Dharma of Justice in the Sanskrit Epics The

This book shows that many characters in the Sanskrit epics - men and women of all varnas and mixed-varna - discuss and criticize discrimination based on gender varna poverty age and disability. On the basis of philosophy logic and devotion these characters argue that such categories are ever-changing mixed and ultimately unreal therefore humans should be judged on the basis of their actions not birth. The book explores the dharmas of singleness friendship marriage parenting and ruling. Bhakta poets such as Kabir Tulsidas Rahim and Raidas drew on ideas and characters from the epics to present a vision of oneness. Justice is indivisible all bodies are made of the same matter all beings suffer and all consciousnesses are akin. This book makes the radical argument that in the epics kindness to animals the dharma available to all is inseparable from all other forms of dharma.