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The Sage with Two Horns: Unusual Tales from Mythology
Have you heard of the king who sacrificed his own flesh to keep his word to a pigeon? Or about the throne that gives anyone who sits on it the unique ability to dispense justice! And how about the sculptor who managed to make magnificent statues with no hands at all?
There's something for everyone in this collection of tales of wisdom and wit!
From quarrels among gods and the follies of great sages to the benevolence of kings and the virtues of ordinary mortals, Sudha Murty spins fresh accounts of lesser-known stories in Indian mythology. Accompanied by fantastical illustrations and narrated in an unassuming fashion, The Sage with Two Horns is sure to delight fans of the beloved storyteller.
There's something for everyone in this collection of tales of wisdom and wit!
From quarrels among gods and the follies of great sages to the benevolence of kings and the virtues of ordinary mortals, Sudha Murty spins fresh accounts of lesser-known stories in Indian mythology. Accompanied by fantastical illustrations and narrated in an unassuming fashion, The Sage with Two Horns is sure to delight fans of the beloved storyteller.
216 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2021
49 people are currently reading
289 people want to read
About the author
Sudha Murty
180 books2,976 followersSudha Murty was born in 1950 in Shiggaon in north Karnataka. She did her MTech in computer science, and is now the chairperson of the Infosys Foundation. A prolific writer in English and Kannada, she has written nine novels, four technical books, three travelogues, one collection of short stories, three collections of non-fiction pieces and two books for children.
Her books have been translated into all the major Indian languages and have sold over three lakh copies around the country. She was the recipient of the R.K. Narayan's Award for Literature and the Padma Shri in 2006.
Her books have been translated into all the major Indian languages and have sold over three lakh copies around the country. She was the recipient of the R.K. Narayan's Award for Literature and the Padma Shri in 2006.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
October 27, 2022
If at all you have to choose this book, go for the cover and the illustrations. I love them and they are worth it.
However, the characters and their representation are a just a bit too much even for an adult reader I am.
Obnoxious characters, self righteous adult characters, blind loyalty stories, below average hurried style of writing, lots of gender stereotyping in most of the stories.
I know that these stories are relevant and we cannot change what has already happened in the mythological stories told ever since the very beginning but retellings if at is to be done, it can be done so much better I feel.
I was so hyped about this book as every book I have read from the author has been really impressive.
However, the characters and their representation are a just a bit too much even for an adult reader I am.
Obnoxious characters, self righteous adult characters, blind loyalty stories, below average hurried style of writing, lots of gender stereotyping in most of the stories.
I know that these stories are relevant and we cannot change what has already happened in the mythological stories told ever since the very beginning but retellings if at is to be done, it can be done so much better I feel.
I was so hyped about this book as every book I have read from the author has been really impressive.
January 25, 2022
Enjoyed the read.
April 19, 2023
Do you know who is the first Tirthankara of Jainism?
Do you know how lord Shiva designed the war of Mahabharata?
Do you know why the northern star came to be known as the Dhruva star?
Mythology is a genre rich in intriguing and awe-inspiring stories that never disappoint. In the last book of the Unusual Tales series, author Sudha Murty brings into light some quirky yet informative stories that are not only mythological but also quite prevalent and worth pondering in the present-day context.
Truthfulness, honesty, determination, perseverance, hard work, and good deeds are some of the many virtues inherent in these stories which have been categorized under 5 different themes in the book namely – Guruve Namaha, The Kings who became Saints, Raja Prithvi Pati, A Bag of Surprises and Tales from the Vault.
To be honest, I am quite sad that this series has come to an end and this was the last book from the series. Every time I picked up a book, I had been looking forward to reading the next books in the series. My experience with this series is something I am going to keep on talking about forever.
No matter which age group you belong to, do pick up this series. You will get so much out of it.
Do you know how lord Shiva designed the war of Mahabharata?
Do you know why the northern star came to be known as the Dhruva star?
Mythology is a genre rich in intriguing and awe-inspiring stories that never disappoint. In the last book of the Unusual Tales series, author Sudha Murty brings into light some quirky yet informative stories that are not only mythological but also quite prevalent and worth pondering in the present-day context.
Truthfulness, honesty, determination, perseverance, hard work, and good deeds are some of the many virtues inherent in these stories which have been categorized under 5 different themes in the book namely – Guruve Namaha, The Kings who became Saints, Raja Prithvi Pati, A Bag of Surprises and Tales from the Vault.
To be honest, I am quite sad that this series has come to an end and this was the last book from the series. Every time I picked up a book, I had been looking forward to reading the next books in the series. My experience with this series is something I am going to keep on talking about forever.
No matter which age group you belong to, do pick up this series. You will get so much out of it.
June 29, 2023
And with this I have officially finished all the books written by sudha murthy ma'am so far! What an achievement!This one, like all the mythology books written by her, is filled with stories of all the side characters of Ramayana and Mahabharata, as well as underrated stories of gods and goddesses. The stories are mostly fiction, but they are very inspiring and will capture your imagination. The book also includes mythological stories behind temples of South India. Even though the book is said to be a children's book, there isn't any age limit, so everyone can enjoy it. If you've read any of Sudha Murthy's other books, you'll know that she has a talent for inspiring readers. Her nonfiction books are particularly inspiring, and you'll find that same inspiration in her mythology book. Even if you're not usually interested in mythology, you'll find that the stories in this book are captivating and will keep you interested from beginning to end. Some of the stories even gave me goosebumps, or maybe i was reading with my window open! I highly recommend Sudha Murthy's mythology book to anyone who is interested in history, mythology, or just a good story. You won't be disappointed!
December 29, 2021
Read for pleasure at its best :)
September 25, 2023
READ IT RIGHT NOW!
January 21, 2024
Good collection of stories.
February 11, 2024
In the pages of this collection, the author has conjured a delightful array of stories that effortlessly capture the essence of Indian culture. Seriously- it's a wonder how she manages to uncover such captivating narratives, some of which I vaguely remember hearing in my childhood. The simplicity of her storytelling and the way she conveys the values embedded in Indian culture is truly remarkable.
Reading these stories feels like a journey back to my early childhood days, when I would eagerly listen to my elders recount tales that carried important lessons and reflected our rich heritage. The author's words have a magical quality that brings these stories to life, simultaneously preserving tradition while resonating with the modern world. It's incredible how she effortlessly merges the old and the new, breathing new life into age-old wisdom and ensuring that it remains relevant for readers today.
Reading these stories feels like a journey back to my early childhood days, when I would eagerly listen to my elders recount tales that carried important lessons and reflected our rich heritage. The author's words have a magical quality that brings these stories to life, simultaneously preserving tradition while resonating with the modern world. It's incredible how she effortlessly merges the old and the new, breathing new life into age-old wisdom and ensuring that it remains relevant for readers today.
January 31, 2023
Lots of known and unknown stories about various sages from India's history.
Sages known as Rishis in India, are classified into 7 categories. Including knowledge about different types of Rishis would have been cherry on the cake.
All in all it was an interesting read written in the usual simple style for which Sudha Murthy is famous for.
Sages known as Rishis in India, are classified into 7 categories. Including knowledge about different types of Rishis would have been cherry on the cake.
All in all it was an interesting read written in the usual simple style for which Sudha Murthy is famous for.
January 29, 2025
This book is amazing and tells us the stories that were long ago. It taught some new words and most importantly, the Indian mythology that lasted for around thousands of years. This is the last book of the series and I enjoyed it.
December 29, 2022
2.5 stars
This book comprises of many short stories mainly about different sages. Most of the stories weren’t what I expected. They were talked that didn’t have any morals to them and I was expecting this to have morals in every story because well it’s a children’s book.
Some of the stories that I really liked were
- the fruit of youth
- the son of Vishnu and shiva
- the most important God of all
- You or you or you
Some stories were familiar others weren’t, some stories left me thinking while others didn’t. The book is good and well written, (as expected of Sudha Murty) however most of the stories weren’t that great.
This was also my Christmas gift to myself this year and the last book for my completion of the book reading task. I’m satisfied I completed these many books this year. I feel like I’ve come out of my reading slump.
This book comprises of many short stories mainly about different sages. Most of the stories weren’t what I expected. They were talked that didn’t have any morals to them and I was expecting this to have morals in every story because well it’s a children’s book.
Some of the stories that I really liked were
- the fruit of youth
- the son of Vishnu and shiva
- the most important God of all
- You or you or you
Some stories were familiar others weren’t, some stories left me thinking while others didn’t. The book is good and well written, (as expected of Sudha Murty) however most of the stories weren’t that great.
This was also my Christmas gift to myself this year and the last book for my completion of the book reading task. I’m satisfied I completed these many books this year. I feel like I’ve come out of my reading slump.
March 31, 2022
The Sage With Two Horns is yet another collection of stories from Hindu Mythology, this time featuring the Rishis and Gurus of lore.
Sudha Murty has a way of telling stories in a simple, yet thought-provoking way. Even the ones you know always feel different when read from Murty-ji's perspective.
My favorite one in the collection is 'The Hands of Destiny', a retelling of Silappadikaram. While I already knew this one, I did not know the backstory about the author, and reading about it was a pleasure.
Sudha Murty has a way of telling stories in a simple, yet thought-provoking way. Even the ones you know always feel different when read from Murty-ji's perspective.
My favorite one in the collection is 'The Hands of Destiny', a retelling of Silappadikaram. While I already knew this one, I did not know the backstory about the author, and reading about it was a pleasure.
December 10, 2021
3.5 stars. Has many small mythological short stories. Overall not very engaging or captivating, but some stories are nice. Like the story of the son of Shiv and Vishnu, the story of Shani's influence on Vikramaditya. The book is like compilation of Amar Chitra katha. Nice short stories easy to read for kids also.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 26, 2022
Good book.. a little complicated at times since it has mythology in it.. but a good read.. and if at night you ain't getting sleep. A few chapters from this book and you will go into a dream enriched sleep with beautiful gods and deer
September 6, 2022
I have always liked books by Sudha Murthy, but somehow have not been able to relate to the mythological characters in this book. I liked the picturesque illustrations, but actually find this book worth 2.5 stars
September 26, 2025
The Sage with Two Horns is the final book in Sudha Murty’s mythological series, and it wraps up the collection with stories that are both thought-provoking and culturally rich. This book shifts the spotlight to tales centered around Gurus, the age-old tradition of Gurukulams in ancient India, and even kings who gave up their thrones in search of spiritual wisdom.
From the wise sage Agastya to the generous King Shibi, from the celestial tale of the Dhruva star to the divine journey of Lord Manikanta, from the prince-poet Ilango Adigal who gave us Silapathikaram and to Anasuya, the devoted wife of sage Atri—this book brings together a rich tapestry of lesser-known yet powerful stories from Indian mythology. These stories don’t just inform; they spark curiosity about the deeper spiritual and moral roots of our heritage.
Some stories felt a bit rushed—just as they started to get interesting, they wrapped up quickly. While the content across the series is genuinely rich and engaging, I have to admit, reading all five books back-to-back didn't quite work for me. After a point, the similar narrative structure began to feel repetitive, and I found myself wanting to take a break or switch to something else. So, from personal experience, I'd suggest spacing them out instead of reading them all in one go—you’ll likely enjoy and absorb the stories much better that way.
As with the earlier four books, I’d recommend this final volume to children and teenagers who want to take their first steps into Indian mythology. It’s a beginner-friendly read—ideal for those who enjoy moral-based stories, mythological trivia, or want to discover lesser-known characters without diving into heavy epics.
From the wise sage Agastya to the generous King Shibi, from the celestial tale of the Dhruva star to the divine journey of Lord Manikanta, from the prince-poet Ilango Adigal who gave us Silapathikaram and to Anasuya, the devoted wife of sage Atri—this book brings together a rich tapestry of lesser-known yet powerful stories from Indian mythology. These stories don’t just inform; they spark curiosity about the deeper spiritual and moral roots of our heritage.
Some stories felt a bit rushed—just as they started to get interesting, they wrapped up quickly. While the content across the series is genuinely rich and engaging, I have to admit, reading all five books back-to-back didn't quite work for me. After a point, the similar narrative structure began to feel repetitive, and I found myself wanting to take a break or switch to something else. So, from personal experience, I'd suggest spacing them out instead of reading them all in one go—you’ll likely enjoy and absorb the stories much better that way.
As with the earlier four books, I’d recommend this final volume to children and teenagers who want to take their first steps into Indian mythology. It’s a beginner-friendly read—ideal for those who enjoy moral-based stories, mythological trivia, or want to discover lesser-known characters without diving into heavy epics.
June 21, 2025
Title:The sage with two horns
Author: Sudha murty
Genre: Mythology
This book presents a wonderful blend of short stories drawn from Indian life. Though straightforward, the stories impart rather excellent morals. Some of them brought to mind tales I had heard when I was younger.
Each narrative is unique, so there is no lead character. But many characters are nice, intelligent, and instructive.
The author's simple writing makes it simple to follow. Although the stories are brief, their meanings are rather strong. The book demonstrates that ancient tales still hold relevance today.
For children who like Indian stories or desire to acquire life lessons in a lighthearted manner, I would advise this book. Should you like brief tales and simple reading, you will find this book enjoyable.
It is a solid 4 for me.
Reviewed by: your name here
Author: Sudha murty
Genre: Mythology
This book presents a wonderful blend of short stories drawn from Indian life. Though straightforward, the stories impart rather excellent morals. Some of them brought to mind tales I had heard when I was younger.
Each narrative is unique, so there is no lead character. But many characters are nice, intelligent, and instructive.
The author's simple writing makes it simple to follow. Although the stories are brief, their meanings are rather strong. The book demonstrates that ancient tales still hold relevance today.
For children who like Indian stories or desire to acquire life lessons in a lighthearted manner, I would advise this book. Should you like brief tales and simple reading, you will find this book enjoyable.
It is a solid 4 for me.
Reviewed by: your name here
March 8, 2023
This is a good book for kids to familiarize them with Indian mythology. I had heard most of these stories, few were new to me.
The paperback I read was signed by the author. Meeting Mrs. Sudha Murty in the bookshop was a memorable experience. She is a great storyteller and written books in technology, fiction and non-fiction. She has so many accomplishments to her credit, yet so humble. She chatted with the readers and her fans like we were some long-lost friends. She has touched so many lives through her philanthropic work. Now, she is also known as the mother-in-law of the UK PM Rishi Sunak.
The paperback I read was signed by the author. Meeting Mrs. Sudha Murty in the bookshop was a memorable experience. She is a great storyteller and written books in technology, fiction and non-fiction. She has so many accomplishments to her credit, yet so humble. She chatted with the readers and her fans like we were some long-lost friends. She has touched so many lives through her philanthropic work. Now, she is also known as the mother-in-law of the UK PM Rishi Sunak.
January 13, 2024
OMG, I have read sudha Murty's book but never liked 'em and this time too I was really hesitant to start this book... I was avoiding it for as long as i could but somehow i found the strength to start this. And it turned out to be extremely ✧*Magical✧*
I'm absolutely in love with this book it was so motivating and i now love mythological stories all because of this book.
My favourite quote- ❛ ❛Everybody sees the lord in their own way and everyone has individual paths. ❛ ❛
There were soo many more beautiful quotes but this one is the one I truly remember right now.
It's totally worth it. (*＾3＾)/～♡
I'm absolutely in love with this book it was so motivating and i now love mythological stories all because of this book.
My favourite quote- ❛ ❛Everybody sees the lord in their own way and everyone has individual paths. ❛ ❛
There were soo many more beautiful quotes but this one is the one I truly remember right now.
It's totally worth it. (*＾3＾)/～♡
August 30, 2022
The book is about various tales from Hindu Mythology. The stories are interesting and many of them are not heard of before. My favorite stories are The story of Agastya- origin of river kaveri, The lazy philosopher- how Bharata became Jada Bharata, The Mystery of the identical nose rings- background story of purandaradasa and The most important god of all- Shani's influence on Vikramaditya. Simple and catchy style of Sudha murthy will hold you till the end. Attractive illustrations by Priyankar Gupta. Simple yet charmingly fits the stories. It is an fascinating read.
April 24, 2025
I have read all the 5 books in this series. The characters don’t make a lot sense when you read it, they all want to kill or punish someone for the smallest inconvenience. The different stories that tell us the origins of the different Gods is a fun read. This book is not to be taken seriously and is an easy read. I read these books when I don’t wish to read anything heavy. This is more for children but with a word of caution since there’s a lot killing and the attitude of the characters is not something one should emulate.
June 6, 2022
As a person who grew up in suburban city Bangalore and sometimes feel like you're not rooted enough in the vulture you grew up in, whose knowledge of mythology and scripture comes from popculture such as kaviratna kaalidasa or cartoons of mythology.
This book tells you the story of what has been , gives you a better understanding for everything is the way it is and takes you back to simpler times in childhood where you're discovering it all and are in awe of it all
This book tells you the story of what has been , gives you a better understanding for everything is the way it is and takes you back to simpler times in childhood where you're discovering it all and are in awe of it all
April 6, 2025
i enjoyed this! i think it's really good to have the opportunity to read tales from world mythology in english that are not greek/roman, lol, and i learned a lot. i'm not very well versed in indian mythology but i am buddhist, and it's really interesting to think about the links between those two religions from the tales told in this book, e.g similar ruminations on the meaning and cycle of life but perhaps differing viewpoints on ascetism and the godly nature of worship.
November 30, 2021
The fifth and last book in the Mythology series has most of the stories about kings and sages.
The book has four sections. The first one Guruve Namaha narrates stories about the relationship between Guru and Shishya. In the next section Kings who became saints tells stories where the rulers of land leave their throne to become Sages. The next section Raja Prithvi Pathi is all about Great and Just Kings. the fourth section A Bag of surprises literally has a wide variety of surprising stories. The last section Tales from Vault has some folk stories.
There are a few stories that used to be popular a decade ago but not so much in recent times, so it's a delight to read these stories again. My favorite stories are A Pigeon's Weight - Story of Shibi Charkravarthi, The Girl Who Wanted Death Penalty - the story of a king named Punyanidhi, The Mistery of Identical Nose Ring - Story of Purandaradasaru.
The review is not complete without remarking on the pretty illustrations of Priyankar Gupta. Simple yet attractive fit the stories well.
The book has four sections. The first one Guruve Namaha narrates stories about the relationship between Guru and Shishya. In the next section Kings who became saints tells stories where the rulers of land leave their throne to become Sages. The next section Raja Prithvi Pathi is all about Great and Just Kings. the fourth section A Bag of surprises literally has a wide variety of surprising stories. The last section Tales from Vault has some folk stories.
There are a few stories that used to be popular a decade ago but not so much in recent times, so it's a delight to read these stories again. My favorite stories are A Pigeon's Weight - Story of Shibi Charkravarthi, The Girl Who Wanted Death Penalty - the story of a king named Punyanidhi, The Mistery of Identical Nose Ring - Story of Purandaradasaru.
The review is not complete without remarking on the pretty illustrations of Priyankar Gupta. Simple yet attractive fit the stories well.
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December 30, 2022This is the book sage with two horns .It is written by Sudha Murthy.It has many stories I have never heard of .My favorite story is The indras who became Pandavas and l liked the poem ln the last who is bigger it is in Hindi and English.lt is a very nice book for people who love mythology stories would love it.
May 25, 2023
I got this for my 8 year old kid. I find it a page turner. There is lot of good stories in the book which are told in a very simple manner. How simply the story of Nachiketa is told!! And introducing katopanishad. Or the story of Bhartrhari, who wrote Neeti shatakam. Easy way to introduce intense books of history.
August 18, 2023
I have been a fan of Sudha Murty's Mythological Stories for a while now, This is my second book in this four-book series. I enjoyed reading the stories since they are short but still maintain the follow of storytelling in the proper manner. My favorite parts are when Indra is taught a lesson for his egoistic nature. other than that it is great to see how some of the stories are interconnected.
April 3, 2022
The book is dedicated to Ramayana and Mahabharata . It has said many stories regarding to sages queen's and King's. It has English written in a way that the small children can also read. At last a good book
May 11, 2022
It is a nice book which contains wonderful mythological stories that enchant your life with all the moral values. It's important things, can be put in our life to make it more simple and useful one. I would certainly recommend this book to the people suffering from depression and stress.
June 26, 2024
This is book contains a blend of the unusual tales from the Indian Mythology. Readers,while reading this fantastic book..you guys may experience number of expression on your face like you may be shocked, you may be happy and satisfied as well.
Happy Reading!
Happy Reading!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews