BOOK DETAILS :
- ASIN : B0DWFVQSM3
- Publisher : Notion Press (7 February 2025); Notion Press Media Pvt Ltd
- Language : English
- Paperback : 358 pages
- ISBN-13 : 979-8897243938
ABOUT THE AUTHOR :
BOOK REVIEW :
I’ve read many retellings of the Mahabharata—through Draupadi’s fire, Arjuna’s inner turmoil, even Krishna’s divine perspective—but The Blind King by S. Deepanshu offered me something profoundly different. It’s not just a mythological retelling. It’s a slow-burning mirror, one that doesn't just reflect Dhritarashtra's life—it gently, unflinchingly, reflects mine too.
Set in the heavy silence after the great war, this book doesn’t open with sword clashes or divine interventions. Instead, it opens with guilt. Regret. Silence. And a visit from Krishna. The narrative unfolds through Dhritarashtra’s introspection as Krishna walks him through the wreckage—of his kingdom, his family, and his choices. As I read their conversation, I felt like a third presence in the room—witnessing not just a king's reckoning, but a man’s quiet breakdown.
What moved me most was how human Dhritarashtra felt. Often cast as a side character in the grand epic, here he takes center stage—not as a ruler, but as a father, a brother, a man consumed by attachments and blinded by love, fear, and ego. His devotion to Duryodhana, his passive silence when justice called, his envy toward Pandu—all the things that were once footnotes in the epic—are now painted with depth and vulnerability. I didn’t just understand Dhritarashtra; I empathized with him.
The brilliance of this book lies in how it transforms myth into philosophy. Each chapter begins with a timeless quote, grounding the story in universal truths. And while the tale is ancient, the themes it explores—leadership, responsibility, karmic consequences—feel strikingly relevant. There were moments when I had to pause and ask myself: Where am I being blind? Which of my choices, rooted in comfort or fear, have led to pain I don’t even recognize yet?
Lord Krishna’s presence in the story is serene and striking. His words don’t preach—they nudge, they illuminate. His dialogues with Dhritarashtra are easily among the most thought-provoking parts of the book, layering divine wisdom with philosophical contemplation. Through Krishna, we don’t just see a divine intervention; we see a divine mirror held up to human nature.
That said, the writing, while poetic and immersive, does occasionally drift into overly elaborate descriptions. There were a few moments where I wished the pace picked up a bit, especially in emotionally dense chapters. But I understand why the author chose to linger—the weight of reflection cannot be rushed.
So, if you’re drawn to mythology, but crave more than heroism and war stories—if you seek the why behind the what, the internal alongside the external—The Blind King will stay with you. It’s not just about Mahabharata's past. It’s about our present: our decisions, our blind spots, our dharma.
And if you let it, it might just open your eyes too.
⭐ Final Thoughts:
📚 A must-read for mythology lovers who seek depth over drama.
🧘 Ideal for readers drawn to spiritual philosophy, inner journeys, and moral complexity.
⚖️ Themes: Karma, leadership, emotional responsibility, redemption.
👁️🗨️ My takeaway: True blindness is not of the eyes—but of the heart clouded by fear and attachment.
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