Dharma & Duty

Draupadis five sons were killed by Ashwathama in a night raid. They were cursed Vishwa Devas whose deaths liberated them.

Both matriarchs faced impossible choices where maternal love conflicted with dharma, ultimately seeking spiritual atonement through forest exile.

Bhishma and Drona witnessed Draupadis disrobing but remained silent. Their inaction made them morally culpable.

Bhishma refused to marry Amba despite his gurus demand, citing his celibacy vow. Their 23-day battle ended only when gods intervened.

Devavrata took a lifelong vow of celibacy and renounced the throne so his father could marry Satyavati, earning the name Bhishma.

Krishna resolved Arjunas impossible dilemma of having to kill his brother for insulting his bow, teaching that rigid vows require contextual wisdom.

King Shibi offered his own flesh to save a dove from a hawk. When the dove kept getting heavier, he offered his entire body. The gods revealed themselves and blessed him.

Karna gave away his divine armor and earrings to Indra despite knowing it would lead to his death, because his vow of generosity was his dharma.

Vidura counseled Dhritarashtra through 500 shlokas of wisdom about leadership, ethics, and self-control before the great war.

Vibhishana left his brother Ravana and joined Rama, choosing personal dharma over family loyalty when the two conflicted.

Rama accepted 14 years exile without protest to honor his fathers word. Duty and parental respect supersede personal desires.

Kumbhakarna knew Ravanas cause was unjust but fought for family loyalty anyway. His tragic death illustrates blind loyalty over dharma.

Sita entered fire to prove her purity. Agni himself emerged carrying her unharmed, demonstrating truth always triumphs.

Mandodari repeatedly warned Ravana to return Sita. Her wisdom went unheeded. Speaking truth to power matters even when ignored.

When Wazir Khan ordered the young Sahibzade executed, Sher Mohammad Khan (Nawab of Malerkotla) argued that Islamic law prohibited killing children. His moral stand was overruled, but Guru Gobind Singh blessed Malerkotla, exempting it from Sikh retribution. To this day, Malerkotla has never faced communal violence - a unique testament to this blessing.

Sitas twin sons captured Ramas horse and sang the Ramayana in his court, leading to recognition. Virtue persists despite circumstances.

Gods and demons churn the cosmic ocean using Mount Mandara and serpent Vasuki. The churning produces fourteen treasures including the deadly Halahala poison, goddess Lakshmi, and the nectar of immortality. Vishnu ensures demons are deceived from obtaining amrita.

Queen Madalasa, a Self-Realized soul, teaches her infant sons profound wisdom through lullabies: 'You are pure, awakened, spotless.' Her first three sons renounce the world. At her husband's request, she raises the fourth, Alarka, to be a righteous king.

Sati marries Shiva despite father Daksha's disapproval. When Daksha insults Shiva at his yajna, Sati immolates herself through yogic fire. Her death triggers cosmic chaos as Shiva's attendants attack, leading to Daksha's punishment and establishing Shakti Peethas.

King Vikramaditya must carry a corpse possessed by a Vetala who tells riddles. Each tale presents a moral dilemma the king must solve. Classic framework teaching discernment.