Karma Yoga

King Megharath, a past incarnation of Tirthankara Shantinatha, saw a pigeon being chased by a falcon. When the pigeon sought refuge, the king vowed to protect it. The falcon demanded flesh equal to the pigeons weight. Without hesitation, Megharath sliced flesh from his own body. The falcon, actually a deity testing him, revealed itself and begged forgiveness.

King Mitrasaha (Kalmashapada) was cursed to become a Rakshasa for twelve years after inadvertently serving human flesh to his preceptor. When sprinkled with sacred Ganga water by a brahmana chanting Vishnus names, he regained human form and attained liberation, demonstrating the purifying power of the holy river.

Prince Dara Shikoh was poisoned by his brother Aurangzeb. Despite Mughal enmity toward Sikhs, Guru Har Rai provided rare medicines needed. When Sikhs questioned why he helped an enemy, the Guru replied: With one hand man breaks flowers and with one hand offers them, but the flowers perfume both hands alike.

The first three Agnis (fire gods) chosen by the gods as Hotr priests died in service. The fourth Agni hid in the waters from fear, but was discovered by fish (who he later cursed). The gods brought him forth, and he became the eternal sacrificial fire.

When Krishna convinces Vrindavan to worship Govardhan hill instead of Indra, the angry god sends a catastrophic storm to destroy the village. Krishna lifts the entire mountain on one finger, sheltering all the villagers and cattle for seven days. The humbled Indra descends to apologize and crowns Krishna as 'Govinda.'

After the Yadava clan destroys itself due to an old curse, Krishna wanders into the forest alone. A hunter named Jara, mistaking Krishna's foot for a deer, shoots him with an arrow. Krishna forgives the hunter, explaining this balances a karmic debt from his previous life as Rama. He departs his body peacefully, ending his earthly mission.

Kubja, a hunchbacked perfume-maker for Kansa, offers her sandalwood paste to Krishna when he enters Mathura. He accepts her gift and straightens her bent spine with a touch, transforming her into a beautiful woman. Krishna later visits her home, honoring the devotion she showed when she had nothing but her offering.

After finding snakes dead from heat on a barren sandbar, Jadav Payeng began planting trees. For over 40 years, he has worked daily, single-handedly creating a 1,360-acre forest—embodying karma yoga through sustained selfless action.

Sage Dadichi gives his own bones to create the weapon needed to defeat the demon Vritra, demonstrating the highest karma yoga—complete detachment from body and life.

After his wife dies because the nearest hospital was 70km around a mountain, Dashrath Manjhi spends 22 years carving a road through solid rock with just a hammer and chisel—karma yoga in action.

King Janaka demonstrates karma yoga by ruling his kingdom with complete engagement yet total detachment. He teaches sage Yajnavalkya that one can be fully in the world without being bound by it.

The fire god Agni needs to consume the Khandava forest to cure his divine indigestion, but Indra keeps extinguishing the flames. Agni gives Krishna and Arjuna divine weapons in exchange for their help. Together, they hold off Indra's attacks long enough for the forest to burn completely—a battle that establishes their legendary partnership.

Abandoned while pregnant, Sindhutai Sapkal gave birth alone in a cowshed. Instead of despair, she began adopting abandoned children. Over 50 years, she has mothered more than 1,400 orphans—embodying karma yoga in its purest form.

The Pandavas fell one by one due to their flaws during the journey to heaven. Only Yudhishthira reached in human form, teaching that karma is impartial.

King Harishchandra's commitment to truth is tested when sage Vishwamitra takes everything he has. He sells his wife, son, and himself into servitude. At the lowest point—refusing to waive cremation fees for his own dead son—the gods reveal it was a test. Truth held through fire purifies.

Prince Devavrata renounces his throne and vows lifelong celibacy so his father can marry—becoming Bhishma. This vow later binds him to fight for the adharmic Kauravas in the great war. His story shows dharma's complexity: sometimes keeping one duty means violating another.

At heaven's gates, Yudhishthira refuses to abandon a stray dog that followed him faithfully. When Indra demands he leave the 'unclean' animal, Yudhishthira chooses the dog over paradise. The dog reveals itself as Dharma—the final test was simple: would he betray helpless trust for personal gain?

Vibhishana counsels his brother Ravana to return Sita, but Ravana refuses. When war comes, Vibhishana must choose: family loyalty or righteousness. He joins Rama, helps defeat Lanka, and becomes king. Dharma sometimes requires standing against those we love—not betrayal, but higher loyalty.

When a dove seeks shelter and a hawk demands its prey, King Shibi cuts flesh from his own body to satisfy both. No amount equals the dove's weight until Shibi offers his entire self. The gods reveal the test—true ahimsa sometimes means absorbing harm yourself to stop the cycle.

When Indra comes disguised to take Karna's invincible armor—knowing it will make Karna vulnerable to death—Karna gives it anyway, cutting it from his own body. His vow to never refuse a supplicant matters more than his life. Dharma is not transactional; honor transcends survival.