Yugandhar: The Lord of the Universe by Shivaji Sawant, translated into English by Kadambini Dharap and Madhura Phadke, is a monumental historical and mythological novel that presents Lord Krishna through a deeply human, philosophical, political, and psychological lens. Originally written in Marathi, the novel moves beyond the conventional image of Krishna as simply a divine figure and explores him as a strategist, statesman, philosopher, warrior, friend, lover, and visionary. Through Krishna's journey from Gokul and Mathura to Dwarka and the Kurukshetra era, the book examines his relationships, political decisions, moral dilemmas, and role in shaping the events of the Mahabharata. The narrative draws upon the Mahabharata, Harivamsha, Bhagavata Purana, and other traditional sources while using literary imagination to reconstruct Krishna's world. (mehtapublishinghouse.com)

The novel explores Krishna's relationships with Radha, Rukmini, Satyabhama, Draupadi, Arjuna, Karna, Bhishma, and other major figures, while examining themes of dharma, karma, destiny, politics, leadership, love, sacrifice, war, morality, and human nature. Sawant's approach gives considerable attention to the political and strategic dimensions of Krishna's actions, portraying him as someone who understands human psychology and the complexities of governance and conflict. The English translation by Kadambini Dharap and Madhura Phadke makes this influential Marathi work accessible to a wider readership while retaining its philosophical and literary character.