चलते चलते (५५ )

पतझड़ को भी तू फुर्सत से देखा कर ऐ दिल, बिखरे हुए हर पत्ते की अपनी अलग कहानी है ...!!

मृत्युंजय

Mrityunjay was my 23rd book on Mahabharat overall and 2nd book on "Mahabharat from Karna's point of view". Since it was a book many people have referred me, so I start it with some critical point of view. Till the halfway marks, I feel it was an ok-ok effort but in the second half, it has gathered the pace.
For over two decades since its first publication the vast non- Marathi and non-Hindi readership remained deprived of this remarkable exploration of the human psyche till the publication of this English translation by the Writers workshop – a contribution for which there is much to be grateful for.
"Mrityunjaya" is the autobiography of Karna, and yet it is not just that. It is like watching the events take place in Mahabharat from Karna's eyes.
Four books are spoken by Karna. These are interspersed with a book each from the lips of his unwed mother Kunti, Duryodhana (who considers Karna his mainstay), Shon (Shatruntapa, his foster-brother, who hero-worships him), his wife Vrishali to whom he is like a god and, last of all, Krishna.

When you read an autobiography, you expect a certain amount of flattery and justification of doing things wrong but this novel surprises you at that front as it offers a human emotion behind all the mistakes. This is truly a saga of betrayal, friendship, loyalty, hard work and of Daanveer Karna. Mrityunjay is a literary masterpiece. By the end of Mrityunjay, I was emotionally very drained. I was angry, upset, hurt and was feeling very void inside. I am just not able to read anything for some time now.
It is a must-read book.