• Āpaddharma’ (Law at the time of distress) in the Mahābhārata

    Author(s):
    Ravi Khangai (see profile)
    Date:
    2018
    Group(s):
    Cultural Studies, Hinduisms, Historical theory and the philosophy of history, Indology, Philosophy
    Subject(s):
    India, Indian literature
    Item Type:
    Article
    Tag(s):
    Dharma, Epics, Mahabharata, Indian culture, Indian history, Indian religions
    Permanent URL:
    http://dx.doi.org/10.17613/M6ZW15
    Abstract:
    ‘Dharma’ (Rightousness)1 sometimes takes the shape of ‘Adharma’ (unrighteousness ).”2 The Mahābhārata gives a subtle message through the stories. Sage Viśhwamitra justifies stealing of a piece of dog’s flesh to save his life during famine. (Śāntiparvan). Blind adherence of the sage Kauśika to his vow of speaking truth led to the killing of the villagers. The sage was later sent to hell as a punishment for this. (Karṇaparvan) The epic through these stories gives message that what may appear to be ‘Dharma’ (telling truth) may actually turn out to be ‘Adharma’ (Killing). Purpose of ‘Dharma’ is protection of life and not blind adherence to the vows. Though eating of a dog’s flesh is forbidden for a Brahmin, at the times of distress one may have to restore to it in order to save lives. The Mahābhārata by narrating these stories gives the message that probably human life is too complicated to have universally accepted code of the ‘Dharma’.
    Metadata:
    xml
    Status:
    Published
    Last Updated:
    4 years ago
    License:
    All Rights Reserved

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