Yajnaseni: The Story of Draupadi

The Mahabharata is my favorite story, and I've always been hungry for more information about it- more than anything, I've wanted to see other people's interpretations of the characters, especially ones that don't get to shine by comparison to the main male protagonists. Yajnaseni is a book that more than surpasses this need of mine.I found this book by recommendation from Amazon while looking for a Karna book- got it for prime shipping, and also because Draupadi is a very interesting character. This book is beautifully written, and gets inside Draupadi's head in a way that really endears her to you, while staying utterly true to the source material. I read another book that tried to do this, and it didn't handle it nearly as well as Pratibha Ray has. I burned through this book in days, and now that I'm finished, I want to go back through and read it again. There are things in Draupadi's character that are brought into better light by Ray's writing, and it's as if endearing an already dear friend to you.Highly recommended reading for anyone who is a fan or even casual studier of the Mahabharata.

I bought this book in anticipation of reading about a true goddess. Sadly, reading this only made me feel extremely disappointed with how Draupadi has been portrayed - in fact, how the strength and meaning of being a woman has been literally stripped down to be an object of lust, a householder forced to serve her husbands and family, and literally taking the word sacrifice to a space that doesn't make any sense. I don't think this is a just or actual portrayal of who Draupadi is. This book only highlights the injustice to women, the weakness of men, and the inability of the author to see beyond just sex. The lack of empowerment, courage,values and everything Draupadi actually represents is grossly misrepresented and downright missing from this. Truly disappointed.

It's a good read; but if you want a GREAT story, I'd recommend Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's "Palace of Illusions". Also told through Draupadi [Panchali/Krishnaa], this rendering of the incomparable Mahabharata is more dynamic. The characters are so fleshed out, you feel as if you knew them personally. In Ray's dramatization of Draupadi, she's a little less human-- too nice, too virtuous, so that it's hard to identify and sympathize with her and her choices. I'm glad I read both. You can never read too much Mahabharata!

As much as I am familiar with Draupadi's story, I love this novel. I especially loved the comparison to Seeta Mata's life.

Simply a wonderful story. I couldn't put it down... Life is sacrifice and God is your only shelter. Learn from Yajnaseni.

Queen Draupadi devi is considered to be a form (amsha/incarnation) of Goddess Shakti/Durga/SriLalitaDevi. Especially, her birth from agni resembles that of supreme goddess Sri Lalita Devi as described in Puranas. Only Sri Veda Vyasa's Mahabharatha depicts the accurate version of the qualities of Queen Draupadi, and her life.The queen was definitely a wonderful and virtuous woman. She was a loving wife of Pandavas. Literally, only after marrying her, Pandavas lived the lives of a King. With the continuous interference of Duryodhana in Pandavas' lives, the queen definitely was a source of peacefulness in their lives. This book does not depict the real qualities of Queen Draupadi devi, and her feelings. For its deviations from Sri VedaVyasa's Mahabharatha, I do not recommend this book. Pls note that this book is a novel - unlike Sri Vyasa's Mahabharatha. In my opinion, it is not fair to write 'anything' about a historic legendary personality for materialistic gains in the form of novels. And really, the queen's character is described as a weak and helpless character. In reality, Queen Draupadi is really an inspiration.Too much of imaginative stories. Very unfortunate.We never heard of Karna being referred to as queen Kunti devi's 'dharma putra' in the original version of Mahabharatha. Such narrations dilute the original characters of the epic.

Despite finding the English translation clunky in parts, I loved the original scenes the author has created, Drapadis' attraction to both Krishna and Karna, Draupadi's love for Arjun, the relations with each husband. Then there is the bigger picture, the motivation for some of the other main characters such as Kunti and Karna, the terrible inevitable war. Draupadi's friendship with Krishna brings up many interesting points about the relations between a man and woman, and indeed between the spiritual and the seeker. The confessions of the Pandavas and Krishna before the war is a particularly refreshing scene. The language is a tad too emotional at times, yet, it still moves especially at the end when Draupadi makes her prayer for the world. A deeply moving book.

Not in-line with the original MahaBharatha of Maharishi Veda Vyasa.This book seemed to have been written for commercial purposes. Does not have the status to be awarded any Sahitya awards. Displayed the low standards of the author's literary works/translation.The author has presented a very in-appropriate and twisted story, and called it Mahabharatha and life of God Agni's daughter (Yajnaseni). Exhibited very low standards in depicting the life of Queen Draupadi and Pandavas.Queen Draupadi was an amsha of "Shakthi" - (mother) Goddess SriLalitha/Durga/Parvati. Pandavas were the amsha of God Shiva. The relation between them is divine. The author has shown clear disrespect of the Queen, Pandavas, and Mahabharatha. The insults, humiliations, and pain of the mother/Queen are heart-breaking. The author failed to show this pain in an appropriate way.Do not recommend this book.

Being involved in the story of Draupadi after reading "The Palace of Illusions" by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni , I decided to buy this novel.The novel is translated from Odia language and it is loosely based on the Mahabharata. This novel talks about the portrayal of Draupadi in a classic way i.e, the way it is written in epic itself. Draupadi's mental thoughts or the voice is given importance which depicts that 'woman's heart is deepest than the ocean' filled with secret and tears.-Definite buy to know about the sorrows and traumas faced by Draupadi -

One of the best interpretation of Mahabaratha. After having seen Panjali as the queen for as long as I can remember this novel portrays her as an ordinary woman trying to cope up with her domestic life in unimaginable cirumstances. She is a dutiful daughter, a vigilant wife, a pious daughter in law, a considerate co wife and a wonderful mother. Prathiba Ray has pictured a beautiful painting of the un seen Yajnaseni.

Worst book that I have ever read.... The author fills the whole pages in the angle of just lust as if the mahabharatha characters breathed their lifelong to fulfill their sexual desires.... Worst book. If you are expecting any spiritual wisdom to know about draupadi and to know the qualities of draupadi it's the worst book to select.