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 ‘

5. 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’

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

9. 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?’

11. ‘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

12. DHARMA IS SUBTILE