Choices are the central part of desires, that keep us excited and running from one object to the other, without really trying to grasp the why, what and how behind. Naturally, we assume the greater the options in front and coupled with the freedom to choose endlessly, the human mind can get long lasting happiness. But real world experience seems to contradict this notion. It doesn’t take a subtle dharmic mind to realize the truth of Sri Krishna’s wisdom in the Bhagavad Gita (दु:खालयमशाश्वतम् duḥkha-ālayam aśāśvatam BG 8-13) – an abode of miseries and temporary in nature.
Contrary to the wisdom, the masses are convinced that choices provide freedom and even if the best option, if available as the lone alternative, feels curtailing. What we fail to see with these unlimited options is, there are repercussions, mostly undesirable and certainly unexpected. But on the other end of the spectrum, certain choices turn out to the best option as it resonates perfectly. It may be easier to grasp this concept with an example. A person desiring to consume food may be driven by numerous reasons besides hunger, say social obligations, boredom etc. Naturally there are endless choices of viands to ingest. Some options like drugs, alcohol and tamasic junk food may be more enticing, but they do leave a negative footprint with the subject. On the other hand, some foods align perfectly with the constitution of the individual for the given time and may be the most nourishing.
The random endless choices we chase after bring many Karmaphala. It is hard to not expect the fruits as these are all driven by Kama. Once we are caught in this cesspool, we keep chasing different objects of desire, imagining the happiness can be endlessly sought from running from object to object. Contrast this mindset with aligning ourselves with DHARMA. On the surface it looks we are limited. There are restrictions and boundaries. Interestingly DHARMA is a spectrum. As one traverses from a lower end to higher end, it may appear the freedom of choices seem to be reducing, but the real FREEDOM comes with our alignment with the highest. On a secular level, it aligns with our duty, that ought to be performed at that moment. Since DHARMA cleaves Kama, it also offers the option not to chase the Karmaphala, thus liberating us from our actions.
DHARMASANKATA (धर्म संकट)- संकट is usually understood as distress, difficulty, pain. But the root word also indicates a contracted, narrow strait, a constricted passage, difficult to navigate. DHARMA has numerous meanings from righteousness to duty, right, morality, law and much more. When we compound these two words in DHARMASANKATA, we realize that there is a difficulty in choosing between two seemingly close yet distinct alternatives. The choice of each one is right, yet leaves an unpalatable aftertaste due to the omission of the other.
Who is affected? The majority of the masses are either ignorant or find it undesirable to observe and uphold Dharma as violating or bending it seems to give quick results of desire, in Kali Yuga. This category will not perceive Dharmasankata as they are willingly bending Dharma already. The ones like Rama, Krishna, Vidura are filled with a superior understanding of Dharma that when they find themselves in such a scenario, they do not struggle to uphold the subtler, superior Dharma.
We are left with a small group of people like many of us, who are upwardly mobile in the Dharma understanding, but lack clarity in the gradation of Dharma. So, how can we get clarity? Only through the time tested way of peeking into Itihasapuranas, studying the numerous case studies and correlating it back with our own situation, we can grasp not only what is a real Dharmasankata and how to resolve it correctly. We will limit to the following examples from the Ramayana and Mahabharata. We will look at the situation, the dilemma/dharmasankata, resolution and its outcome.
Ramayana: Lets look at a few from Ramayana.
Dasaratha sending Rama with Vishwamitra: The overzealous Dasaratha promises to bide by whatever Vishwamitra asks only to be caught in his filial love for Rama.
Dharmasankata: Torn between fatherly love, affection and protect his son vs keeping up his word. The dilemma seems easy for the sanctimonious, but the dilemma is real between fatherly love and role vs sending a child to what one believed as certain death, just to keep up his word.
Resolution: Luckily Vasishta was there to not only inject some sense to Dasaratha but also encourage him that Vishwamitra was there to open the door to great blessings for Rama.
Take away: Listen to the Dharmically more aligned to correct the imbalance. In our case, if we cannot get such a person, we have access to dharma understanding through regular study of the Itihasapuranas.
Dasratha being sought to send Rama to forest: Kaikeyi invokes two past boons and tries to send Rama to the forest for fourteen years.
Dharmasankata: The promise to crown him as his next heir, coupled with his desire to see Rama as the next King vs keeping up one’s words. Two sets of promises, one to his citizens and another to his wife.
Take away: When we are in dilemma, a calmer sensible force or personality may take charge based on a superior understanding of Dharma. All we need to do is submit to it. But in case of Dasaratha, the separation from Rama turned fatal.
Hanuman in Lanka: Overwhelmed with not finding Sita, Hanuman is extremely distressed.
Dharmasankata: Due to extreme depression, Hanuman is able to only think of the negative consequences of every step. He weighs every negative outcome and is caught in a deadly trap to the abyss. Caught in a whirlpool of negative thought, all one sees is the possibility of doom at every step.
Resolution: Hanuman stands on all the Dharma and Jnana he has studied and practiced all this life to instruct himself-Non-depression is root of development. Absence of despondency is the greatest comfort. Self reliance always is indeed the promoter in all matters. (अनिर्वेदः श्रियो मूलम् अनिर्वेदः परम् सुखम् | अनिर्वेदो हि सततम् सर्व अर्थेषु प्रवर्तकः || anirvedah shriyo mulam anirvedah param sukham | anirvedo hi satatam sarva artheshu pravartakah || VR 5-12-10)
Take away: Find reasons to shake over the depression, despondency and negative thinking. Only by our practice and not merely by bookish understanding can we implement this at an hour of distress. The Dharma we have observed will come to our rescue with critical thinking, even when no external help is possible.
Vibhishana leaves Ravana for Rama: After consistently trying to uphold Dharma and seeking to bring Ravana on to the right path, the failed Vibhishana when threatened with his life, seeks refuge at Rama’s feet.
Dharmasankata: Leaving the Dharma of supporting the brother and his clan vs joining the fatal enemy, appears for selfish gain of the throne.
Resolution: Vibhishana’s choice is based on upholding Dharma at all costs. Relationship has no value when life and existence itself is threatened. Besides Vibhishana knew that Rama was a divine personality.
Take away: Submit to Dharma at all costs. When in dilemma Saranagati to Bhagawan opens all doors.
Mahabharata: Now for a few examples from the Mahabharata.
Shantanu – Ganga: Smitten by love, Shantanu agrees never to challenge Ganga’s actions
Dharmasankata: Watching her kill seven of their new born, as soon as they were born and witnessing the horror of the eighth victim vs breaking his word. Saving a life vs word.
Resolution: Shantanu intervened and thus protected Bhishma, who turned out to the greatest acharya outside Krishna and Vyasa.
Take away: When it comes to protecting or saving a life, even himsa is acceptable, let alone breaking up of a promise.
Shantanu – Satyvati: Dasharaja, the fisherman father of Satyavati, overwhelmed Shantanu that only Satyavati’s children must be the heirs to the kingdom and not Devavrata, who was qualified in every way.
Dharmasankata: Choice of Kama centered action by rejecting the qualified son, Bhishma vs the welfare of his kingdom.
Resolution: Just like in Ramayana, Rama resolved the dilemma by going to the forest, Devavrata promised that he will be a life long Brahmachari and see the kingdom to be in a strong position till an heir from Satyavati lineage is established, thus transforming into Bhishma.
Take away: Step up and resolve the Dharmasankata around you, especially if it is centered on you.
Satyavati: Upon the death of her sons, Vichitravirya and Chitrangadha, there was no heir. She tried to get Bhishma married to her widows – Ambika and Ambalika, only to be reminded of his lifelong Bhishmacharya. She then turns to her other son, Vyasa and asks his to procreate through Niyoga.
Dharmasankata: Faced with the impossibility to witness the death of an empire vs bending the options.
Resolution: Niyoga through Vyasa was a brilliant tactical move of Satyavati, but the actions of Ambika and Ambalika who were reluctant participants gave rise to disastrous consequences.
Take away: Participate in your actions with clarity. Seek it before embarking, with a clear mission in focus. Even if DharmaSankata is resolved, an half-hearted involvement yields incomplete or contrary results.
Ekalavya’s incident: Ekalavya learnt the secrets of archery without actually getting the permission from Drona, when he was rejected permission at the Ashrama.
Dharmasankata: Drona was caught between offending a disciple par excellence vs his role as a teacher for the princes and also a close advisor of the King.
Resolution: Drona realized that Ekalavya’s loyalty was to the evil king Jarasandha. Not punishing Ekalavya would imply empowering the enemy. So with a lot of tact he got Ekalavya’s thumb as Gurudakshina. This earned Drona lots of ignominy due to the lack of understanding of the masses.
Take away: Do the right thing without any fear of retributions.
Yudhishtra plays dice: Despite Vyasa’s warning of the internecine war and a prolonged 13 years of Pandava suffering, Vidura’s generic warning that the game of dice is not good and his own insights, Yudhishtra is put on the spot to give a response to the messenger, Vidura.
Dharmasankata: Invited for a battle or a game of dice meant as a Kshatriya one has to accept. If he declined, it would also result in war over misunderstanding. Accepting an Adharmic game also meant that consequences will not be ideal. Choice, in this case, was picking one of the two certain paths to destruction.
Resolution: Taking a vow to never speak harshly along with his brothers and a vow to maintain peace with the Kauravas, Yudhishtra sought to do a balance between the two options – a certain war and a possibility of a fair game. Yudhishtra didn’t anticipate the last minute switch of Duryodhana with Shakuni, nor did he realize it was impossible to turn the tide against Shakuni by continuously waging whatever the Kauravas asked for.
Take away: Being the noble Mahatma, Yudhishtra sunk deeper into the trap of Duryodhana with the intention of avoiding the war. Even after 13 years of misery, he was still wanting peace, except for not losing his DHARMA commitment. When facing certain calamity, face with resolve and commitment to uphold DHARMA at all costs.
Yudhishtra tells a lie: Drona goes berserk on day 15 of the war, not even heeding to rishis’ appeal for him killing soldiers by the thousands using Divyastras. To put an end to the carnage, Krishna made Bhima kill an elephant called Aswattama and declare loudly that he had killed Aswattama. Despite being prepared by Krishna, Yudhishtra was asked to respond if it was a man or elephant that died. Yudhishtra’s famous response was - अश्वत्थामा हत: कुञ्जर: - "Aśvatthāmā hattaḥ kuñjaraḥ" implying the elephant, which was deliberately drowned by Krishna’s Panchajanya.
Dharmasankata: The choice was to tell a half truth (which was also spoiled by Krishna’s acumen) to own Guru or let him continue with the carnage.
Resolution: Yudhishtra took the blame and ignominy, but there was no strategem to stop Drona. As a King, Yudhishtra had the first responsibility towards his troops than his own welfare.
Take away: Personal golden standards can be sacrificed for the welfare of many who are dependent. Satya and Dharma are rooted in the well being and prosperity of the many, not mere bookish speaking the truth.
Bhishma, Drona side Duryodhana in war: Despite knowing how evil minded Duryodhana was, Bhishma, Drona fought on his side.
Dharmasankata: Rising up to the side of Dharma or fight to pay off their indebtness was the question faced.
Resolution: Bhishma misinterpreted his promise to see his father in whoever was in the throne as a dictum above upholding Dharma. In the same way Drona thought since Dhritarashtra gave him a job that lifted him from penury, it was his duty to fight for him, even if it was adharmic.
Take away: Always take side with DHARMA, uphold and defend it and die if you must in the process as gaining all the riches through ADHARMA is ephemeral and does permanent damage by leading one through a tamasic path to naraka.
Killing of Bhishma, Drona, Karna, Jayadratha, Duryodhana: To the casual reader, read as the sickular yindoo or hinduphobes, it will appear that Krishna tricked all the opponent heroes’ deaths. Is there a deeper layer of real understanding, we are missing with our prejudice?
Dharmasankata: Did the Pandavas along with Krishna conspire in these deaths, just for winning a kingdom?
Resolution: Pandavas focused on the action in the now, based on Krishna’s insights, as he was Dharma personified.
Take away: Dharma may take a long route to fructify the Karmas, but it will certainly deliver. The events of the Sabha Parva had a distant echo in the Mahabharata war. The fruits were sealed along with the adharmic karma of some like Duryodhana, Dushasana and Karna, but extended to Bhishma and Drona for not defending and upholding DHARMA.
Arjuna’s dilemma before the war: The most classic of all known Dharmasankata is Arjuna’s first chapter of the Bhagavad Gita moment. Just like a deer in headlights, he is completely frozen. He is completely confused not just on the direction, but even the basics of DHARMA. Note that this did not afflict the others who fought, except Yudhishtra, after the war.
Dharmasankata: What is the use of killing the Guru and relatives? Will loss be better or victory? Both seem shallow.
Resolution: The resolution was provided by Krishna’s Bhagavad Gita message.
Take away: For all problems faced by humanity, if one were to approach with the solid realization that were are the immortal Atman and not the body, mind, intellect, wealth, relatives, power or any other fantasized perceived reality, even the most crippling dilemmas vaporize. The secret is not in Gita but applying it in one’s life and making Gita shine through our life.
Dharmasankata in our lives:
Most times, Dharmasankata is very stressful and clouds our decision making ability. What we need to do is hit the ground and thank. We are in a very small minority that can even perceive this. It implies a huge opportunity for growth as we learn which of the options is leading and rooted in superior Dharma.
The most common scenario in Dharmasankata is one or both the choices being colored by Kama, sometimes guised by our mind as Karma (duty). If we clearly answer this question with honesty, we will usually be left with the path that leads to Dharma.
In some scenarios, it is definitely a tussle between two flavors of Dharma. In this case understanding what each option entails and which is the superior of the two options clears the path forward.
The best solution is to constantly seek the wisdom in the form of stories in Itihasapuranas and knowledge in the form of Gita and Upanishads, prepare us ahead of our situation. If we are suddenly confronted, seeking this wisdom through someone can also clarity our solution.
Listening to another Dharmic person, who is an embodiment of Dharma, can make it easier to follow a suggestion or role model. Since in Kali Yuga, it is hard to find such examples, again turning back to Itihasapuranas as an example is the most prudent path.
The most difficult example is emulating Hanuman. He was able to dig deeper into himself during dire circumstances. This is extremely rare as only extraordinary exemplar individuals will be able to do introspection to arrive at the right path after going through Dharmasankata.
The secret to resolving Dharmasankata is an undying resolve to be deeply rooted in Dharma. Understanding Dharma comes by watching an example or by studying shastras. Dharma understanding leads to better following, upholding and protecting Dharma results in threading our path through the narrowest options, but leads to greater and greater freedom and good as the final destination of this path is Moksha.
ॐ तत् सत
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