The Difficulty of Being Good

This is summary of book"The Difficulty of Being Good" by Gurcharan Das. This books tries to interprets events in Mahabharata while trying to draw parallels from the contemporary world.

1. THE DIFFICULTY OF BEING GOOD SEARCH OF DHARMA

2. ‘ What man of mettle will stand to see his neighbor prosper and himself decline?’ Why should one like you envy Yudhisthira ?.....Be content with what you have, stay with your own dharma-that is the way to happiness. - Dhritarashtra to Duryodhana DURYODHANA’S ENVY

3. DRAUPADI’S COURAGE What is left of the dharma of kings?....This ancient eternal dharma is lost among the Kauravas ….For this foul man, disgrace of the Kauravas,is molesting me,and I cannot bear it. - Draupadi,as Duhshasana tries to disrobe her in the assembly ‘Whom did you lose first, yourself or me ‘

4. YUDHISHTHIRA’S DUTY I act because I must.Whether it bears fruits or not,Buxom Draupadi,I do my duty like an householder. - Yudhisthira in exile, to Draupadi ‘I act because I must’

5. ARJUNA’S DESPAIR ‘I shall not fight; he fell silent - Arjuna to Krishna ‘There are no victors in war’

6. KARNA’S STATUS ANXIETY How could a doe give birth to a tiger who resembles the sun,with his earrings and armour and celestial birthmarks?This lordly man deserves to rule the world! - Duryodhana leaping up like ‘a rutting elephant from a lotus pond’ ‘How could a doe give birth to a tiger?’

7. ‘This is the way it is!’ Aren’t you ashamed…..of striking me down so unfairly - Duryodhana,as he lies dying at Kurukshetra KRISHNA’S GUILE

8. DHARMA IS SUBTILE