New Books Network Wendy Doniger, "The Dharma of Unfaithful Wives and Faithful Jackals: Some Moral Tales From The Mahabharata" (Speaking Tiger, 2024)
Oct 25, 2025
Wendy Doniger, a renowned Indologist and scholar specializing in Hindu mythology, dives into the intricacies of the Mahabharata. She explores why Brahma created alluring women and the moral tales surrounding kingship, desire, and identity. Through lesser-known stories, Doniger reveals how folk narratives challenge traditional Brahmin ethics, addressing themes of womanhood, class, and the nature of dharma versus adharma. She highlights wise animal fables that subvert stereotypes and discusses Shiva's darker role contrasted with Vishnu's moral kingship.
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Dharma Is Complex And Contradictory
- Dharma in the Mahabharata is complex, often contradictory, and not a single set of rules.
- Stories reveal how people bend or violate dharma to cope with real-life conflicts and contradictions.
Folk Tales Undercut Official Dharma
- Many Mahabharata tales derive from folk and women storytellers and challenge Brahminical norms.
- These stories often undercut official prescriptions and offer alternative moral logics.
Control Anxiety Fuels Adulteress Tales
- Anxiety about controlling women (raksh = protect/guard/control) fuels many adulteress narratives.
- Tales repeatedly dramatize fear that unchecked women will cause social disorder.
