Question
Compare and contrast the dharma or norms mentioned in the stories of Drona, Hidimba and Matanga.
Solution
Let us compare the story first and see what similarities are there in the three stories.
1. We find that all the three stories present an existence of norms or dharma. A social ' do's and don't s' that defines their way of life. For example, in the story of Drona we find that his life moves strictly along the lines of his Dharma or norms. Hence when Eklavya, from hunting community shows up to be his student he declines because of his birth, as he was not a Kshatiya born. And in case of Hidimba she says that she has forsaken her kins, friends and ' Dharma' for Bhima. And in case of Matanga we find that both his wife to be and later his son ill treats him because of his caste.
2. However we also find that those norms or Dharma are also broken or challenged in various ways. For example Drona though refused to take Eklavya under his wing as a student is shrewed enough to ask for his Guru Dakshina or fees form Eklavya even though he was not his student nor a kshatriya. Secondly in the story of Hidimba we find a marriage between Kshatiya and non Kshatriya, which is forbidden in the Brahmanicall text. And lastly we see in the story of Matanga a chandala Boddhisatta making his leftover to be eaten by the Brahmanas. It is believed that even a glance of untouchable would make someone of high birth dirty.
Thus in these stories we find that life of the people are prescribed and moved along the line of norms or their dharma but it was also shaped by the circumstances.
1. We find that all the three stories present an existence of norms or dharma. A social ' do's and don't s' that defines their way of life. For example, in the story of Drona we find that his life moves strictly along the lines of his Dharma or norms. Hence when Eklavya, from hunting community shows up to be his student he declines because of his birth, as he was not a Kshatiya born. And in case of Hidimba she says that she has forsaken her kins, friends and ' Dharma' for Bhima. And in case of Matanga we find that both his wife to be and later his son ill treats him because of his caste.
2. However we also find that those norms or Dharma are also broken or challenged in various ways. For example Drona though refused to take Eklavya under his wing as a student is shrewed enough to ask for his Guru Dakshina or fees form Eklavya even though he was not his student nor a kshatriya. Secondly in the story of Hidimba we find a marriage between Kshatiya and non Kshatriya, which is forbidden in the Brahmanicall text. And lastly we see in the story of Matanga a chandala Boddhisatta making his leftover to be eaten by the Brahmanas. It is believed that even a glance of untouchable would make someone of high birth dirty.
Thus in these stories we find that life of the people are prescribed and moved along the line of norms or their dharma but it was also shaped by the circumstances.
