Ramayana The Game of Life : Shattered Dreams – Book Review

One story which I have heard several times from my parents & grandparents is that of Ramayana. This tale has been told several times through various media like television, radio, music etc. The lessons from the tale are said to be ideal which needs to be emulated in our daily lives.

When I first heard from the team Blogadda about this book , there was excitement to read the book from a fresh and new perspective. I had not read the first part so had a neutral view about this book.

About the Book : The writer has narrated events that lead to Ramas exile . The book has an exciting beginning which narrates about king Dasaratha, his nightmare & fears. The king decides to crown Rama as his heir  since he thinks Rama is the only person who is perfect heir to the crown and the throne. He was sure that Rama would serve as an ideal king. With this unfolds drama and sequence of events that result in an exile of Rama for 14years. Laxmana and Sita also joined Rama to exile and then followed hard fought battle.

The story of Ramayana is not new for us. But the way writer has narrated the events and other stories is what keeps the reader engrossed throughout the book. There are many more smaller stories which  are interwoven in the book. For example there is a beautiful story how Nemi got the name of Dasratha or how Dasagriva ( Ravana) was born with best  of two races.

The writer has explained various lessons and learnings which can be inculcated in our day to day life and stands relevant in current world too. Ramayana may be a mythological story but the lessons act as self-help kit for readers and common folklore.

Through various characters of the book, the writer teaches us how to handle reversals positively, how to handle temptation  and how to explore beyond our comfort zone. This tale also provides deep insights how human relationships work and how they fail.

Something special about the book : The foot notes and long notes give interesting  words of wisdom. It serves the perfect purpose and change the way you read the book.

 

Excerpts from the book worth mentioning  :

” Our situation is similar to one that of a cow that  delivers twin calves, confused about which of the two calves to give more love and attention to because she loves them both equally.Similarly , we love you and Rama equally so we are not sure whom to choose to be our king.”

” Inevitability of death is a rule that even I am subjugated to. In this universe , there are lawmakers and law keepers ; I belong to the second category”

“A son is born only to solve a father’s dilemmas.It is time you prove your worth Rama.Many moons ago, your father had offered me two boons.Now that I have chosen to claim those boons,he is reluctant to grant them, because he is worried about your reaction. Only if you promise to do whatever you are told, without considering personal loss or gain, will I reveal what is expected of You. The scriptures expect a king to uphold dharma or righteousness and to be a role model. Now Rama , it is up to you to ensure that the king keeps his promise “

About the Author :Shubha Vilas, a spiritual seeker and a motivational speaker, holds a degree in engineering and law with specialization in Patent Law. His leadership seminars are popular with top-level management in corporate houses. He also helps individuals deal with modern-life situations by applying the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana and other dharmic traditions.

Overall Rating : I would rate this book as 4.5/5 . I really enjoyed this book and will love to read again whenever I feel like getting some lessons for life. My next target is to read the first part of this book.

 

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