character in the book.
-Vivid Narrative style has made this book a bit more captivating read.
- The newly added details into the epic's underrated or less concentrated episodes made this more interesting.
- The usage of peculiar vocabulary is another thing that I really really liked.
- How the author has managed to develop a new perspective on the most misunderstood character, without damaging the original Mahabharata script is very very impressive.
I believe in the case of mythological retellings, details add life to the story. "The more, the merrier", and that is what exactly happened in the case of "rise of Dharma" as well.
Overall a very captivating and gripping read.
Do I recommend this?
Yes, whoever likes mythological retellings with detailed narrative shouldn't miss this book.
September 11, 2020
Book- Rise of Dharma
Author- Semanti Chakraborty
Chapters- 42
💫
"𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕠𝕟𝕖 𝕨𝕙𝕠 𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕘𝕚𝕧𝕖 𝕜𝕖𝕖𝕡𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕡𝕠𝕨𝕖𝕣 𝕠𝕗 𝕡𝕦𝕟𝕚𝕤𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕤 𝕨𝕖𝕝𝕝."
.
It is the 1st book of Samrat Yudhishthira Trilogy.
🕯️Plot-
The book is a retelling of Mahabharata through the eyes of the eldest Pandava, Yudhishthira.
The book starts with the demise of Maharaja Pandu and the arrival of Pandavas in Hastinapur. Caught between conspiracies and attempted murder, Yudhishthira still sees his duty and decides to change the fates of many with the help of Dharma. He tries to walk on his father's footsteps and make Hastinapur a land of justice without knowing the cost of it. Thrown into attempted murder and banished from the kingdom, can Yudhishthira make Dharma win over Adharma?
.
🕯️ I personally never focused more on the story of Dharmraj Yudhishthira. I thought of him as someone who was a gambler and caused misery to his family. But reading the book from his perspective made me rethink. He had positives as well as negatives, which made Krishna choose him to rule the empire of Dharma in Bharatvarsha.
💫
Reasons to read the book-
1) Mahabharata retelling through the eyes of one of the most underexplored character.
2) Language is plane and lucid.
3) Narration is captivating.
Author- Semanti Chakraborty
Chapters- 42
💫
"𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕠𝕟𝕖 𝕨𝕙𝕠 𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕘𝕚𝕧𝕖 𝕜𝕖𝕖𝕡𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕡𝕠𝕨𝕖𝕣 𝕠𝕗 𝕡𝕦𝕟𝕚𝕤𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕤 𝕨𝕖𝕝𝕝."
.
It is the 1st book of Samrat Yudhishthira Trilogy.
🕯️Plot-
The book is a retelling of Mahabharata through the eyes of the eldest Pandava, Yudhishthira.
The book starts with the demise of Maharaja Pandu and the arrival of Pandavas in Hastinapur. Caught between conspiracies and attempted murder, Yudhishthira still sees his duty and decides to change the fates of many with the help of Dharma. He tries to walk on his father's footsteps and make Hastinapur a land of justice without knowing the cost of it. Thrown into attempted murder and banished from the kingdom, can Yudhishthira make Dharma win over Adharma?
.
🕯️ I personally never focused more on the story of Dharmraj Yudhishthira. I thought of him as someone who was a gambler and caused misery to his family. But reading the book from his perspective made me rethink. He had positives as well as negatives, which made Krishna choose him to rule the empire of Dharma in Bharatvarsha.
💫
Reasons to read the book-
1) Mahabharata retelling through the eyes of one of the most underexplored character.
2) Language is plane and lucid.
3) Narration is captivating.
September 15, 2020
Perfectly narrated
Rise of Dharma is the first book in Samrat Yudhishthira Trilogy mainly focusing on the lives of Hasthinapura before Kurukshetra. The story goes on in Yudhishthira's point of view and how he stood on his Dharma without wavering and also the role of Krishna and Draupadi in his life was explained well.
The cover is simple yet perfect for the story. The title is apt and the language is simple and easy to understand. The most interesting part is the childhood of Kauravas and Pandavas and also the blind king's partiality along with pitamaha's helplessness and uncle Vidura's smartness. Though Shakuni hasn't got much part in this book, I feel the next book would show his brilliance too while Dronacharya and his gurudakshina has been well narrated.
The dialogue construction was very good especially considering the conversations between the five brothers as well as Krishna and Yudhishthira. Each character may it be good or bad teaches us a lesson. As the story is narrated in Yudhishthira, I am eager to read what was on his mind while he was losing everything in the dice game, may be we will get to know that in the second book and I just can't wait to get my hands on it.
Though I have read Mahabaratha so many times, few things mentioned in this book especially focussing on Jyeshtha were unknown facts to me. Overall, I am eager to read the other books in this trilogy.
#teammysecretbookshelf
Rise of Dharma is the first book in Samrat Yudhishthira Trilogy mainly focusing on the lives of Hasthinapura before Kurukshetra. The story goes on in Yudhishthira's point of view and how he stood on his Dharma without wavering and also the role of Krishna and Draupadi in his life was explained well.
The cover is simple yet perfect for the story. The title is apt and the language is simple and easy to understand. The most interesting part is the childhood of Kauravas and Pandavas and also the blind king's partiality along with pitamaha's helplessness and uncle Vidura's smartness. Though Shakuni hasn't got much part in this book, I feel the next book would show his brilliance too while Dronacharya and his gurudakshina has been well narrated.
The dialogue construction was very good especially considering the conversations between the five brothers as well as Krishna and Yudhishthira. Each character may it be good or bad teaches us a lesson. As the story is narrated in Yudhishthira, I am eager to read what was on his mind while he was losing everything in the dice game, may be we will get to know that in the second book and I just can't wait to get my hands on it.
Though I have read Mahabaratha so many times, few things mentioned in this book especially focussing on Jyeshtha were unknown facts to me. Overall, I am eager to read the other books in this trilogy.
#teammysecretbookshelf
September 23, 2020
"The principle of dharma, the eternal nature of life and effortlessness of transcending as tgw basic of right actions "
Rise of Dharma by Semanti Chakraborty is the retelling of great hindu epic of the Mahabharat which is specifically emphasises about the character Yudhisthira, The dharmraj. I have a feeling that yudhisthira character is shadowed by great character like Krishna, Arjun , Draupadi , Bheesma , Karna and others in Mahabharat . He is the most underrated character .His true prowess in his unflinching adherence to "truth" and "righteousness" and his unblemished piety known as most pious one. So he has chosen by Lord Krishna to establish or sanstapana of dharma in the entire bharatbarsha.
Honestly I haven't read anything about yudhisthira and most of people doesn't like his character like me due to some misunderstandings. But in this book author throw light on his character with great depth and tried to clear the misconceptions. Mythology is critical and vast concept. Retelling about it needed much research and well knowledge about them . Kudos to the author. She has done amazing work on her debut book . Simple and lucid language is made this read smooth and vivid narration is commendable and engaging. I feel deeply engrossed. As "Rise of Dharma " is the first one of this trilogy I'm eagerly looking forward to read other one's too. Highly recommend this book to everyone.
Rise of Dharma by Semanti Chakraborty is the retelling of great hindu epic of the Mahabharat which is specifically emphasises about the character Yudhisthira, The dharmraj. I have a feeling that yudhisthira character is shadowed by great character like Krishna, Arjun , Draupadi , Bheesma , Karna and others in Mahabharat . He is the most underrated character .His true prowess in his unflinching adherence to "truth" and "righteousness" and his unblemished piety known as most pious one. So he has chosen by Lord Krishna to establish or sanstapana of dharma in the entire bharatbarsha.
Honestly I haven't read anything about yudhisthira and most of people doesn't like his character like me due to some misunderstandings. But in this book author throw light on his character with great depth and tried to clear the misconceptions. Mythology is critical and vast concept. Retelling about it needed much research and well knowledge about them . Kudos to the author. She has done amazing work on her debut book . Simple and lucid language is made this read smooth and vivid narration is commendable and engaging. I feel deeply engrossed. As "Rise of Dharma " is the first one of this trilogy I'm eagerly looking forward to read other one's too. Highly recommend this book to everyone.
September 9, 2020
Is time-travel literally possible? Yes, in books!!
This one escorts you to Dvapara Yuga in a chariot that flies 4 inches above the ground. 😉😇
Detailed review will follow soon.
This one escorts you to Dvapara Yuga in a chariot that flies 4 inches above the ground. 😉😇
Detailed review will follow soon.
September 17, 2020
No matter how many versions or how many times I read Mahabaratham, there is new learning or takeaway each time.
I have read this legendary story with Draupadi, Subhadra, and Duryodhana as the protagonist and when I saw the name of this book, I immediately realized that this is the same story with Yudisthira being the protagonist and did not think twice to purchase.
Even though he was the Samrat, his fame was dominated by the heroic acts of Arjuna, Abhimanyu, Bhima, Karna, and other characters of that era.
Two statements which Yudhistara strongly believed were:
“Truth had to be expressed however bitter it is.”
“Follow the path first if you want others to do so.”
Following the same, he never uttered a lie and followed the righteous path throughout his journey.
Few decisions which he made resulted in suffering. The thought process before he made such decisions are very well explained in this book from the point of view of Yudisthira.
Their journey in transforming Khandavaprastha to Indraprastha without compromising on values and building a city where there is no city; and rendering the land fertile to produce food when there is no food is my favorite part in the trilogy book1- “Rise of Dharma” by Semanti Chakraborty.
Excited to read the next parts of the trilogy to know the lesser-known perspective of Yudisthira during the dice game, the Kurukshetra war, and other situations.
#teammysecretbookshelf
I have read this legendary story with Draupadi, Subhadra, and Duryodhana as the protagonist and when I saw the name of this book, I immediately realized that this is the same story with Yudisthira being the protagonist and did not think twice to purchase.
Even though he was the Samrat, his fame was dominated by the heroic acts of Arjuna, Abhimanyu, Bhima, Karna, and other characters of that era.
Two statements which Yudhistara strongly believed were:
“Truth had to be expressed however bitter it is.”
“Follow the path first if you want others to do so.”
Following the same, he never uttered a lie and followed the righteous path throughout his journey.
Few decisions which he made resulted in suffering. The thought process before he made such decisions are very well explained in this book from the point of view of Yudisthira.
Their journey in transforming Khandavaprastha to Indraprastha without compromising on values and building a city where there is no city; and rendering the land fertile to produce food when there is no food is my favorite part in the trilogy book1- “Rise of Dharma” by Semanti Chakraborty.
Excited to read the next parts of the trilogy to know the lesser-known perspective of Yudisthira during the dice game, the Kurukshetra war, and other situations.
#teammysecretbookshelf
November 3, 2020
"Fire cannot extinguish fire. Arrogance can be challenged only with courteous firmness."
▪︎
Title:- Rise Of Dharma
Author:- Semanti Chakraborty
Page Count:- 257
The story revolves around Yudhishthira, the protagonist and the narrator of the story. After his father's death, all responsibilities come on his shoulders as he was the eldest prince of Hastinapur and he deserved the seat because he was just like his father, the person who wanted to treat his praja well. He treated his subjects like his family members.
The book is a retelling of Mahabharata from the point of view of Yudhishthira, a follower of the dharma. It had fights with Dhuryodhana and Bhima, The most remembering scene of the archery test, and the life of being a prince. We all think that Yudhishthira blindly followed the Dharma, but this book explains Dharma according to him. Because according to him Dharma was meant to give life and not destroy it. The book gives insights of life of the prince before the war, including the poisoning of Bhima's food and Marriage of Draupadi, etc.
It's always amazing to read Mahabharata from a different perspective as you get to know the same story but from different angle. This book is just amazing, the author has done a commendable am desperately waiting for the sequel of the book.
Talking about the language, the author has used a strong yet understandable vocabulary.
The book cover and the title had the meaning of their own.
In short, it was a lovely read and definitely recommend this book to mythology lovers.
▪︎
Title:- Rise Of Dharma
Author:- Semanti Chakraborty
Page Count:- 257
The story revolves around Yudhishthira, the protagonist and the narrator of the story. After his father's death, all responsibilities come on his shoulders as he was the eldest prince of Hastinapur and he deserved the seat because he was just like his father, the person who wanted to treat his praja well. He treated his subjects like his family members.
The book is a retelling of Mahabharata from the point of view of Yudhishthira, a follower of the dharma. It had fights with Dhuryodhana and Bhima, The most remembering scene of the archery test, and the life of being a prince. We all think that Yudhishthira blindly followed the Dharma, but this book explains Dharma according to him. Because according to him Dharma was meant to give life and not destroy it. The book gives insights of life of the prince before the war, including the poisoning of Bhima's food and Marriage of Draupadi, etc.
It's always amazing to read Mahabharata from a different perspective as you get to know the same story but from different angle. This book is just amazing, the author has done a commendable am desperately waiting for the sequel of the book.
Talking about the language, the author has used a strong yet understandable vocabulary.
The book cover and the title had the meaning of their own.
In short, it was a lovely read and definitely recommend this book to mythology lovers.
September 5, 2020
Rise of Dharma !
Rating : 4.5/5
The best reading of this week, for me.
This book is a collection of 42 useful chapters. The chapters are Revolving around the characters of Mahabharata. The book is written, mainly for Dharmaraja, keeping in mind about the percentage of people, that still respect him as Dharmaraja. ( The eldest son of Pandu and Kunti ).
The book works as a self help, guide, the unbiased way of thinking of a particular person, along with stories & trilogy.
Because at every step there are, a lots of valuable and practical advice, by most wise People of Indian history.
Such as Gangaputra, Vidhur, Pandu, Krishna, Yudhishthira, Vayas, and many more great people.
Few of my favorite lines / greatest lessons and advice are :-
1. A good king always treated his subjects like own children.
2. The strongest of all of us, but Bhima’s strength failed him when it came to controlling his hunger.
3. Fire cannot extinguish fire. Arrogance can be challenged only with courteous firmness.
4. “Anger comes from desire, a desire spurned”
What I like in this book is : The art of writing is really good. And it creates the curiosity, to read the pages with all the concentration. Beyond the writing style, the book is worth reading.
The main thing is that, it's helpful in describing about the reasons, logics behind someone's decision!
Why oftenly People misunderstood each other, their nature & behavior, and the consequences of quick biased judgement.
Recommended : for those who like - self help, mythologies & trilogy.
Rating : 4.5/5
The best reading of this week, for me.
This book is a collection of 42 useful chapters. The chapters are Revolving around the characters of Mahabharata. The book is written, mainly for Dharmaraja, keeping in mind about the percentage of people, that still respect him as Dharmaraja. ( The eldest son of Pandu and Kunti ).
The book works as a self help, guide, the unbiased way of thinking of a particular person, along with stories & trilogy.
Because at every step there are, a lots of valuable and practical advice, by most wise People of Indian history.
Such as Gangaputra, Vidhur, Pandu, Krishna, Yudhishthira, Vayas, and many more great people.
Few of my favorite lines / greatest lessons and advice are :-
1. A good king always treated his subjects like own children.
2. The strongest of all of us, but Bhima’s strength failed him when it came to controlling his hunger.
3. Fire cannot extinguish fire. Arrogance can be challenged only with courteous firmness.
4. “Anger comes from desire, a desire spurned”
What I like in this book is : The art of writing is really good. And it creates the curiosity, to read the pages with all the concentration. Beyond the writing style, the book is worth reading.
The main thing is that, it's helpful in describing about the reasons, logics behind someone's decision!
Why oftenly People misunderstood each other, their nature & behavior, and the consequences of quick biased judgement.
Recommended : for those who like - self help, mythologies & trilogy.
December 28, 2020
This book is the author’s retelling of the Mahabharata from Yudhisthira’s perspective. Yudhisthira is not usually the biggest attraction to people in the epic of Mahabharata. However, the author has made a genuine attempt to present his point of view. Each incident has been elaborated in a simple language, making the reader see the occurrence from Yudhisthira’s eyes and understand his thoughts and rationale. The beginning of the book, where Yudhishthira and the rest of the Pandavas come to Hastinapura is very well-written and serves to engage the reader in the story and the book. I also appreciated some of the honest confessions like his attraction to the girl his younger brother has won or the acknowledgment of disappointment in Drona’s eyes hearing his answer to the bird’s eye test.
The book is the first one in a trilogy. My best wishes to the author for her forthcoming books. I would recommend to anyone who wants to look at the story from a main character who is generally sidelined in popular culture.
The book is the first one in a trilogy. My best wishes to the author for her forthcoming books. I would recommend to anyone who wants to look at the story from a main character who is generally sidelined in popular culture.
September 11, 2020
In collaboration with @letme_read
The story begins with the death of Maharaja Pandu who was a cherished lord of his subjects of Hastinapur.
As per him Rajaa Dharmaa ought to be trailed by a ruler and he was the sole case of that..
Because of his demise his oldest child, Yudhishtar was delegated and he needed to manage his dad's property and needed to bring a domain of equity and battle against the intrigues and the existence danger by his cousins.
Further on Duryodhana's abhorrent plans are unfurled before Yudhishtira.
It is an ideal mix of folklore and fiction and I would recommend this to everyone who is or isn't interested in mythology because you will love it anyhow.
The story begins with the death of Maharaja Pandu who was a cherished lord of his subjects of Hastinapur.
As per him Rajaa Dharmaa ought to be trailed by a ruler and he was the sole case of that..
Because of his demise his oldest child, Yudhishtar was delegated and he needed to manage his dad's property and needed to bring a domain of equity and battle against the intrigues and the existence danger by his cousins.
Further on Duryodhana's abhorrent plans are unfurled before Yudhishtira.
It is an ideal mix of folklore and fiction and I would recommend this to everyone who is or isn't interested in mythology because you will love it anyhow.
September 18, 2020
Struggle and hardships are not that easy and are a way of life !
It has been aptly said
You're imperfect, and you're wired for struggle, but you are worthy of love and belonging — Brene Brown.
Story of Samrat Yudhisthira who didn't have an easy childhood. Every Indian must have heard or even read about Mahabharata story including all the characters but this emerging character of Yudhisthira is well explained on this mythological piece of rise in dharma.
Right from the beggining of the childhood since his late years everything is covered very well and I must appreciate the author that she has researched about the protagonist so well that each and every part was very crisp and true to knowledge.
Reading and discovering more about him was really a well spent week as I enjoyed being a mythological lover.
This is just a book one as we can see in the cover I am sure there would be many more parts for the same.
It has been aptly said
You're imperfect, and you're wired for struggle, but you are worthy of love and belonging — Brene Brown.
Story of Samrat Yudhisthira who didn't have an easy childhood. Every Indian must have heard or even read about Mahabharata story including all the characters but this emerging character of Yudhisthira is well explained on this mythological piece of rise in dharma.
Right from the beggining of the childhood since his late years everything is covered very well and I must appreciate the author that she has researched about the protagonist so well that each and every part was very crisp and true to knowledge.
Reading and discovering more about him was really a well spent week as I enjoyed being a mythological lover.
This is just a book one as we can see in the cover I am sure there would be many more parts for the same.
September 11, 2020
It’s story of yudhishthira and bharatavarsha.
There are so many darama in the unrighteous emperor land and fugitive prise yudhishthira is the only person who make peace. They losing father in child age and growing with there elder cousins. Price realise that they have to do something for there kingdom. I don’t want to spoil the story. So i just suggest that it’s wonderfully. You really enjoy that. It’s also show past culture, family drama.
There are so many darama in the unrighteous emperor land and fugitive prise yudhishthira is the only person who make peace. They losing father in child age and growing with there elder cousins. Price realise that they have to do something for there kingdom. I don’t want to spoil the story. So i just suggest that it’s wonderfully. You really enjoy that. It’s also show past culture, family drama.
Read
October 1, 2020Detailed review to come!
December 13, 2020
Very well written!
So well written. The author draws you into the story very smoothly and before you know, you've read through the book and reached the end. Even people familiar with the Mahabharata will find new nuances explored here. Kudos!
So well written. The author draws you into the story very smoothly and before you know, you've read through the book and reached the end. Even people familiar with the Mahabharata will find new nuances explored here. Kudos!
November 23, 2020
Yudhishthira, the much maligned, rarely understood eldest Pandava. The man often blamed for what happened to Draupadi. The man considered weak and a pushover. This series is the story of Mahabharata told from his pov.
First of, this work is something that so many of this genre are not: honest. There is no ‘justifying’ the deeds by convoluted logic, and there is no creative whitewashing to make the bad look good. I realize that the author didn’t need to do it because her protagonist wasn’t a villain to begin with, but there’s also no pulling down of others to garner more sympathy for her hero. That is both a welcome relief and a commendable feat. Even celebrated writers haven’t exactly managed to pull this off, I might add. The language is easy on the eyes and editing is crisp. For me, personally, it was a huge relief to not come upon a page or two dedicated to sympathizing with Duryodhana’s entitlement or shedding copious tears for Karna’s sorry life. It’s the story of Mahabharata told as is, by Yudhishthira. As how he saw it. And the author has diligently stuck to it.
On the other hand, I wanted to see more of what drove Yudhishthira to do something or the other, what he felt about those around him, a bit more of their interpersonal relationships and even friction. Surely it couldn’t always have been smiles and laughs! A little bit of imperfections and flaws, a little more nuanced approach in the treatment of the characters would have made them all more real, imo.
That said, it’s a very mature work by a first time author. Many writers famous today have faltered in their first book, but I think it’s the sheer honesty of this work that didn’t let it happen. I could feel the conviction of the author in the written words. All in all, an eminently readable work that made me want to wait for the next in the series.
First of, this work is something that so many of this genre are not: honest. There is no ‘justifying’ the deeds by convoluted logic, and there is no creative whitewashing to make the bad look good. I realize that the author didn’t need to do it because her protagonist wasn’t a villain to begin with, but there’s also no pulling down of others to garner more sympathy for her hero. That is both a welcome relief and a commendable feat. Even celebrated writers haven’t exactly managed to pull this off, I might add. The language is easy on the eyes and editing is crisp. For me, personally, it was a huge relief to not come upon a page or two dedicated to sympathizing with Duryodhana’s entitlement or shedding copious tears for Karna’s sorry life. It’s the story of Mahabharata told as is, by Yudhishthira. As how he saw it. And the author has diligently stuck to it.
On the other hand, I wanted to see more of what drove Yudhishthira to do something or the other, what he felt about those around him, a bit more of their interpersonal relationships and even friction. Surely it couldn’t always have been smiles and laughs! A little bit of imperfections and flaws, a little more nuanced approach in the treatment of the characters would have made them all more real, imo.
That said, it’s a very mature work by a first time author. Many writers famous today have faltered in their first book, but I think it’s the sheer honesty of this work that didn’t let it happen. I could feel the conviction of the author in the written words. All in all, an eminently readable work that made me want to wait for the next in the series.
January 3, 2022
Excellent Work
The best book ever written on Yudhishthira. I loved the way it has been written, the entire saga has been narrated by Yudhishthira himself. I could look at various incidents from the Mahabharata through Yudhishthira's eyes. I appreciate the efforts the author has taken to write the amazing book. The son of Dharma - Yudhishthira is an epitome of righteousness. The beautiful relationship shared among the Pandavas has been marvelously described. The sacred bonding between Yudhishthira and Draupadi brings tears of joy. The narrative style is clear and crisp. The description is so fantastic that I could be in the shoes of Yudhishthira and feel the pain and pleasure as faced by Yudhishthira. I would surely recommend this book to everyone who loves Mahabharata. I'm waiting for the next book in the series.
The best book ever written on Yudhishthira. I loved the way it has been written, the entire saga has been narrated by Yudhishthira himself. I could look at various incidents from the Mahabharata through Yudhishthira's eyes. I appreciate the efforts the author has taken to write the amazing book. The son of Dharma - Yudhishthira is an epitome of righteousness. The beautiful relationship shared among the Pandavas has been marvelously described. The sacred bonding between Yudhishthira and Draupadi brings tears of joy. The narrative style is clear and crisp. The description is so fantastic that I could be in the shoes of Yudhishthira and feel the pain and pleasure as faced by Yudhishthira. I would surely recommend this book to everyone who loves Mahabharata. I'm waiting for the next book in the series.
January 4, 2022
Looking at the background of it, 'Rise of Dharma' is the debut book of the author and is her first book of the what she has termed as her Samrat Yudhisthira Trilogy, which is planned to narrate, the entirety of the main storyline of the epic Mahabharata! I can only marvel at the very magnitude of efforts required for such an initiative and that of the passion that drives this grand dream project of hers. She has even so conveniently partitioned the epic narrative into three planned titles that each start and end at a dramatic moment that resonate with the themes of each title, which you can realise the beauty of as you turn the last page. This book is the first installment, which covers Yudhisthira's journey from being a Dharma-putra raised in the forest to becoming for the first time- the sovereign Emperor of all land within India's cultural frontiers, emulated in the title- 'Rise of Dharma'.
What's different but rewardingly fresh and intriguing about this particular retelling of our popularly represented epic is, that this one is totally narrated in Yudhisthira's perspective, in first-person pronouns, which makes the readers stand in his shoes to live and see the story from the eyes and mind of the one true protagonist of the saga hailed as Vyasa's fifth Veda, as a change from the way we have been used to judging and condemning him based on what little we know of the actual narrative from popular media. So you'll be up for an in-detail first-hand emotionally-charged experience of how this hero has had to confront several gravely unfavorable circumstances - starting with living in a home with an extended family that perpetually wished he was never born, while he managed to unwaveringly hold on to a singular resolve to discharge his Dharma towards them and his own, while only trying all his best to find the 'ideal' way to win peace for them all.
Another absolutely winning aspect of this book is that it is not only so accurate to the actual Sanskrit text of Vyasa's Mahabharata which brazenly debunks several popular fallacies about different characters and events, while also being rich in the facts, characters and trivia from the much bulkier critical canon than glamorized tv adaptations, but... it also develops a brilliantly sophisticated plot even beyond that key narrative, by joining the dots of key events with smaller incidents and elements, formed by the author's understanding of the ancient society, as if by an ideation from the extensive set of clues about them in the Mahabharata and highlighting what is usually missed or undermined in a biased reading. Special mentions to the few chapters starting from the 17th one, which ends with Yudhisthira winning the case of being the rightful crown prince of the Hastinapur throne- these few chapters that are the aforementioned well-calculated fillers, build up Yudhisthira's aptitude as the ruler who could rightfully claim the title of Dharmaraj one day, with his debates, surveys and reforms. And then it all very satisfyingly culminates to an abruptly catastrophic end to his career as Yuvaraj with the Lakshagriha incident! The graph of gripping plot never drops from then on.
The author has especially shown a very sound understanding of the intricate politics at play in the historic record of Mahabharata, and has played well on that political knowledge to even make the whole narrative centred on the actions of the political figures that represent the faction of Dharma-sansthapana. Yes, with Yudhisthira at the centre of their strategies as their chosen champion and only hope, the Dharma leaders in the shadows- Vidura, Vyasa and Vaasudev Krishna, have some major voices in the book's storyline as well as in the internal monologues of Yudhisthira, who grows better with each piece of their guidance and support, driving more confidence in his initiatives - and with these four pillars of Dharma winning one goal after another- getting closer to their dream of a Dharma-Samrajya with Yudhisthira at the top, it truly resonates as a narration of the 'Rise of Dharma'! I personally love the political aspects of the epic with so many kingdoms and power dynamics at play in the vast Bharatvarsha, and the author has hit the nail with exploring sound and superb political agendas in decisions like Bhima's marriage to Hidimba, to Arjun's penance and pilgrimage being a facade for a secret campaign of speeding up alliances. I loved some aspects like the geographic and economic research put into portraying details of how the Pandavas might have terraformed the barren Khandavaprastha into the glorious imperial capital Indraprastha, and the exploration of his kind of love and relationship with Draupadi who shared his vision and values very clearly as per the actual text.
I don't think I can praise the book enough, and it might be because I love the epic itself so much, yet this book delivered more of it in a different way I had not yet tried, and so I might have missed so many more things that I liked about what all was put into this work- like the recurring friendly face of Saatyaki in the plot, as if filling up for all the adaptations that missed to mention him, or the downright shocking way in which Shishupal was beheaded in a flash in the last chapter, for example. But if I had to point out something that I felt lacking, it was only that the story starts with Yudhisthira already at the age of 16 and at the gates of Hastinapur, I would have loved to see more about the childhood of the Pandavas too, and how they grew under the care of Yudhisthira after they lost their father, forcing him to grow up sooner. Well, looking forward to the next part of his journey now, where he has to literally lose it all, hope and self respect included, back to square one and then rise back to the seat of Dharmaraj.
What's different but rewardingly fresh and intriguing about this particular retelling of our popularly represented epic is, that this one is totally narrated in Yudhisthira's perspective, in first-person pronouns, which makes the readers stand in his shoes to live and see the story from the eyes and mind of the one true protagonist of the saga hailed as Vyasa's fifth Veda, as a change from the way we have been used to judging and condemning him based on what little we know of the actual narrative from popular media. So you'll be up for an in-detail first-hand emotionally-charged experience of how this hero has had to confront several gravely unfavorable circumstances - starting with living in a home with an extended family that perpetually wished he was never born, while he managed to unwaveringly hold on to a singular resolve to discharge his Dharma towards them and his own, while only trying all his best to find the 'ideal' way to win peace for them all.
Another absolutely winning aspect of this book is that it is not only so accurate to the actual Sanskrit text of Vyasa's Mahabharata which brazenly debunks several popular fallacies about different characters and events, while also being rich in the facts, characters and trivia from the much bulkier critical canon than glamorized tv adaptations, but... it also develops a brilliantly sophisticated plot even beyond that key narrative, by joining the dots of key events with smaller incidents and elements, formed by the author's understanding of the ancient society, as if by an ideation from the extensive set of clues about them in the Mahabharata and highlighting what is usually missed or undermined in a biased reading. Special mentions to the few chapters starting from the 17th one, which ends with Yudhisthira winning the case of being the rightful crown prince of the Hastinapur throne- these few chapters that are the aforementioned well-calculated fillers, build up Yudhisthira's aptitude as the ruler who could rightfully claim the title of Dharmaraj one day, with his debates, surveys and reforms. And then it all very satisfyingly culminates to an abruptly catastrophic end to his career as Yuvaraj with the Lakshagriha incident! The graph of gripping plot never drops from then on.
The author has especially shown a very sound understanding of the intricate politics at play in the historic record of Mahabharata, and has played well on that political knowledge to even make the whole narrative centred on the actions of the political figures that represent the faction of Dharma-sansthapana. Yes, with Yudhisthira at the centre of their strategies as their chosen champion and only hope, the Dharma leaders in the shadows- Vidura, Vyasa and Vaasudev Krishna, have some major voices in the book's storyline as well as in the internal monologues of Yudhisthira, who grows better with each piece of their guidance and support, driving more confidence in his initiatives - and with these four pillars of Dharma winning one goal after another- getting closer to their dream of a Dharma-Samrajya with Yudhisthira at the top, it truly resonates as a narration of the 'Rise of Dharma'! I personally love the political aspects of the epic with so many kingdoms and power dynamics at play in the vast Bharatvarsha, and the author has hit the nail with exploring sound and superb political agendas in decisions like Bhima's marriage to Hidimba, to Arjun's penance and pilgrimage being a facade for a secret campaign of speeding up alliances. I loved some aspects like the geographic and economic research put into portraying details of how the Pandavas might have terraformed the barren Khandavaprastha into the glorious imperial capital Indraprastha, and the exploration of his kind of love and relationship with Draupadi who shared his vision and values very clearly as per the actual text.
I don't think I can praise the book enough, and it might be because I love the epic itself so much, yet this book delivered more of it in a different way I had not yet tried, and so I might have missed so many more things that I liked about what all was put into this work- like the recurring friendly face of Saatyaki in the plot, as if filling up for all the adaptations that missed to mention him, or the downright shocking way in which Shishupal was beheaded in a flash in the last chapter, for example. But if I had to point out something that I felt lacking, it was only that the story starts with Yudhisthira already at the age of 16 and at the gates of Hastinapur, I would have loved to see more about the childhood of the Pandavas too, and how they grew under the care of Yudhisthira after they lost their father, forcing him to grow up sooner. Well, looking forward to the next part of his journey now, where he has to literally lose it all, hope and self respect included, back to square one and then rise back to the seat of Dharmaraj.
October 11, 2020
I must say this book has changed me the way I interpreted Yudhishthira before. I used to hate him because of Draupdi's Vastraharan. I used to think he was the reason for everything wrong to happen with his brothers.
.
But this masterpiece by Semanti Chakraborty has changed my views towards Yudhishthira.
.
The book is narrated by the Dharma Putra, Dharma Raja, Dharmatma Yudhisthira. I would appreciate the writing style of the author for making it so interesting that I couldn't just lose interest.
.
The book is about how Yudhisthira had taken all the responsibilities, how he managed to do everything under the guidance of Dharma, how being the eldest brother created limits for his brothers. And more importantly why people call him Dharma Raj.
.
I can't elucidate enough how much I used to hate Yudhisthira before this book. But, as I said, this book has everything which I never knew, it has explained why Yudhisthira did what he did. The little part of Mahabharat is explained in this 1st series.
.
The book is about How Yudhisthira had saved the true Dharma, and why Yudhisthira is known as Dharma Raja. A lot of us have judged him not knowing all the facts and history, this book is for all those people.
Why do I recommend this book?
• Read this book if you want to know more about Yudhisthira and his journey of Dharma which was filled with hurdles but still he never changed his path. He never missed Dharma.
• Read this book if you want to go deeper in Mahabharat.
• Read this book if you're a mythology fan. I promise you will love it
• Read this book if you think Yudhisthira was wrong.
• Read this book because if you want to feel connected with your Religion.
• Read this book because if you want to gain knowledge about Dharma and how you can accept the path of Dharma.
• Read this book because there are endless reasons for that.
A fabulous read at the end, I would say and The title of the book couldn't be better. Indeed this book is helping us to understand Dharma, and why is it important and How in the presence of Yudhisthira, Dharma raised.
.
But this masterpiece by Semanti Chakraborty has changed my views towards Yudhishthira.
.
The book is narrated by the Dharma Putra, Dharma Raja, Dharmatma Yudhisthira. I would appreciate the writing style of the author for making it so interesting that I couldn't just lose interest.
.
The book is about how Yudhisthira had taken all the responsibilities, how he managed to do everything under the guidance of Dharma, how being the eldest brother created limits for his brothers. And more importantly why people call him Dharma Raj.
.
I can't elucidate enough how much I used to hate Yudhisthira before this book. But, as I said, this book has everything which I never knew, it has explained why Yudhisthira did what he did. The little part of Mahabharat is explained in this 1st series.
.
The book is about How Yudhisthira had saved the true Dharma, and why Yudhisthira is known as Dharma Raja. A lot of us have judged him not knowing all the facts and history, this book is for all those people.
Why do I recommend this book?
• Read this book if you want to know more about Yudhisthira and his journey of Dharma which was filled with hurdles but still he never changed his path. He never missed Dharma.
• Read this book if you want to go deeper in Mahabharat.
• Read this book if you're a mythology fan. I promise you will love it
• Read this book if you think Yudhisthira was wrong.
• Read this book because if you want to feel connected with your Religion.
• Read this book because if you want to gain knowledge about Dharma and how you can accept the path of Dharma.
• Read this book because there are endless reasons for that.
A fabulous read at the end, I would say and The title of the book couldn't be better. Indeed this book is helping us to understand Dharma, and why is it important and How in the presence of Yudhisthira, Dharma raised.
September 16, 2020
"You may not want more, but your country wants you, Dharmaraja"
"Rise of Dharma book1" is about the story of yudhishthra. In this work we see mahabharata in Dharmaraja's point of view. We know Dharamaraja is known for his justice nature. But in mahabharata his points of view is new to us. It helps us to understand him very well.
Most of the readers will feel distraught after how he sold his nation, wife and brothers in a game. Even though he is known for his justice nature this is some tragic flaw that made him excruciating character.
Arjun, brother of yudhishthra is one of the highly appreciated characters in Mahabharata because of his strength and valour. But this work "Rise of Dharma book1" will show you a new approach to view him.
He is an honest, kind and positive character who helped his People. He worked hard and developed his region. He is one such person who could do anything for his people and he never left his people alone.
Even when he is gifted a grand palace and court hall what he fear the most was, his people's lives. He was afraid after seeing the palace what will his people think, will his people approach him for help. That much he is dedicated himself to his people
"The Sabha didn't speak for justice as a righteous court hall was supposed to do"
It shows how much he loves his people and not wealth. He always stands for his people and on truth side. Even though he knows Gaurava's hates him he gave them multiple chances and still loves them as his own brothers. It shows his love towards his family.
Dharmaraja is one such king who serves for his people and loves his family and works honestly.Even though we all have different opinion it's good to read and learn something new always. The language use here is simple and all can understand it. If you want a new perception regarding this great epic, this will give you new experience
"Rise of Dharma book1" is about the story of yudhishthra. In this work we see mahabharata in Dharmaraja's point of view. We know Dharamaraja is known for his justice nature. But in mahabharata his points of view is new to us. It helps us to understand him very well.
Most of the readers will feel distraught after how he sold his nation, wife and brothers in a game. Even though he is known for his justice nature this is some tragic flaw that made him excruciating character.
Arjun, brother of yudhishthra is one of the highly appreciated characters in Mahabharata because of his strength and valour. But this work "Rise of Dharma book1" will show you a new approach to view him.
He is an honest, kind and positive character who helped his People. He worked hard and developed his region. He is one such person who could do anything for his people and he never left his people alone.
Even when he is gifted a grand palace and court hall what he fear the most was, his people's lives. He was afraid after seeing the palace what will his people think, will his people approach him for help. That much he is dedicated himself to his people
"The Sabha didn't speak for justice as a righteous court hall was supposed to do"
It shows how much he loves his people and not wealth. He always stands for his people and on truth side. Even though he knows Gaurava's hates him he gave them multiple chances and still loves them as his own brothers. It shows his love towards his family.
Dharmaraja is one such king who serves for his people and loves his family and works honestly.Even though we all have different opinion it's good to read and learn something new always. The language use here is simple and all can understand it. If you want a new perception regarding this great epic, this will give you new experience
October 18, 2020
Leaping into the plot, Yudhishthira, who lost his father at a young age, thriving to live between his cunning cousins and family with a threat to life would make any person curse their fate, but Yudhishthira, being the firstborn of his family who carries a lot of responsibility to bring happiness and prosper to his family. He always endeavors to stand for justice even when the mistakes are done by his own brothers. Not only in bringing justice but he also struggles a lot to live his life peacefully which indeed is a great task for him every day. This book concentrates on the honesty, integrity, and good virtue of Yudhishthira. Each one of us has a different perspective on a problem and Yudhishthira's decision on an issue and the reason behind his verdict are incredible to know.
I have to congratulate the author for such a great attempt in giving out a different version of the Mahabharata story, I particularly loved the storytelling part. Well, the story is a known one if you have already read Mahabharata's book, although the story narrated from Yudhishthira's view makes it fresh and remarkable. This book has many wonderful insights on life told in a simpler statement. The style and usage of words are simple and lucid. While I definitely recommend this book to other readers especially mythology lovers, I would recommend it to all the people who are hard workers yet undervalued in their life, mainly because it will resonate better with them. The title and the cover are inclined and reconcile well with the story.
Readers can gain knowledge of what it was like to be an uplifting person who struggles a lot for everyone's stable life but still underrated. This book, Rise of Dharma is the author's debut novel that doesn't end here and is to be followed by two more books, which I'm very much excited to read. My best wishes to the author on her upcoming books!
I have to congratulate the author for such a great attempt in giving out a different version of the Mahabharata story, I particularly loved the storytelling part. Well, the story is a known one if you have already read Mahabharata's book, although the story narrated from Yudhishthira's view makes it fresh and remarkable. This book has many wonderful insights on life told in a simpler statement. The style and usage of words are simple and lucid. While I definitely recommend this book to other readers especially mythology lovers, I would recommend it to all the people who are hard workers yet undervalued in their life, mainly because it will resonate better with them. The title and the cover are inclined and reconcile well with the story.
Readers can gain knowledge of what it was like to be an uplifting person who struggles a lot for everyone's stable life but still underrated. This book, Rise of Dharma is the author's debut novel that doesn't end here and is to be followed by two more books, which I'm very much excited to read. My best wishes to the author on her upcoming books!
September 16, 2020
Rise of Dharma (Samrat Yudhishthira Trilogy Book 1) by Semanti Chakraborty tells us the story of the great epic, Mahabharata as it happened, albeit from the eyes of Yudhishthira. The book 1 of the trilogy starts from the moment the Pandavas arrive in Hastinapur after the death of Pandu and tells us the story till the point the Rajasuya yagya is conducted by Yudhishthira in Indraprastha. This is the story which has been told and retold since time immemorial through various prisms, and in this book we see it from one of the most pivotal characters.
The story of the book has been well researched, and the author has taken her time to collect the ideas from multiple sources as duly referenced in the book. since it draws itself from multiple sources, it gives an interesting perspective to the story that essentially all of us know. With Yudhishthira as the narrator, there are many scenes that gain a completely new angle in the story. Despite being a known story, Semanti has made it quite interesting and engaging. From the story of the rivalry of the two clans and the scene with Shishupala in the court of Indraprastha, each of them was amazingly written. The language is east to understand and Semanti has focused on the story, rather than use complex words and this is another charm of the story. The one thing that stood out for me was that the references were given at the end and I did check out a couple of them as well!
Semanti has given a strong character to Yudhishthira as we go through the story. it is not about copying that the scriptures say about him, but she has developed his persona in the book, which is quite commendable. She has sketched the characters of the rest of the people in as amazing manner as Yudhishthira. There is a thought process behind the actions of the characters and sometimes it is shown literally, which makes it even more interesting.
The story of the book has been well researched, and the author has taken her time to collect the ideas from multiple sources as duly referenced in the book. since it draws itself from multiple sources, it gives an interesting perspective to the story that essentially all of us know. With Yudhishthira as the narrator, there are many scenes that gain a completely new angle in the story. Despite being a known story, Semanti has made it quite interesting and engaging. From the story of the rivalry of the two clans and the scene with Shishupala in the court of Indraprastha, each of them was amazingly written. The language is east to understand and Semanti has focused on the story, rather than use complex words and this is another charm of the story. The one thing that stood out for me was that the references were given at the end and I did check out a couple of them as well!
Semanti has given a strong character to Yudhishthira as we go through the story. it is not about copying that the scriptures say about him, but she has developed his persona in the book, which is quite commendable. She has sketched the characters of the rest of the people in as amazing manner as Yudhishthira. There is a thought process behind the actions of the characters and sometimes it is shown literally, which makes it even more interesting.
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