Dharma is a word with a set of diverse meanings. To some extent, this can be seen as an ever-changing duty, based on the environment and people. “It is a set of principles that must be observed and followed, but it depends on the individual and the situation as to which principle should be followed and to what extent. The Mahabharata is a perfect example of how Dharma can be counterintuitive and paradoxical in nature. Moral dilemma or unethical behavior is again very subjective. Deciding what is right and wrong in a particular situation is a very difficult task and this is the reason for the conflict between dharma and ethical behavior. With this in mind, I will examine some characters from the Mahabharata in the context of dharma and ethical behavior. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay. Vyasa presents Yudhisthira as the epitome of selflessness and the embodiment of Dharma, but Yudhisthira, who did not want to budge from the truth, had to lie to disturb Dronacharya. . He agreed to deceive Dronacharya by lying to him about the death of an elephant Asvatthama. Looking at it from a moral point of view, Yudhisthira distorted morality by using his image as an honest man to disempower Dronacharya and win the battle. But if you see it in the dharmic sense, then he has just executed a plan made by Lord Krishna to fulfill his duty. Another character I would like to examine is Bhishma Pitahma. Bhishma gave up the throne and agreed to live the life of a Bhramachari, so that Satyavati could marry Santanu. Although he did so because of his immense love for his father, he swallowed up moral judgments and did not follow the path of Dharma which says that one must also attain the basic ideals of life and fulfill his duties at different stages of his life. This vow prevented him from ruling Hastinapur, which jeopardized his future and put many people in danger. The kidnapping of Amba, Ambika and Ambalika and sitting quietly in Dhritarashtra's court at the time of Draupadi's Cheer Haran also shows unethical behavior, but he was helpless due to the constraints of Dharma . Drauapdi's question as to whether Yudhisthira had the right to pawn her after getting lost in gambling receives no response from Bhishma due to the subtlety of dharma. Finally, I would like to mention Karna. Karna is known for his loyalty to his adoptive parents and Duryodhana and his generosity. Despite Krishna and Kunti's appeal to change sides and return to his biological brothers during the Battle of Kurukshetra, Karna refuses and remains true to his own conscience. He also sacrifices his armor when Indra asks him to, even though he knows he is vulnerable without it. But we can't say that Karna always acted according to Dharma, as he was one of the main culprits in Draupadi's stripping and slut-shaming. He is also seen at his worst while laughing obnoxiously and clapping during Draupadi's Cheer Haran. By placing these characters, Vyasa is trying to tell us that life is not a simple path to Dharma. In a sense, Vyasa was introducing us to the moral dilemmas that we all face as humans in real-life situations. “Do unto others as you would like to be treated” is the guiding principle throughout this book. Therefore, there is no clear message regarding dharma and moral behavior, as both are subjective and situation-oriented..