Mrityunjay, published in 1967, tells the life of Karna, the great archer of the Mahabharata who was born to Kunti before her marriage, set adrift on a river and raised by a charioteer. Sawant gives most of the narration to Karna himself, with sections spoken by Kunti, Duryodhana, Karna's wife Vrushali, his brother Shon and Krishna, so the story builds from many vantage points.
The novel dwells on the humiliations of birth and caste that dog Karna: the tournament where he is mocked as a charioteer's son, the teachers who deny him, the bride who refuses him. It also traces his loyalty to Duryodhana, who gave him dignity when no one else would, and his legendary generosity, which becomes both his glory and his vulnerability.
The book was a sensation in Marathi and has been translated into many Indian languages and into English, where it appeared as Mrityunjaya: The Death Conqueror. Its emotional, almost operatic style and its sympathy for an outsider who never stops seeking recognition have made Karna one of the most popular epic figures in modern Indian reading.
Book details
| Author | Shivaji Sawant |
|---|---|
| First published | 1967 |
| Original language | Marathi |
| Translated by | P. Lal and Nandini Nopany |
| Genre | Mythology |
| Type | Fiction |
| Pages (approx.) | 700 |
| Setting | Champanagari, Hastinapura and Kurukshetra in the age of the Mahabharata |
Themes
- Identity and birth
- Loyalty
- Generosity
- Caste humiliation
- Fate
Who should read it
Anyone who has felt for Karna in the Mahabharata and wants his full story told with passion.