Devdutt Pattnaik's Ramayana vs Mahabharatha can be described using an analogy. It is to the epics, what study guides are to text books. You can learn the main points of the epics here, without having to read the epics themselves.
This book is nothing out of the ordinary. If you've read the epics a few times, you'll already be well aware of the content he covers. Of course, there are certain sections of the book - like the regional retellings - which are really illuminating and lovely to learn about.
But overall, the content is pretty repetitive. The author uses the same explanation (a copy-paste of explanation) in multiple areas of the book. This ruins the reading experience slightly. Then there are the long-drawn explanations for words/actions/behaviours which Indians would be familiar with, but which the author has explained in detail and provided English names for. This makes me believe the author wrote the book for a western audience.
In terms of the flow, the first half of the book is entertaining, but the latter half becomes a little too preachy. There are some grammatical errors in the latter half and 1-2 factual errors too. But these are a result of poor editing, since in the first half of the book, the same content is written correctly. A little more care in editing would really have made the book better.
Verdict: Can skip. Doesn't really add or detract value to/from your library.
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Top reviews from India
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Reviewed in India on 17 March 2019
Famous author and doctor in medicine Dr. Devdutt Pattanaik has brought these greatest epics under one roof in his newly launched book – Ramayana Versus Mahabharata: My Playful Comparison.
We often compare similarities and dissimilarities among these epics and author has brilliantly done the same in an effective way.
The book is strategically categorized into 56 chapters on the basis of the concept of “CHAPPAN BHOG” or the 56 delicacies served to the God.
In this well-classified structure you will read similar building blocks, identical structure and similar theme from Ramayana and Mahabharata such as childless kings, dispute over inheritance leading force exile, and struggle rise above the beast within and forest outside, respectively.
Devdutt intelligently compared various major and minor characters and situations from Ramayana and Mahabharata.
One of my favorite comparisons is in between Lord Rama and Ganga Putra Bheeshma.
I can understand, you would have never thought that there could be any similarities between these two?? But that’s the magic of Devdutt, he excellently explained how both Ram and Bheeshma sacrificed their happiness for their fathers. One for the sake of Raghukul, while other to satisfy his father’s lust.
Book has also covered the Buddhist and Jainism re-telling of Ramayana and Mahabharata. It is enlightening to read about these epics from different traditions.
What I actually missed from this book is the beautiful signature illustrations by Devdutt, though each chapter has a small illustration put along with the chapter’s heading.
This book will be a quick and delightful reading for you
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Ramayana Versus Mahabharata – A Book Review
By Amazon Customer Abhishek on 17 March 2019
Two greatest Indian epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata are influencing everyone’s life since pre-historic era.By Amazon Customer Abhishek on 17 March 2019
Famous author and doctor in medicine Dr. Devdutt Pattanaik has brought these greatest epics under one roof in his newly launched book – Ramayana Versus Mahabharata: My Playful Comparison.
We often compare similarities and dissimilarities among these epics and author has brilliantly done the same in an effective way.
The book is strategically categorized into 56 chapters on the basis of the concept of “CHAPPAN BHOG” or the 56 delicacies served to the God.
In this well-classified structure you will read similar building blocks, identical structure and similar theme from Ramayana and Mahabharata such as childless kings, dispute over inheritance leading force exile, and struggle rise above the beast within and forest outside, respectively.
Devdutt intelligently compared various major and minor characters and situations from Ramayana and Mahabharata.
One of my favorite comparisons is in between Lord Rama and Ganga Putra Bheeshma.
I can understand, you would have never thought that there could be any similarities between these two?? But that’s the magic of Devdutt, he excellently explained how both Ram and Bheeshma sacrificed their happiness for their fathers. One for the sake of Raghukul, while other to satisfy his father’s lust.
Book has also covered the Buddhist and Jainism re-telling of Ramayana and Mahabharata. It is enlightening to read about these epics from different traditions.
What I actually missed from this book is the beautiful signature illustrations by Devdutt, though each chapter has a small illustration put along with the chapter’s heading.
This book will be a quick and delightful reading for you
Images in this review
Reviewed in India on 14 December 2018
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Reviewed in India on 8 March 2020
Ramayana versus Mahabharata - My Playful Comparison is not very comprehensive but will indeed bestow you a different outlook towards both of the old- age tales. Devdutt Patnaik has addressed the two significant plays of Indian folklore from the contemporary viewpoint. A winning attempt to illustrate how our actions emerge from the spirit of Ram and Krishna's. It does provide a unique angle to what our predecessors explained to us about the qualities of different characters. For example how Draupadi and Sita kept from being a sufferer of patriarchal society, how transgender and queer were a part of civilization, how sexual preferences and appetite are fundamental and raw. After reading this you will be expedited to read in-depth stories of the two chief powers.
Additionally, it does give you a brief introduction to how Jainism and Buddhism got detached from Hinduism and the expedition of dharma across various parts of the globe. The comparison may sound redundant at points but it makes sense when you connect the dots.
Overall I found the book precise and appropriate. You won't regret a weekend with the book.
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A weekend read
By Nancy on 8 March 2020
Here is what I feel about this book as a lot of you asked me for it.By Nancy on 8 March 2020
Ramayana versus Mahabharata - My Playful Comparison is not very comprehensive but will indeed bestow you a different outlook towards both of the old- age tales. Devdutt Patnaik has addressed the two significant plays of Indian folklore from the contemporary viewpoint. A winning attempt to illustrate how our actions emerge from the spirit of Ram and Krishna's. It does provide a unique angle to what our predecessors explained to us about the qualities of different characters. For example how Draupadi and Sita kept from being a sufferer of patriarchal society, how transgender and queer were a part of civilization, how sexual preferences and appetite are fundamental and raw. After reading this you will be expedited to read in-depth stories of the two chief powers.
Additionally, it does give you a brief introduction to how Jainism and Buddhism got detached from Hinduism and the expedition of dharma across various parts of the globe. The comparison may sound redundant at points but it makes sense when you connect the dots.
Overall I found the book precise and appropriate. You won't regret a weekend with the book.
Images in this review
Reviewed in India on 8 June 2019
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Kindle Customer
Intelligent comparison
Reviewed in the United States on 22 October 2019Verified Purchase