Revisiting The Epic: A Study of ‘Dharma’ in The Mahabharata

Name of Author : Dr. Gauri Mishra

Abstract:  The Mahabharata which originated from the Bharat Samhita stands tall in ancient Indian literature and philosophy. It has been one of the most viable and useful sources in a study of the Vedas. The main theme of this epic poem written by Ved Vyasa is a family feud between the two legendary families of the Pandavas (sons of Pandu) and the Kauravas (sons of Dhritrashtra) to gain authority over the kingdom of Kuru dynasty. The epic goes on to tell the story of this feud in an interesting narrative of tales within tales and developing the arc of each and every character in a way that was never attempted before. The final battle is fought on the plains of Kurukshetra. My attempt in this paper is to present and analyze the concept of Dharma in this epic. The theme of this epic is about Dharma and revolves around the phrase Yato dharma, stato jayah (Where there is virtue, there is victory). Where I deviate is to attempt to question and problematize this concept of Dharma in the epic. Does it achieve its purpose in highlighting this ideology or does it question itself? My paper is a revisiting of this epic text which is an inherent part of our countrys cultural beliefs and questioning its ideological stance.

Keywords : Epic, Dharma. Classical, Virtue, Problematization

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