Mismatch between the Tree and its Roots: Demystifying Dhārmika Dilemmas from Mahābhārata
Ms. Utkarsha Deshpande, Dr. Ramakrishna Pejathaya and Dr. Naveen Bhat
Abstract
The concept of Dharma holds a central position in the Bhāratīya philosophical and cultural tradition. Though often translated as “duty,” “justice,” or “righteousness,” such renderings fall short of capturing the term’s complexity and contextual depth. Across Vedic and classical Sanskrit literature, the idea of Dharma is understood depending on the context, speaker, and situation. The Mahābhārata vividly illustrates this dynamic quality of Dharma through its characters and their Dharmic dilemmas. Particularly, the epic presents Yudhiṣṭhira and Kṛṣṇa as embodiments of Dharma, yet their decisions in similar situations often diverge. A verse in the Mahābhārata likens Yudhiṣṭhira to the tree of Dharma and Kṛṣṇa to its roots, suggesting an intrinsic connection. However, various episodes reveal differing understandings of what constitutes Dharma, raising the question: do they represent the same Dharma, or distinct articulations of it? Such internal variations, even within a single text, contribute to the perception of Dharma as elusive and difficult to define. While general frameworks for understanding Dharma exist, their application remains highly situational and contextual. This paper examines selected episodes from the epic where Dharma entails different courses of action for characters well-versed in it and seeks to rationalize these differences through various well-known definitions and interpretations.
Key words: Dharma, Mahābhārata, Bharatīya philosophy, Morality.