A Study of Various Facets of Dharma as Duty in the Mahabharata

Abstract

Dharma is a multi-faceted term that means, religion, duty, belief systems, morals, ethics and a lot more, in different contexts. The aspect of dharma that will be looked into this paper is one that would be related to ‘duty’. ‘Man is born free, but is everywhere in chains.’, (Rousseau, The Social Contract,1762), this idea encompasses the dilemma faced by human beings in relation to the idea of dharma as duty. Dharma maintains and sustains; it is the natural order of life, when followed diligently, can lead to fulfilment and attainment of one’s purpose of existence. The Mahabharata is a repository of the way of life, it has the potential to provide direction and meaning to life. The idea of dharma as expressed in the Mahabharata is multi-hued. Be it the apt reward enjoyed by the anonymous dasi who follows her dharma and unites with the odious Vyasa following the orders, as a result birthing the only wise and able progeny – Vidura, is an instance of an upright action leading to a right consequence. Duryodhana finding place in heaven after the foul blow on his thigh which causing his death, in spite of the machinations that he participates in all through his life, as he has diligently followed his Svadharma - the Kshatriyadharma.

Guru Dronacharya and his son Ashvatthama, born as Brahmins but donning the mantle of Kshatriyas are found creating havoc on and off the battlefield. Irawati Karve in the Yuganta; The End of an Epoch,1967, has rightly titled one of the chapters ‘Paradharmo Bhayavahah’ which deals with the flip side of adopting dharma, the ‘duty’ prescribed for a group of people that should not be taken up, even mistakenly, by ones not belonging there.
This paper would attempt to take a look at the spectrum of examples from the epic pertaining to following one’s prescribed duty and also would consider its associated outcome. At the same time, the application of the principle of dharma with reference to business set ups would also be looked into, for the benefit of its stakeholders.