Sauptik: Blood and Flowers

By Amruta Patil

Sauptik: Blood and Flowers is a revisionist retelling of some of our oldest tales which have inspired and guided generations of people. The sequel to Adi Parva, which was chosen as one of 2012's Best Graphic Novels by comic book historian Paul Gravett, this book combines breath-taking art with classic storytelling. Based on the Mahabharata, the Puranas and the tradition of oral storytellers, Sauptik is also very contemporary. The narrative, with its lush visuals, emphasizes, over and over, our forgotten connection with the soil, with rivers, with forests, with fire. In book one, Adi Parva: Churning of the Ocean, the celestial river Ganga narrates events from the beginning of time and in its sequel, Sauptik: Blood and Flowers, Ashwatthama carries the story forward after surviving the Kurukshetra battle.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins India
• Release date: Nov 10, 2021
• ISBN: 9789352640652

Amruta Patil

Amruta Patil, writer-painter, is India's first female graphic novelist. She is the author of Kari and the Mahabharata-based Parva duology (Adi Parva & Sauptik). She graduated from the Goa College of Art and went on to complete her master's from the School of the Museum of Fine Art, Boston, Tufts University. She is a Nari Shakti Puraskar awardee. Adi Parva was selected as one of 2012's best graphic novels by comic book historian, Paul Gravett.

Book preview

SAUPTIK

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BLOOD AND FLOWERS

via AMRUTA PATIL

HarperCollins Publishers India

Contents

Author’S Note

EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE DISPOSAL

OUTLIERS

MAN WITHOUT A COW

LET THE PHENOMENA PLAY

DADHICHI’S SPINE

PLUMB LINE

STRAIGHT, FLEXIBLE ARROW SHAFT

SWORD KEEPS SWORD IN SHEATH

HOUSE ON FIRE

BURNISHED GOLD TRIANGLE

FIRE TETRAHEDRON

HEART OF DICE

MANY FORESTS

END GAME

SAUPTIK

GREATEST ACT OF COMPASSION

Glossary

Sugested Reading

Gratitude

About the Book

About the Author

Copyright

AUTHOR’S NOTE

In the Sauptik universe, ‘brahmin’ is not a genetically transmitted state. Brahmin is one whose life has this purpose: to keep senses in check, to learn, to be a reservoir of collective wisdom, to share knowledge selflessly and without hope of profit. Brahmin is as brahmin does.

‘Rajanya’ is not a genetically transmitted state either. Rajanya is one whose life has this purpose: to administer to the land with integrity, to overcome fear of pain and death, to protect those who cannot protect themselves. Rajanya is as rajanya does.

Hopeless kings have been served by exemplary men. Children of sages reveal themselves to be fools; children of cowards prove to be warriors. There’s simply no saying who will birth what.

You determine your varna. The buck stops with you.

It is as easy and as excruciatingly hard as that.

Amruta Patil

August 2016

EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE DISPOSAL