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Diverse Treatment
M. A. MEHENDALE
Moral Dilemmas in the Mahabharata. Edited by Bimal Krishna Matilal.
Shimla: Indian Institute of Advanced Study and Motilal Banarsidass. Delhi. 1989, pp. xiv + 157, Rs. 95.
THE
HE book contains thirteen contributions on the subject of Moral Dilemmas in the Mahabharata. The authors are B. K. Matilal, T.S. Rukmani, S.P. Dubey, K. Kunjunni Raja, Y. Krishnan, A.N. Jani, Amiya Dev, 8. G. Kantawala, P. D. Santina, S. Paul Kashyap, M. M. Agrawal, E.R. Sreekrishna Sarma and S. M. Kulkarni. They have picked up different incidents from the Mahabharata like Arjuna's laying down the arms, or Draupadi's raising the question about the validity of the last play in the game of dice which in their opinion constitute. moral dilemmas. The treatment is diverse and unfortunately only a few of the contributions have a direct bearing on the subject. Some contributors, Matilal, for instance, also make clear the situation in which a character could be said to face a moral dilemma.
The contributions were presented for discussion at a colloquium organised by the Indian Institute of Advanced Study at Shimla, apparently in the year 1988. The date is nowhere stated. One has to guess it. In the opinion of the Editor, the topic
Jain Education International
Review
Madhu Vidya/695
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