It’s funny how sometimes, we are put into situations where we are forced to reevaluate our morals, and it is often interesting to see how we work to uphold our sense of morality. As with many of our other morals, many of us were taught from a young age that lying is wrong. But, for many of us, as we grew older we were slowly introduced to the idea that maybe it’s better to lie in certain situations.
The story of the Mahabharata expresses this very idea multiple times. On the eve of the first day of battle, Kunti, the mother of the Pandavas and Karna revealed to Karna that the Pandavas were his brothers, but neglected to tell the Pandavas, especially Arjuna, that Karna was their eldest brother. This was obviously unfair, because Karna could not bring himself to kill Arjuna, his younger brother. Arjuna, on the other hand, saw Karna as his enemy, and killed him at the first opportunity. Another instance where lying was a major factor in the outcome of the war was when Yudishthira lied to Drona, saying that Ashwattama, Drona’s son, had been killed by Bhima. The truth was that Bhima had slayed an elephant named Ashwattama. In both of these instances, lying seemed to be the best way, and at times, the only way, to solve the problem at hand.
Krishna made sure Kunti would not to tell the Pandavas the true identity of Karna, for he knew that the Pandavas wouldn’t want to kill their elder brother. At the same time, Krishna took advantage of Karna’s kind heart and made Kunti reveal to Karna his true identity as one of the Pandavas just before the war began.
Why did Krishna have to be so deceitful and unfair to the Kauravas? Why did he make Kunti and Yudishtira lie? After thinking about it for a while, I realized that all of those dishonest acts had to be performed to protect dharma (righteousness) and to make sure dharma would overcome adharma on the Kurukshetra battlefield.
If we were to apply the same message to our own lives, do you think it would be okay for someone to disregard his or her own morals and lie so that the situation can be better for everyone overall? Is it really sometimes okay to lie?
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One Comment
This question is very interesting. Does “Righteousness” or Dharma as defined here has to be protected regardless one stays away from Truth?
My answer is Truth can never be hidden. It is indeed Dharma. My understanding of Dharma (swadharma) is different. I consider Dharma is something that one needs to be true to him/herself. Dharma or Truth is same. Protecting Dharma is to relentlessly be True to oneself.
Mahabharata stories are no different from what we experience in this present time. There was relentless hatred and vengeance. People with evil thoughts and actions (if some one wants to call adharmic people) were there in those days and now there are here in these days. Also there are lot more people who are good on this earth. Mahabharata did not end like “they lived happily forever”. The Pandavas do win the battle. Duryodhana is killed, and the Kaurava armies are wiped out. But it is hardly a happy ending. Yudhishthira becomes king, but the world is forever changed by the battle’s violence. Krishna supposed to be God himself got killed by a hunter. His own people get wiped out. So what is the message here? Is this all about Good (I guess wrongly understood as Dharma) annihilating the evil (wrongly understood as Adharma)? Good people like Bheeshma, Drona and Karna joined adharmic Duryodana knowing they are fighting against good guys. Supposedly good people Krishna and Padavas did lie and finally paid their penalties. Supposedly bad or adharmic Duryodana finally earned heaven! How could this be?
Dharma is all about Truth. Realistically it is hard to be true to oneself every minute. As human beings it is impossible to be truthful all the time. But there is no alternative; we need to keep in track at least most of the time. As long as one is established in the God consciousness (Self) we can stay in the track.
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