What the scriptures say about a moral dilemma

• Arjuna

  कार्पण्यदोषोपहतस्वभावःपृच्छामि त्वां धर्मसंमूढचेताः । यच्छ्रेयः स्यान्निश्चितं ब्रूहि तन्मेशिष्यस्तेऽहं शाधि मां त्वां प्रपन्नम् ॥

  kārpaṇyadoṣopahatasvabhāvaḥpṛcchāmi tvāṃ dharmasaṃmūḍhacetāḥ | yacchreyaḥ syānniścitaṃ brūhi tanmeśiṣyaste’haṃ śādhi māṃ tvāṃ prapannam ||

  My nature is stricken by weakness and my mind is confused about what is right. I ask you: tell me for certain what is best for me. I am your student; I have come to you, teach me.

  Bhagavad Gita 2.7

  Shows a capable man saying he can no longer tell what is right. our reading

• Krishna (quoted by Bhishma)

  सोऽहं कित्नवमातेव द्वयोरपि महामुने / नैकस्य जयमाशंसे द्वितीयस्य पराजयम्

  so’haṃ kitnavamāteva dvayorapi mahāmune / naikasya jayamāśaṃse dvitīyasya parājayam

  I am like the mother of two gamblers playing against each other, great sage. I cannot wish one victory without wishing the other defeat.

  Mahabharata · Shanti Parva · Bhishma: Rajadharma

  Shows Krishna torn between two sides of his own family. our reading

• Bharat

  तुम्ह तौ देहु सरल सिख सोई। जो आचरत मोर भल होई॥ जद्यपि यह समुझत हउँ नीकें। तदपि होत परितोष न जी कें ॥

  tumha tau dehu saral sikh soī| jo ācarat mor bhal hoī|| jadyapi yah samujhat hauṁ nīkeṃ| tadapi hot paritoṣ na jī keṃ ||

  You give me simple advice, the kind that would do me good if I followed it. Though I understand it well, my heart is not at peace.

  Ramcharitmanas · Ayodhya Kand

  Shows an elder's sound advice pointing one way and his heart the other. our reading

• Kausalya

  यह बिचारि नहिं करउँ हठ झूठ सनेहु बढ़ाइ। मानि मातु कर नात बलि सुरति बिसरि जनि जाइ ॥

  yah bicāri nahiṃ karauṁ haṭh jhūṭh sanehu baṛhāi| māni mātu kar nāt bali surati bisari jani jāi ||

  Thinking this over, I will not insist out of false affection. I bless you, son; only keep the bond of a mother, and don't forget me.

  Ramcharitmanas · Ayodhya Kand

  Shows she has weighed keeping him against what is right. our reading

• Arjuna

  अर्जुन उवाच कृपया परयाऽऽविष्टो विषीदन्निदमब्रवीत् । दृष्ट्वेमं स्वजनं कृष्ण युयुत्सुं समुपस्थितम् ॥

  arjuna uvāca kṛpayā parayā’’viṣṭo viṣīdannidamabravīt | dṛṣṭvemaṃ svajanaṃ kṛṣṇa yuyutsuṃ samupasthitam ||

  Arjuna said: Krishna, when I see my own people standing here, eager to fight, I am overcome with pity and sorrow.

  Bhagavad Gita 1.28

  Shows the people he must oppose are his own. our reading

• Bhartrihari

  तपस्यन्तः सन्तः किमधिनिवसामः सुरनदीं गुणोदारान्दारानुत परिचरामः सविनयम् । पिबामः शास्त्रौघानुत विविधकाव्यामृतरसान् न विद्मः किं कुर्मः कतिपयनिमेषायुषि जने ॥

  tapasyantaḥ santaḥ kimadhinivasāmaḥ suranadīṃ guṇodārāndārānuta paricarāmaḥ savinayam | pibāmaḥ śāstraughānuta vividhakāvyāmṛtarasān na vidmaḥ kiṃ kurmaḥ katipayanimeṣāyuṣi jane ||

  Shall we live as ascetics beside the heavenly river? Or courteously serve our wives, generous in virtue? Or drink the floods of scripture, or the nectar of many kinds of poetry? We do not know what to do, in a human life that lasts a few blinks.

  Bhartrihari · Vairagya Shatakam

  Names each path has a claim. our reading

• Bharat

  अब कृपाल जस आयसु होई। करौं सीस धरि सादर सोई॥ सो अवलंब देव मोहि देई। अवधि पारु पावौं जेहि सेई ॥

  ab kṛpāl jas āyasu hoī| karauṃ sīs dhari sādar soī|| so avalaṃb dev mohi deī| avadhi pāru pāvauṃ jehi seī ||

  Now, gracious one, whatever you command I will do, holding it on my head with respect. But give me something to lean on, Lord, something I can serve, so that I can get through these years.

  Ramcharitmanas, Ayodhya Kand 293 (chaupai 4)

  He obeys though his heart wanted otherwise. our reading

• Arjuna

  व्यामिश्रेणेव वाक्येन बुद्धिं मोहयसीव मे । तदेकं वद निश्चित्य येन श्रेयोऽहमाप्नुयाम् ॥

  vyāmiśreṇeva vākyena buddhiṃ mohayasīva me | tadekaṃ vada niścitya yena śreyo’hamāpnuyām ||

  With these seemingly mixed words you confuse my mind. Tell me decisively that one thing by which I may reach the highest good.

  Bhagavad Gita 3.2

• Narrator

  धरम सनेह उभयँ मति घेरी। भइ गति साँप छुछुंदरि केरी॥ राखउँ सुतहि करउँ अनुरोधू। धरमु जाइ अरु बंधु बिरोधू ॥

  dharam saneh ubhayaṁ mati gherī| bhai gati sāṁp chuchuṃdari kerī|| rākhauṁ sutahi karauṁ anurodhū| dharamu jāi aru baṃdhu birodhū ||

  Duty and love together hemmed in her mind; she was like the snake that has seized a muskrat. 'If I insist and keep my son, duty is lost and the brothers fall out...'

  Ramcharitmanas · Ayodhya Kand

• Discernmentviveka

  Weigh the two duties; ask what happens if I do and if I do not. stated in the text

  MBh Shibi; Gita 18.30; Vidura 34.19

• The wish to understandjijñāsā

  Ask; see how the thoughtful would act. stated in the text

  Gita 2.7; Taittiriya 1.11.3-4; Vidura 40.23

• Own dutysvadharma

  Perform one's own duty even if it is flawed. stated in the text

  Gita 3.35; 18.47-48

• Resolvesaṅkalpa

  Reflect fully, then do as you choose; decide slowly. stated in the text

  Gita 18.63; Chirakari

• Arjuna

  कार्पण्यदोषोपहतस्वभावःपृच्छामि त्वां धर्मसंमूढचेताः । यच्छ्रेयः स्यान्निश्चितं ब्रूहि तन्मेशिष्यस्तेऽहं शाधि मां त्वां प्रपन्नम् ॥

  kārpaṇyadoṣopahatasvabhāvaḥpṛcchāmi tvāṃ dharmasaṃmūḍhacetāḥ | yacchreyaḥ syānniścitaṃ brūhi tanmeśiṣyaste’haṃ śādhi māṃ tvāṃ prapannam ||

  My nature is stricken by weakness and my mind is confused about what is right. I ask you: tell me for certain what is best for me. I am your student; I have come to you, teach me.

  Bhagavad Gita 2.7

• Krishna

  श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् । स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयः परधर्मो भयावहः ॥

  śreyānsvadharmo viguṇaḥ paradharmātsvanuṣṭhitāt | svadharme nidhanaṃ śreyaḥ paradharmo bhayāvahaḥ ||

  Better is one's own duty, even done imperfectly, than the duty of another well done. Better is death in one's own duty; the duty of another is full of fear.

  Bhagavad Gita 3.35

• Teacher

  अथ यदि ते कर्मविचिकित्सा वा वृत्तविचिकित्सा वा स्यात् ॥ ये तत्र ब्राह्मणाः संमर्शिनः । युक्ता आयुक्ताः । अलूक्षा धर्मकामाः स्युः । यथा ते तत्र वर्तेरन् । तथा तत्र वर्तेथाः । अथाभ्याख्यातेषु । ये तत्र ब्राह्मणाः संमर्शिनः । युक्ता आयुक्ताः । अलूक्षा धर्मकामाः स्युः । यथा ते तेषु वर्तेरन् । तथा तेषु वर्तेथाः । एष आदेशः । एष उपदेशः ।

  atha yadi te karmavicikitsā vā vṛttavicikitsā vā syāt || ye tatra brāhmaṇāḥ saṃmarśinaḥ | yuktā āyuktāḥ | alūkṣā dharmakāmāḥ syuḥ | yathā te tatra varteran | tathā tatra vartethāḥ | athābhyākhyāteṣu | ye tatra brāhmaṇāḥ saṃmarśinaḥ | yuktā āyuktāḥ | alūkṣā dharmakāmāḥ syuḥ | yathā te teṣu varteran | tathā teṣu vartethāḥ | eṣa ādeśaḥ | eṣa upadeśaḥ |

  Now, if you are ever unsure about an action or about conduct, look to the thoughtful people there: devoted, independent, not harsh, lovers of what is right. As they would act, so should you act. And towards people under accusation, act as such people would. This is the instruction, this is the teaching.

  Taittiriya Upanishad 1.11.3-4

  Shows there is still a way to decide when the rules run out. our reading

• Bhartrihari

  निन्दन्तु नीतिनिपुणा यदि वा स्तुवन्तु लक्ष्मीः समाविशतु गच्छतु वा यथेष्टम् । अद्यैव वा मरणमस्तु युगान्तरे वा न्याय्यात्पथः प्रविचलन्ति पदं न धीराः ॥

  nindantu nītinipuṇā yadi vā stuvantu lakṣmīḥ samāviśatu gacchatu vā yatheṣṭam | adyaiva vā maraṇamastu yugāntare vā nyāyyātpathaḥ pravicalanti padaṃ na dhīrāḥ ||

  Let the worldly-wise blame or praise; let fortune come or go as she pleases; let death come today or ages hence: the steadfast do not move a step from the path of what is right.

  Bhartrihari · Niti Shatakam

  Removes praise, money and fear as considerations. our reading

• Sanatkumara (quoted by Narada)

  सत्यस्य वचनं श्रेयः सत्यादपि हितं वदेत् / यद्भूतहितमत्यन्तमेतत्सत्यं मतं मम

  satyasya vacanaṃ śreyaḥ satyādapi hitaṃ vadet / yadbhūtahitamatyantametatsatyaṃ mataṃ mama

  Speaking the truth is good, but better than mere truth is to speak what helps. What is truly for the good of all beings, that is what I hold to be truth.

  Mahabharata · Shanti Parva · Bhishma, Mokshadharma

  Shows resolving the bind between honesty and kindness by ranking the good of the other first. our reading

• Brihaspati

  न तत्परस्य संदध्यात्प्रतिकूलं यदात्मनः / एष साङ्ग्राहिको धर्मः कामादन्यः प्रवर्तते

  na tatparasya saṃdadhyātpratikūlaṃ yadātmanaḥ / eṣa sāṅgrāhiko dharmaḥ kāmādanyaḥ pravartate

  Do not do to another what you would find hurtful yourself. This, in short, is dharma; anything else comes from desire.

  Mahabharata · Anushasana Parva · Anushasana

  A single test to apply when the right course is unclear. our reading

• Prahlada (quoted by Draupadi)

  न श्रेयः सततं तेजो न नित्यं श्रेयसी क्षमा / इति तात विजानीहि द्वयमेतदसंशयम्

  na śreyaḥ satataṃ tejo na nityaṃ śreyasī kṣamā / iti tāta vijānīhi dvayametadasaṃśayam

  Force is not always best, and forgiveness is not always best. Know this for certain, my child: both have their place.

  Mahabharata · Vana Parva · Vana: Draupadi and Yudhishthira

  Releases the bind of feeling one must always forgive. our reading

• Angiras

  सत्यमेव जयते नानृतं सत्येन पन्था विततो देवयानः । येनाऽऽक्रमन्त्यृषयो ह्याप्तकामा यत्र तत् सत्यस्य परमं निधानम् ॥

  satyameva jayate nānṛtaṃ satyena panthā vitato devayānaḥ | yenā’’kramantyṛṣayo hyāptakāmā yatra tat satyasya paramaṃ nidhānam ||

  Truth alone wins, not falsehood. By truth the divine path is laid out, by which the sages, their desires fulfilled, travel to where the highest treasure of truth is.

  Mundaka Upanishad 3.1.6

  Gives that when the honest option is costly it is still the road that goes somewhere. our reading

• From the Mahabharata

  Yudhishthira's case for peace

  Before Krishna sets out as peace envoy, Yudhishthira opens his heart: poverty humiliates, greed corrodes, victory breeds enmity, and hostility is never ended by hostility. He asks only for five villages.

  Winning a feud still costs you peace. Hostility only ends when someone stops feeding it.

• From the Mahabharata

  Krishna's family troubles: the weapon not made of iron

  Even Krishna struggles with his clan: he does their work, bears their harsh words, and feels like the mother of two gamblers playing each other. Narada tells him the only weapon that works is soft: generosity, patience, sincerity, gentleness and respect.

  In family feuds, the weapon that works is gentleness, patience and respect.

• From the Ramayana

  Bharat refuses the throne

  After the funeral, Vasishtha, the ministers and Kausalya all urge Bharat to rule, as his father wished. Bharat says the advice is right and his heart still isn't at peace; the crown means nothing without Ram. He decides to go to the forest, admit his fault, and trust his brother to forgive.

  When head and heart disagree, go and face the person you think you wronged.

• From the Ramayana

  The family council at Chitrakoot

  Vasishtha asks how Ram can be brought home, noting that grieving people cannot judge well. Bharat recalls a brother who never broke his heart and let him win at games, and blames himself. Ram tells him his shame is needless, that love and hostility cannot be hidden, and asks him to say freely what he wants.

  In family conflict, let each speak; name love plainly; lift needless shame.

• The wish to understandजिज्ञासाHeals a moral dilemma
• Resolveसङ्कल्पHeals a moral dilemma
• DiscernmentविवेकHeals a moral dilemma
• FearभयFeeds a moral dilemma
• ConfusionमोहFeeds a moral dilemma
• Attachmentसङ्गFeeds a moral dilemma
• GriefशोकFeeds a moral dilemma

See a moral dilemma on the whole map