Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference, Anubhuti: Revitalizing Indian Knowledge Systems for the Modern World (ICIKS 2025)

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The Influence of Indian Epics and Puranas on Ethical Values

Authors
Vasundhara Kanwar Shekhawat1, *, Garima Chauhan2
1Research Scholar, Department of Development Studies, Vivekananda Global University, Jaipur, India
2Associate Professor, Department of Development Studies, Vivekananda Global University, Jaipur, India
*Corresponding author. Email: shekhawatvasundhara4@gmail.com
Corresponding Author
Vasundhara Kanwar Shekhawat
Available Online 10 November 2025.
DOI
10.2991/978-2-38476-477-8_5How to use a DOI?
Keywords
Indian epics; Purāṇas; Dharma; Social Values; Justice
Abstract

The Indian epics, including the Rāmāyaṇa, the Mahābhārata and the Purāṇas, are ancient collections of myths and legends that profoundly influence India’s ethical landscape. These texts, filled with stories of gods, demigods, and mortals, provide a rich framework for ethical conduct, emphasizing righteousness, duty, and the consequences of actions. The Rāmāyaṇa, for example, extols virtues like loyalty and devotion through the story of Rāma and Sītā. This epic’s focus on Dharma shapes the Indian understanding of ethical behavior.

The Mahābhārata delves into the complexities of Dharma, exploring its multifaceted nature and the consequences of ethical choices. The central narrative of the Pāṇḍavas and Kauravas highlights the importance of righteous action, even in difficult situations, and emphasizes the impact of actions, both positive and negative. The Purāṇas, with their diverse tales, reinforce these values, offering practical wisdom and guidance for everyday life. They highlight generosity, humility, and forgiveness, while cautioning against greed, envy, and pride.

These ancient texts permeate social norms, shaping family structures, societal expectations, and even legal systems. The concept of dharma, central to both epics and Purāṇas, continues to inform ethical considerations in contemporary India, influencing personal and professional conduct. The enduring influence of these texts demonstrates their profound impact on India’s ethical landscape, shaping values, beliefs, and actions for generations.

Copyright
© 2025 The Author(s)
Open Access
Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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Volume Title
Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference, Anubhuti: Revitalizing Indian Knowledge Systems for the Modern World (ICIKS 2025)
Series
Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research
Publication Date
10 November 2025
ISBN
978-2-38476-477-8
ISSN
2352-5398
DOI
10.2991/978-2-38476-477-8_5How to use a DOI?
Copyright
© 2025 The Author(s)
Open Access
Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

Cite this article

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Vasundhara Kanwar Shekhawat
AU  - Garima Chauhan
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/11/10
TI  - The Influence of Indian Epics and Puranas on Ethical Values
BT  - Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference, Anubhuti: Revitalizing Indian Knowledge Systems for the Modern World (ICIKS 2025)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 57
EP  - 66
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-477-8_5
DO  - 10.2991/978-2-38476-477-8_5
ID  - Shekhawat2025
ER  -