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Krishna's Secret
On this festival of Janmashtami or Gokulashtami, renowned author Devdutt Pattanaik in an extract from his book, 7 Secrets of Vishnu, reminds is that Krishna is an unusual God—most unconventional, whether as an endearing cowherd or the astute charioteer in the Mahabharata. ‘His mother is not his real mother, his beloved is not his wife…; his lovemaking is not really lovemaking; his war is not really war. There is always more than meets the eye. And so, only Krishna, of all the avatars, sports a smile, a mischievous, meaningful smile. There is always more than meets the eye, when Krishna is around.’
- GenresMythology
45 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 18, 2017
About the author
Devdutt Pattanaik
236 books3,172 followersDr. Devdutt Pattanaik (born December 11, 1970) is an Indian physician turned leadership consultant, mythologist and author whose works focus largely on the areas of myth, mythology, and also management. He has written a number of books related to Hindu mythology, including Myth = Mithya: A Handbook of Hindu Mythology, a novel, The Pregnant King, and Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata (2010).
He is the Chief Belief Officer of Future Group, one of India’s largest retailers, bringing the wisdom of Indian mythology into Indian business, especifically in human resource management. He also writes a column for the newspaper MID DAY.
He has also written a novel based on a tale from the Mahabharata titled 'The Pregnant King' published by Penguin Books India
He is the Chief Belief Officer of Future Group, one of India’s largest retailers, bringing the wisdom of Indian mythology into Indian business, especifically in human resource management. He also writes a column for the newspaper MID DAY.
He has also written a novel based on a tale from the Mahabharata titled 'The Pregnant King' published by Penguin Books India
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 343 reviews
December 6, 2019
Lord Krishna's life story and the associated morals and lessons are simplified and presented by Devdutt in this short book. Perfect for those who prefer concise text instead of reading the time-consuming religious epics.
December 8, 2017
Short read about the traits and characteristics of Krishna. Lots of photographs of paintings and sculptures depicting Krishna. Nothing new to learn about Krishna if you know the story of Mahabharata and Krishna's tales.
June 19, 2019
In my thirst of devouring more from Devdutt Pattanaik, I picked up yet another short book his - Krishna's Secret which is more or less a retelling of Krishna in the times of Mahabharata. Through a deft description of the instances from Krishna's life, the author attempts to put forth a few enlightening words. He maneuvers through the chronicles of Makhanchor's life and talks about his role, primarily in the battle of Mahabharata. He points towards his two mothers, to his love Radha, to his affection for cows and to his fiery spirit of defeating Adharma. Krishna is regarded as Leela Purushottam, the player of life, and this is described in the book perfectly.
One could definitely read it to have a light reading experience. But since there's not much that meets the eye and unique, you might pass it.
One could definitely read it to have a light reading experience. But since there's not much that meets the eye and unique, you might pass it.
December 25, 2019
Terrible.
Nothing new to offer.
Content copy paste from other book of his which i have already read.
Nothing new to offer.
Content copy paste from other book of his which i have already read.
December 24, 2017
For the record, it may not be considered a book though, as it is only one chapter extracted from Devdutt Pattanaik’s book 7 Secrets of Vishnu!
I knew this fact while downloading Krishna’s Secret on Kindle as it has been specifically mentioned in the description of ebook, and I have nothing against the author/publisher on this point. In fact I was initially impressed by the smart strategy. I thought it would be good to get a hang of his writing style before I go ahead and purchase the entire series of books, suspiciously titled as Secrets! Well, I am not a big fan of the secrets and had my doubts!
http://scribblesofsoul.com/krishnas-s...
I knew this fact while downloading Krishna’s Secret on Kindle as it has been specifically mentioned in the description of ebook, and I have nothing against the author/publisher on this point. In fact I was initially impressed by the smart strategy. I thought it would be good to get a hang of his writing style before I go ahead and purchase the entire series of books, suspiciously titled as Secrets! Well, I am not a big fan of the secrets and had my doubts!
http://scribblesofsoul.com/krishnas-s...
September 6, 2020
This added nothing to my existing knowledge of Krishna, basically a repetition of the same old stories that you've read or seen on the TV over a hundred times. If not for the mesmerizing collection of pictures, I'd have rated this even lower.
2/5🌟.
Not Recommended to anyone.
2/5🌟.
Not Recommended to anyone.
December 25, 2019
You should never read this book and anything else written by Devdutt Pattanaik. His writing and understanding of Dharma is very shallow and I am very doubtful even he ever read the full Mahabharata.
He uses soft, whatsapp forward style comparisons in his writing. And his writing is nothing new and more of the same.
Do not take his writings seriously. Not only his writing is bad, the things he preach is outrageously contradictory to Dharmic teachings and yet he claims that he is imparting Dharmic knowledge.
His understanding and preaching is even harmful at places and he preaches that nature is equally important of nurture. This could easily be interpreted as supremacy of birth in some castes over others. He uses and emphasizes on varna and jati which create divide between people and ideas are outdated. Why write a new book standing in 21st century which preaches the same wrong interpretations of Dharma preached centuries and millenias ago?
His knowledge is awfully short in matters of Bhishma.
I have studied Krishna's life and Mahabharata and scholarly books and articles written about them for a significant amount of time. And I can attest that Mr. Pattanaik's writing does not only oversimplifies esoteric concepts of Dharma, he dilutes them and is outrightly wrong in many places.
Don't read any of his books. He uses diluted, feel-good alliterations found in Whatsapp forwards. His writing promotes a backward thinking, diluted undrstanding of Krishna's life which is wrong and in contradiction with truth.
His writing is in contrast and conflict with what Dharma stands for, what Mahabharata taught us and what Krishna stood for.
He uses soft, whatsapp forward style comparisons in his writing. And his writing is nothing new and more of the same.
Do not take his writings seriously. Not only his writing is bad, the things he preach is outrageously contradictory to Dharmic teachings and yet he claims that he is imparting Dharmic knowledge.
His understanding and preaching is even harmful at places and he preaches that nature is equally important of nurture. This could easily be interpreted as supremacy of birth in some castes over others. He uses and emphasizes on varna and jati which create divide between people and ideas are outdated. Why write a new book standing in 21st century which preaches the same wrong interpretations of Dharma preached centuries and millenias ago?
His knowledge is awfully short in matters of Bhishma.
I have studied Krishna's life and Mahabharata and scholarly books and articles written about them for a significant amount of time. And I can attest that Mr. Pattanaik's writing does not only oversimplifies esoteric concepts of Dharma, he dilutes them and is outrightly wrong in many places.
Don't read any of his books. He uses diluted, feel-good alliterations found in Whatsapp forwards. His writing promotes a backward thinking, diluted undrstanding of Krishna's life which is wrong and in contradiction with truth.
His writing is in contrast and conflict with what Dharma stands for, what Mahabharata taught us and what Krishna stood for.
March 10, 2018
It is just a cut, copy, paste work from his other books namely 7 secrets of Vishnu & My Gita. You can skip this book completely.
Typical of our culture to do such plagiarism of our own books to present it as a separate book to the readers.
This book was a disappointment and a waste of time. I wish the author did not do it like this. My regard for him has reduced quite a bit. Went through the whole book trying to find anything new that he has said in this book.
Typical of our culture to do such plagiarism of our own books to present it as a separate book to the readers.
This book was a disappointment and a waste of time. I wish the author did not do it like this. My regard for him has reduced quite a bit. Went through the whole book trying to find anything new that he has said in this book.
December 2, 2017
Nothing new..we all heard about it
August 16, 2020
Not so deep.
Very preliminary information, though may be good for someone totally from outside culture, but might create wrong impression. Needs further reading by reader.
Very preliminary information, though may be good for someone totally from outside culture, but might create wrong impression. Needs further reading by reader.
May 26, 2018
Nothing in this book justifies it's title.
There is nothing new and same old repetitive stuff. Author tried to present Krishna's action and there reason's but failed miserably.
There is nothing new and same old repetitive stuff. Author tried to present Krishna's action and there reason's but failed miserably.
May 14, 2020
On the book content; Crisp n clear content; the books suits for all even if you are an atheist!!
Very well justitifed that Krishna is better than Rama.. :-)
Very well justitifed that Krishna is better than Rama.. :-)
September 22, 2018
It contains some paintings on Krishna and their interpretation. Most of the stories we already know but it's Devdutts's insights and explications which makes it interesting.
October 16, 2020
Recently, I have loved reading short books and was surprised to find one of Devdutt Pattanaik’s book. My curiosity about how could he suffice his elaborate mythological explications in just 44 pages, led me to read this book as soon as I had my eyes on it.
I, honestly didn’t feel the book was incomplete or needed any more pages. “Short and complete in itself”, would be an appropriate phrase to connect to.
It’s a quick recap on Krishna’s chronicles from Mahabharata and Bhagavat Gita, which we would have heard since childhood. Of course, Devdutt Pattanaik’s fulfilling writing style keeps you compelled.
I, honestly didn’t feel the book was incomplete or needed any more pages. “Short and complete in itself”, would be an appropriate phrase to connect to.
It’s a quick recap on Krishna’s chronicles from Mahabharata and Bhagavat Gita, which we would have heard since childhood. Of course, Devdutt Pattanaik’s fulfilling writing style keeps you compelled.
September 21, 2019
Earlier I thought he has knowledge of our Hindu Sanskriti and Sanatan Dharma, but day by day I am getting real proffs against devdutt pattanaik, and therefore I am in confusion whether I should accept his theory or not. Therefore 1 star for confusing Indians with these kinds of books.
March 21, 2019
The commentary in my Hanuman Chalisa was good. Here the commentary courses wildly. Okay-ish. Goes in detail about Radha contradicting his own article about the Radha being an added myth garnished in later revisions.
June 15, 2019
Disappointing content
Could've been a lot better with the content chose around Krishna and his way of life. The author offered nothing new expect for just recall the highlights of the epic
Could've been a lot better with the content chose around Krishna and his way of life. The author offered nothing new expect for just recall the highlights of the epic
December 8, 2020
Have always loved Devdutt Pattnaik's show this book is just like a written version. He beautifully explains the metaphors in holy books and the folklores we've been listening since childhood. He decodes easy sounding stories to their true meanings thus we understand hidden lessons of these tales.
December 18, 2017
Another coffee table kind
This is a summarised version of Krishnas characters in Mahabharata. I was looking for !pre than this. didn't like it
This is a summarised version of Krishnas characters in Mahabharata. I was looking for !pre than this. didn't like it
December 31, 2017
Nothing new. Just a summary.
April 4, 2019
Excellent
Excellent read. I do not expected this after reading. Writer is truly genious and explain in plain english. I suugest younger generation to read this book.
Excellent read. I do not expected this after reading. Writer is truly genious and explain in plain english. I suugest younger generation to read this book.
June 28, 2021
Sweet and short quick read !
December 23, 2019
An ok read
Never thought his writing will be like Chetan Bhagat's... actually Chetan Bhagat still is original. he only copy pasted Amar Chitra katha
Never thought his writing will be like Chetan Bhagat's... actually Chetan Bhagat still is original. he only copy pasted Amar Chitra katha
December 2, 2019
Had heard a lot about the author so picked up this book.
It's a quick read as mostly the stories are related to Mahabharata & Krishna's childhood. Nothing new presented by the author.
The pictures in the book are good.
Didn't enjoy reading at all.
It's a quick read as mostly the stories are related to Mahabharata & Krishna's childhood. Nothing new presented by the author.
The pictures in the book are good.
Didn't enjoy reading at all.
November 8, 2018
Doesn't have much
Having read this , I should say it was a thorough waste of time. I couldn't find anything except the usual stories told in a different way. Would have been much better if the author could interpret why krishna used unfair means to kill warriors like bheeshma and Drona.
It is said that Krishna killed all of them because they broke dharma. What is dharma ?? There are several questions like this which could have been answered but the author haven't even touched them
Having read this , I should say it was a thorough waste of time. I couldn't find anything except the usual stories told in a different way. Would have been much better if the author could interpret why krishna used unfair means to kill warriors like bheeshma and Drona.
It is said that Krishna killed all of them because they broke dharma. What is dharma ?? There are several questions like this which could have been answered but the author haven't even touched them
November 26, 2017
Source needed!
Source needed for the assumption of Radharani being the wife of Yashoda's brother. I don't understand how authors make this simplest mistake and mingle a scripture like Bhagavatam with a literary novel of middle age like Geet Govinda or SriKrishnaKirtan Kavya!
Source needed for the assumption of Radharani being the wife of Yashoda's brother. I don't understand how authors make this simplest mistake and mingle a scripture like Bhagavatam with a literary novel of middle age like Geet Govinda or SriKrishnaKirtan Kavya!
April 27, 2018
Not upto expectation
It was too brief to be called secret. I was expecting some unknown facts or different perspective on the Krishna. May be targeted audience is people who just wants to know who Krishna is in brief.
It was too brief to be called secret. I was expecting some unknown facts or different perspective on the Krishna. May be targeted audience is people who just wants to know who Krishna is in brief.
February 21, 2018
I did not learn anything that I already didn’t know..
May 2, 2018
No secret !
Besides the fact that the title is misleading (didn’t unravel any secret about Lord Krishna) the book is fine.
Quick guide to Mahabharata and Krishna’s childhood.
Besides the fact that the title is misleading (didn’t unravel any secret about Lord Krishna) the book is fine.
Quick guide to Mahabharata and Krishna’s childhood.
July 22, 2018
Disppointed
I was expecting a lot from this book, but it turned out to be a disappointment. The book is too short and the flow of the book is haphazard.
I was expecting a lot from this book, but it turned out to be a disappointment. The book is too short and the flow of the book is haphazard.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 343 reviews