normative:

establishing, relating to, or deriving from a standard or norm, especially of behaviour

normative:

establishing, relating to, or deriving from a standard or norm, especially of behaviour

Example sentences:   Ramayana: Ravana’s actions were so reprehensible that they shocked even the demons for whom demonic actions were normative.  Mahabharata: The fateful gambling match hadn’t been played in the normative way: the dice hadn’t been cast by the person staking the money, Duryodhana, but by a professional gambler, Shakuni.  Bhagavad-gita: Krishna reminded Arjuna that

penchant:

a definite liking; a strong inclination

Example sentences:   Ramayana: Hanuman’s penchant for adventure had got him into trouble with the sages when he was a child, but it brought him glory when, as an adult, he used it to serve Rama by single-handedly penetrating and devastating Lanka.  Mahabharata: Yudhishthira’s penchant for philosophical discussions kept him engaged and enlivened even while in

transpire:

To come about, happen or occur

Example sentences:   Ramayana: The residents of Ayodhya couldn’t believe what had transpired the previous night: how could their beloved Rama be sent on exile instead of being enthroned?   Mahabharata: As Yudhisthira sat silent after having gambled and lost everything, he kept shaking his head, as if unable to understand what had just transpired.  Bhagavad-gita:

salutary:

promoting or intended to promote an improvement or beneficial effect

Example sentences:   Ramayana: Maricha’s description of Rama’s power had a salutary effect on Ravana — he abandoned his plan to abduct Sita.    Mahabharata: How soothing and salutary were the words of the sages for the Pandavas who had been victimized by several and severe adversities.  Bhagavad-gita: Just as the Gita’s message had a salutary

intransigence:

stubbornly refusing to compromise

Example sentences:   Ramayana: Kaikeyi’s demand that Bharata be enthroned was understandable for Dasharatha; his intransigence in demanding that Rama be exiled was just not understandable.    Mahabharata: When Krishna’s peace mission failed, some held Duryodhana’s intransigence responsible for the failure; others held Dhritrashtra’s impotence responsible.  Bhagavad-gita: Intransigence is not a sign of strong determination, it

coercion:

the act of compelling by force of authority

Example sentences:   Ramayana: Though Ravana had no moral scruples, a curse incurred long ago stopped him from using coercion to ravish Sita.    Mahabharata: The Kauravas didn’t have to use coercion to gain allies; there existed enough evil-minded rulers who shared the Kauravas’ desire to overthrow the rule of dharma.  Bhagavad-gita: Though the Gita unambiguously

gargantuan:

of immense size, extent, or quantity

Example sentences:   Ramayana: Kumbharana was so gargantuan that the monkeys fell back in terror just by seeing him.   Mahabharata: The Kauravas made a gargantuan arrangement to keep Arjuna away from Jayadratha on the fourteenth day, but Krishna helped Arjuna succeed.  Bhagavad-gita: The sight of the gargantuan universal form filled Arjuna first with wonder and

fluster:

to make agitated, excited, or confused

Example sentences   Ramayana: To be reduced from the heir apparent to an exilé would have flustered anyone, but Rama was made of far tougher mettle.  Mahabharata: Though Draupadi was understandably flustered at being dragged into the assembly, it was laudable that she could still remind the assembly of the principles of dharma.  Bhagavad-gita: That Arjuna

assuage:

to make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense

Example Sentences Ramayana: By reassuring the disconsolate Rama that Sita would soon be found, Lakshmana tried to assuage Rama’s feelings of separation.  Mahabharata: Though Dhritarashtra tried to assuage Duryodhana by pointing out all the luxuries that the prince enjoyed, Duryodhana’s envy of the Pandavas meant that he only saw that whatever he had was far