- Publisher : Notion Press; 1st edition (29 March 2022)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 222 pages
We all have read about Mahabharata and Ramayana, the two most famous epics of Hindu culture. They are often quoted in the business, spiritual, and personal development world.
Punyam: Stories from Scriptures by author Ritesh Gupta is a collection of 25 short stories from scriptures like Puranas, Upanishads, Ramayana, and Mahabharata. These stories might seem familiar but they are different. A lot of them had narratives that remain uncommon in the common discourse. And their refreshing storyline had a spiritual bent to engage the minds of readers.
These stories revolving around revered gods, demi-gods, and saints essentially talk about the path of goodness one has to take to lead a fulfilling life. Be it sticking to your core values, the purpose of living, honesty, and integrity of a being, these stories highlight aspects of an ideal human life. In a way, these stories might look like moral stories with roots in cultural references.
Although initially, I felt there might be retellings of the versions I have already heard, I was pleasantly surprised by the approach of each story. Each one of them had a lesson to be learnt and applied to one’s life. Each story ends with a proper reference to its source and that was a good move on the part of the author.
The writing is comprehensible and suitable for all segments of readers. However, in some places, the language might seem too formal to understand. The narrative is free-flowing and the division of stories as per their source (Ramayana, Mahabharata, etc) makes it easy to refer to the book. I personally liked the stories of Arjuna – The Peerless Archer, The Two Tests of Parvati, and When God Gives, He Gives in Abundance.
One should consider reading this book one story at a time and take their time in absorbing the messages. Definitely recommended to all readers.
Bookish Fame 