Quotes from Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata

“Refusal to accept the flow of the world is the root of all misery.”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, quote from Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata

“is not about making the world a peaceful place; it is about us being at peace with the world.”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, quote from Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata

“Through Karna, Vyasa reiterates that our knowledge of the world is imperfect based on perceptions and false information. We are surrounded by Kuntis who hide the truth in fear. We are surrounded by Karnas, villains who are actually brothers.”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, quote from Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata

“human memory is short, and history always repeats itself.”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, quote from Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata

“Everybody dies—some suddenly, some slowly, some painfully, some peacefully. No one can escape death. The point is to make the most of life—enjoy it, celebrate it, learn from it, make sense of it, share it with fellow human beings—so that when death finally comes, it will not be such a terrible thing.”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, quote from Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata

“In time, Arjuna tires of mere beauty and hearing tales about the valour of princess Chitrangada, he seeks her out. The princess then reveals her true self to Arjuna. Her words are one of the most beautiful declarations of the angst of a woman, ‘I am not beautifully perfect as the flowers with which I worship. I have many flaws and blemishes. I am a traveller in the great world-path, my garments are dirty, and my feet are bleeding with thorns. Where should I achieve flower-beauty, the unsullied loveliness of a moment’s life? The gift that I proudly bring you is the heart of a woman. Here have all pains and joys gathered, the hopes and fears and shames of a daughter of the dust; here love springs up struggling towards immortal life. Herein lies an imperfection which yet is noble and grand.”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, quote from Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata

“dharma is not about justice; it is about empathy and wisdom. Dharma is not about defeating others, it is about conquering ourselves. Everybody wins in dharma.”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, quote from Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata

“bliss comes when love is shared with all.”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, quote from Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata

“You want the world to behave as you wish. It does not, hence your anger and your grief.”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, quote from Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata

“when a man praises himself, it is intellectual suicide.”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, quote from Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata

“These chants relieved vedana, the yearning of the restless human soul, hence became collectively known as the Veda. Those who heard them first came to be known as the Rishis.”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, quote from Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata

“we believe our problems are the greatest and our misfortunes the worst, there is always someone out there who has suffered more.”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, quote from Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata

“One must accept that one’s life is the result of past karmas and that one has the power to choose one’s response to every situation.”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, quote from Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata

“The world that is perceived through any measuring scale is called maya.”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, quote from Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata

“The point of existence in this dynamic, ever-changing world then was not to aspire or achieve, but to introspect.”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, quote from Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata

“Krishna offers Arjuna two things: what he is and what he has. Arjuna chooses what Krishna is. Duryodhana is happy with what Krishna has. This divide between him and his, me and mine, what one is and what one has, is the difference between seeking the soul and being satisfied with matter.”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, quote from Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata

“Your suffering was repayment for the karmic debt incurred then”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, quote from Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata

“Krishna’s son, Samba, is portrayed in the scriptures as an irresponsible lout, perhaps to inform us that the child of a great man need not be a great man; greatness is not transmitted through the generations. Every man ultimately makes or destroys his own legacy.”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, quote from Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata

“the law clearly stated that a man with a physical defect could not be king.”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, quote from Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata

“Mighty brawn is no match for a nimble brain. Let”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, quote from Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata

“Attainment of desirable states brings joy, failure to do so becomes sorrow.”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, quote from Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata

“In time, Radha became a goddess in her own right, the symbol of sacrifice, surrender and unconditional love.”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, quote from Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata

“man the master of his own destiny and the creator of his own desires,”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, quote from Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata

“Such is the nature of man-made laws: ignorant of the past and insensitive to the present.”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, quote from Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata

“there is a reality greater than what you perceive.”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, quote from Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata

“The sage said, ‘It is the name of Ram that ensured the bridge of stones to Lanka did not crack under the weight of the monkeys. Likewise, it is the name of Krishna that ensures this bridge of arrows withstands Hanuman’s weight. Strength alone is not enough in this world; divine grace is needed. Krishna is Ram and both are Hari or Vishnu. Never forget that. Without Krishna you are nothing. You are Nara and he is Narayana.”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, quote from Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata

“Within infinite myths lies the Eternal Truth Who sees it all? Varuna has but a thousand eyes Indra, a hundred And I, only two”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, quote from Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata

“Before leaving Hastina-puri, Krishna went to Kunti, mother of the Pandavas, who had stayed back with her brother-in-law. Krishna asked her if she had any advice for her sons who were rather disheartened, though not surprised, by the Kaurava refusal to return Indra-prastha”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, quote from Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata

“Accept that nothing happens without a reason. Accept that all experiences have a purpose.”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, quote from Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata

“Animals spent their entire lives focused on survival. Humans could look beyond survival, seek meaning in life, harm others to save themselves, help others by sacrificing themselves.”
― Devdutt Pattanaik, quote from Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata

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Popular quotes

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“back,” Daddy said. “It’ll work out.” He had no idea what to do about Helen. They spoke a completely different language. He was an old-timer who called school “schoolin”’ and called me “boy.” He had run off from Jim Crow in the South and felt that education, any education, was a privilege. Helen was far beyond that. Weeks passed, months, and Helen didn’t return. Finally Jack called. “I found her. She’s living with some crazy woman,” Jack said. She told Ma she didn’t know much about the lady other than that she wore a lot of scarves and used incense. Mommy got the address and went to the place herself. It was a dilapidated housing project near St. Nicholas Avenue, with junkies and winos standing out front. Mommy stepped past them and walked through a haze of reefer smoke and took the elevator to the eighth floor. She went to the apartment door and listened. There was music playing on a stereo inside, and the voice of someone on the phone. She knocked on the door. The stereo lowered. “Who is it?” someone asked. It sounded like Helen. “I’m here to see Helen,” Mommy said. Silence. “I know you’re there, Helen,” Mommy said. Silence. “Helen. I want you to come home. Whatever’s wrong we’ll fix. Just forget all of it and come on home.” From down the hallway, a doorway opened and a black woman watched in silence as the dark-haired, bowlegged white lady talked to the closed door. “Please come home, Helen.” The door had a peephole in it. The peephole slid back. A large black eye peered out. “Please come home, Helen. This is no place for you to be. Just come on home.” The peephole closed.”
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