Cover of Sanjay Patel’s new hardcover book; courtesy of Mandala Publishing.
When an epic spans more than 100,000 verses, outdistancing Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey tenfold, its retelling is no small task. The Mahabharata, composed over 5,000 years ago and attributed to the sage Vyasa, is the longest poem in recorded history. It is at once a sweeping family saga, a spiritual inquiry, and a philosophical treasure chest, overflowing with tales of devotion, betrayal, cosmic battles, and the timeless search for dharma—the virtuous way of living.
Now, acclaimed artist and former Pixar animator Sanjay Patel has released Mahabharata: Designs of Dharma, a 400-page illustrated adaptation that distills this ocean of wisdom into a form both visually striking and accessible to modern readers, especially young readers.
From Pixar to the Pandavas
Patel is no stranger to bringing stories to life through vibrant imagery. During his two decades at Pixar, he worked on films beloved across the globe, while also cultivating a personal artistic mission: to share the depth of India’s epics with new generations. His previous works—including Ramayana: Divine Loophole and the whimsical children’s series Ghee Happy—proved that complex spiritual ideas could be communicated with humor, heart, and color.
But where Ramayana is luminous and heroic, Patel’s Mahabharata takes on a more somber tone. His illustrations lean toward sharper angles and darker hues, reflecting the story’s setting at the dawn of the Kali Yuga, the age of decline. This was intentional, Patel explains: “The Mahabharata is gritty and human. It’s about deterioration, hard choices, and the weight of karma. I wanted the artwork itself to embody that mood.”
Dharma for a New Generation
At its core, the Mahabharata wrestles with one profound question: how do we discern our dharma—our rightful duty—amid the fog of uncertainty, desire, and conflicting loyalties? The Bhagavad Gita, nestled within this epic, offers Krishna’s timeless guidance to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra: “Act without attachment to the fruits.” Yet Patel is careful not to present his retelling as a sermon. Instead, his work is a visual meditation on dharma, crafted to engage middle schoolers like his own son, Arjun—named, fittingly, after the warrior prince at the story’s heart.
“You have to remix these ideas if you want them to survive,” Patel says. By reframing dharma not as an abstract doctrine but as a living question—“What am I meant to do in this world?”—he invites readers of all ages and backgrounds to enter the conversation.
One of the many illustrations by Patel in the book; Sage Vyasa instructs his student Vaisampayana; courtesy of Mandala Publishing.
Epic in Scale, Intimate in Story
Patel’s adaptation condenses the vast narrative into a single, inviting volume. Alongside the central story of the feuding Pandavas and Kauravas, he integrates key teachings, genealogical charts, and maps, helping even first-time readers find their bearings in this intricate world.
One of the book’s most striking images depicts Krishna’s cosmic theophany—not the famous revelation to Arjuna, but a less familiar moment when Krishna unveils his universal form to the antagonist Duryodhana. Towering, fierce, and immense, Krishna looms above the fragile human figure who nevertheless refuses to turn from the path of destruction. This choice, Patel suggests, reveals the tragic heart of the epic: humans, so often misinformed or blinded, repeat errors despite divine guidance.
Through such scenes, Patel uses illustration to bridge philosophy and narrative. A child’s curiosity might be caught by the sheer wonder of Krishna’s vast, universe-filled mouth, while an adult might contemplate the teaching on the cyclical nature of existence hidden within.
The Artist’s Dharma
Patel’s personal journey to this project is itself a story of dharma. Growing up in Southern California as the child of Indian immigrants, he was surrounded by pujas and rituals but struggled to connect. His turning point came not through sermons but through art when encountering Hindu miniature paintings unlocked a world where philosophy and imagery intertwined.
From that moment, art became his sadhana, a way of bringing clarity to ancient narratives while honoring their depth. “I’m not adding anything new to the Indian philosophical tradition,” he notes. “The only thing I bring is a fresh voice—a laid-back, California artist’s perspective. I want to show these characters in a way that feels cool, evocative, and real”.
Beyond Boundaries
Though Patel’s Mahabharata is designed to capture the imagination of middle-grade readers, it resonates far beyond that audience. Like Greek myths, the Indian epics deserve a place in the world’s cultural storehouse, enriching not only Hindu children but all who seek wisdom and inspiration.
Indeed, Patel’s earlier works are already in American classrooms, where students encountering Rama, Sita, and Hanuman for the first time find themselves equally at home with these heroes as with Odysseus or Hercules. With Mahabharata: Designs of Dharma, Patel opens the door wider, inviting children and adults, Hindus and non-Hindus alike, into the living tradition of India’s greatest epic.
Designs of Dharma Today
The timing of this release is significant. In an era often described as confused, divided, and disoriented, the Mahabharata feels acutely relevant. Its characters are not flawless saints but deeply human beings—heroes who falter, antagonists who suffer, leaders who struggle to discern right from wrong.
Patel’s retelling underscores that the true “designs of dharma” are not abstract commandments but the living, often painful work of discernment in real time. In this sense, the epic is less about a war of cousins long ago and more about the conflicts within each of us today.
Queen Draupadi receives counsel from Lord Krishna; illustration by Sanjay Patel.
A Living Epic
With Mahabharata: Designs of Dharma, Sanjay Patel has not merely illustrated an ancient story—he has offered a visual meditation on the very nature of life’s journey. It is an epic reimagined for the modern eye yet faithful to the timeless question at its heart: What is my dharma?
For readers of Integral Yoga, this release is a reminder that dharma is not a distant ideal but a present responsibility, discovered in each choice we make. The Mahabharata has endured for millennia because its lessons are as urgent now as they were 5,000 years ago. Thanks to Patel’s vision, its wisdom is newly illuminated—bold, beautiful, and ready to inspire generations to come.
