Devdutt Pattanaik

“This is the world of Krishna, a world where what matters more than the deed is the thought behind the deed.”

— Devdutt Pattanaik

“Hindu thought, however, looks at truth quantitatively: everyone has access to a slice (bhaga); the one who sees all slices of truth…

— Devdutt Pattanaik

“And then it begins The search For the fifth head of Brahma His first have us words His second gave us Grammar…

— Devdutt Pattanaik

“You may value me for what I have and what I do. But I am not what I have or what I…

— Devdutt Pattanaik

“B.R. Ambedkar believed the tale was not so much about Ram’s character as it was about the unsustainability of the caste system…

— Devdutt Pattanaik

“Within infinite myths lies the eternal truth Who sees it all? Varuna has but a thousand eyes, Indra has a hundred, And…

— Devdutt Pattanaik

“Arjuna, those who cleanse themselves with contemplation and meditation discover me, embrace me, find shelter in me and are liberated from yearning,…

— Devdutt Pattanaik

“Myths may not satisfy the demands of rationality or science, but they contain profound wisdom - provided one believes they do and…

— Devdutt Pattanaik

“Arjuna, your mind is your friend and your enemy. If you control the mind, it is your friend. If your mind controls…

— Devdutt Pattanaik

“Ram is renowned as maryada purushottam, one who always follows the rules. That he breaks the bow he is meant to bend…

— Devdutt Pattanaik

“Destiny and desire, karma and kama, are the two forces that propel the world. Destiny is a reaction, an obligation that follows…

— Devdutt Pattanaik

“Kali with the most primal form of nature, before culture and outside culture, unaffected by rules and opinions of humanity. She is…

— Devdutt Pattanaik

“There are eaters and the eaten. The tiger does not resent the deer that gets away. The doe does not resent the…

— Devdutt Pattanaik

“Do you see me as hero, villain or victim? If yes, then you are not doing darshan. If you can empathize with…

— Devdutt Pattanaik

“This war is not for property. This war is about dharma. And dharma is about outgrowing the animal instinct of territoriality and…

— Devdutt Pattanaik

“We are all a combination of what we are born with as well as what we are raised to be. Our natural…

— Devdutt Pattanaik

“Beneath the unabashed clandestine sexuality of the Maha-raas is the absence of desire for any physical conquest; it is about perfect love…

— Devdutt Pattanaik

“The purpose of life then is not to change what one did not create. Rather it is to explore this world, experience…

— Devdutt Pattanaik

I write on sacred stories, symbols and rituals of all cultures - European, American and Chinese - but my audiences, typically, like…

— Devdutt Pattanaik

“Those who believe in karma do not blame. They do not judge. They accept that humans live in a sea of consequences,…

— Devdutt Pattanaik

“Though formless, the God of Abrahamic mythology is addressed, even visualized, in masculine terms. The God of Hindu mythology is visualized as…

— Devdutt Pattanaik

“To be a good spouse, wife or husband, the wilfulness of Ganga needs to be balanced with the serenity of Shiva. Only…

— Devdutt Pattanaik

“The dog is a loyal, lovable animal but Hindu scriptures do not treat it as an auspicious creature perhaps because loyalty feeds…

— Devdutt Pattanaik

“With new words are created new worlds, as they are vehicles of new ideas. They enable the process of expanding the mind.…

— Devdutt Pattanaik

“It is about realising that in every human being is a frightened beast, seeking survival and significance, and knowing very well that…

— Devdutt Pattanaik

In India, the eldest has the most responsibility and the crown goes to him. The crown could go to a person with…

— Devdutt Pattanaik

“Treta yuga, when the bull of dharma stands on three legs. Krishna’s story takes place in a later, third quarter of the…

— Devdutt Pattanaik

In Greek mythology, the hero wants to be great, but the very concept does not exist in the Indian vocabulary. Yet it…

— Devdutt Pattanaik

“Our social structures depend on the organization. The organization depends on industry, which in turn depends on the market. The market depends…

— Devdutt Pattanaik

“Ram became revered because he functioned on the basis of the principle that life was not just about pleasure and hoarding things:…

— Devdutt Pattanaik

Within infinite myths lies the Eternal Truth Who sees it all? Varuna has but a thousand eyes Indra, a hundred And I,…

— Devdutt Pattanaik

“Dharma is about exchange, about giving and receiving, It is about outgrowing animal instincts, outgrowing fear, discovering the ability to feed others,…

— Devdutt Pattanaik

“Life is difficult and people are imperfect. Unable to cope with the vagaries of this world, everyone makes mistakes. True love is…

— Devdutt Pattanaik

The crown could go to a person with the most talent. But how could ‘most talent’ be determined? So Indian society settled…

— Devdutt Pattanaik

“The difference between Agamas and Nigamas is that Agamas focus on the worship of a deity with form, i.e. saguna brahman, while…

— Devdutt Pattanaik

“All the fear that Markandeya experienced now disappears, thanks to the intervention of the child, who is undoubtedly Vishnu. Then”

— Devdutt Pattanaik

“The elephant goad represents Yama, the god of death and bondage. Ganesha thus acknowledges the life-giving aspect of nature as well as…

— Devdutt Pattanaik

“Unlike Greek narratives, where achievement is celebrated, and biblical narratives, where submission and discipline are celebrated, in Indic thought understanding is celebrated.”

— Devdutt Pattanaik

“How does one know the true path? 'Not through arguments-- they never reach a conclusion; not from teachers--- they can only give…

— Devdutt Pattanaik