Example Sentences: Ramayana: Although the arrested Hanuman was pilloried by Lanka’s guards and citizens, he neglected them and focussed on observing Lanka’s military arrangements. Mahabharata: Shishupala pilloried Bhishma, charging that his much-vaunted celibacy was nothing but a cover-up for his impotency. Bhagavad-gita: Krishna warned Arjuna that if he left the battlefield, he wouldn’t be praised
Example sentences: Ramayana: When Lakshmana saw how all other animals were keeping a distance from the extraordinarily attractive deer, he suspected it to be a part of the demons’ stratagem for abducting Sita. Mahabharata: When Dhritarashtra proposed that the Pandavas go to Varnavarta to enjoy the festival there, Yudhishthira sensed some stratagem, for the proposal
Example Sentences: Ramayana: Allured by Ravana’s royal riches, many demons kowtowed to him, praising his schemes, even if they were evil. Mahabharata: Given how powerful the Kuru kingdom was, many smaller kings kowtowed to the Kuru prince, Duryodhana, who seemed to control the official Kuru king, Dhritarashtra. Bhagavad-gita: If we don’t structure our lives with
Example Sentences: Ramayana: While manipulating Kaikeyi, Manthara never spoke any blatant falsehoods; she just distorted the truth repeatedly till Kaikeyi ended up believing her. Mahabharata: As time passed, Duryodhana’s attacks on the Pandavas shifted from discreet to blatant. Bhagavad-gita: The demoniac people speak blatant lies to justify their selfish and evil actions.
Example Sentences: Ramayana: At the start of his meeting with his ministers, Ravana urged them to speak frankly, yet he soon found Vibhishana’s candor unbearable. Mahabharata: Vidura’s candor in pointing out Duryodhana’s vices angered Dhritarashtra, who ordered his younger brother to go wherever he wanted. Bhagavad-gita: The Gita urges us to discipline our speech by
Example Sentences: Ramayana: When Maricha described vividly Rama’s immense prowess, Ravana conceded that abducting Rama’s wife might not be a good idea – but that concession was soon overruled by his lust. Mahabharata: During the peace negotiations, when Duryodhana refused to concede that he had done any wrong, it became clear that war was inevitable.
Example Sentences: Ramayana: Vibhishana reminded Ravana that his universe-conquering prowess came with a caveat: he had no immunity against humans, and his present opponent was a formidable human. Mahabharata: Although the Mahabharata’s exile period was shorter than the Ramayana’s exile period, it came with a cunning caveat: if the Pandavas were detected in the thirteenth
Example sentences: Ramayana: When Shurapanakha portrayed herself as the victim instead of the aggressor in her meeting with Rama, her account was not just contentious; it was fictitious. Mahabharata: Although Duryodhana’s account of his dealings with the Pandavas was contentious to the extreme, his conscience was so deadened that he genuinely believed he had done
Example sentences: Ramayana: For Rama, the crux of the issue was Dasharatha’s instruction, whereas for Lakshmana the crux was Dasharatha’s intention. Mahabharata: During the discussion before Draupadi’s disrobing, the crux of the issue was not whether Yudhishthira had the right to gamble Draupadi or not; the crux was whether the assembly would stay silent while
Example Sentences: Ramayana: Although Hanuman entered Lanka under several constraints – he was friendless, weaponless and clueless about Sita’s precise whereabouts in Lanka – he still emerged spectacularly successful. Mahabharata: Although Abhimanyu fought heroically against many formidable warriors, the constraint of fighting alone turned out to be fatal, especially because his opponents attacked him simultaneously.