ECHOES OF DHARMA: WAR, WISDOM AND ETHICAL DISSONANCE IN THE EPICS RAMAYANA AND MAHABHARATA

The paper analyzes the idea of dharma in the earliest Indian epics — the Ramayana and the Mahabharata and criticizes dharma in the Ramayana and the Mahabharata with a focus on how war is utilized as a crucible for testing deep ethical dissonance. The paper sees the description of War not merely as a political and human war but shows deeper ethical and moral facets. Whereas the Ramayana idealizes dharma in Rama's unyielding duty, the Mahabharata offers a fractured and self-conscious argument in which figures such as Arjuna and Krishna struggle with the integrity of legitimizing action. The reading suggests the ethical tension which occurs when individual obligations collide against complementing ideals of wisdom and justice. The essay contends towards the timelessness of such epics to the narratives of our day of duty, leadership, and moral obligation.