English LiteratureICSE Class 8 · The Ramayana and the Mahabharata

Duty and Dharma: Rama's Exile and the Bhagavad Gita (Rajagopalachari's Epics, ICSE Class 8)

Updated 17 October 2026 · Fact-checked

In C. Rajagopalachari's retellings, Rama obeys his father and goes into exile for fourteen years, Bharata refuses the throne, and Arjuna, doubtful at Kurukshetra, receives Krishna's teaching on duty (the Bhagavad Gita). Both epics judge characters by how they fulfil their duty, and the Mahabharata shows the cost of war.

Understand Duty and Dharma: Rama's Exile and Krishna's Teaching

Status. Rajagopalachari's Ramayana and Mahabharata are on the Suggested Reading List for Class VIII; recommended, not prescribed. C. Rajagopalachari ("Rajaji", 1878-1972) retold the epics first in Tamil and then in English, to bring them to ordinary readers and the young. His Mahabharata appeared in 1951 and his Ramayana in 1957.

Duty in the Ramayana. King Dasaratha of Ayodhya has four sons: Rama, Bharata, Lakshmana and Shatrughna. Just as Rama is to be crowned, Queen Kaikeyi, influenced by her maid Manthara, claims two boons: that Bharata be crowned and Rama be exiled for fourteen years. Rama obeys his father without complaint; Sita and Lakshmana go with him, and Dasaratha dies of grief. Bharata refuses the throne and rules only as Rama's representative, placing Rama's sandals on the throne. The demon king Ravana carries Sita away; with Sugriva, Hanuman and an army of monkeys and bears Rama defeats him, and returns to be crowned.

Duty in the Mahabharata. The Kauravas, led by Duryodhana, are jealous of their cousins, the five Pandavas. After a rigged game of dice the Pandavas are exiled for twelve years and a thirteenth in disguise. Duryodhana refuses even five villages and war follows at Kurukshetra. Overcome by doubt at fighting relatives and teachers, Arjuna is taught by his charioteer Krishna about duty (the Bhagavad Gita). After eighteen days of fighting the Kauravas are destroyed, and the Pandavas lose many of their own, among them Arjuna's son Abhimanyu; Yudhishthira becomes king but victory brings sorrow.

Themes. Duty and righteousness (dharma); good versus evil; loyalty and devotion; jealousy and greed; the cost of war.

Neutral handling. These are sacred and cultural texts for many readers. Write respectfully, attribute interpretations ("in this retelling") and keep to the story.

Duty and Dharma: Rama's Exile and Krishna's Teaching: key facts

Duty in the Ramayana: Rama obeys his father
Sita and Lakshmana follow
Bharata refuses the throne
Hanuman serves; Each shows a duty: son, wife, brother, servant.
Duty in the Mahabharata: Dice game
Exile 12 years and one in disguise
Five villages refused
Arjuna's doubt
Gita; War follows when duty fails.
Themes: Dharma
Good versus evil
Loyalty
Jealousy and greed
Cost of war; Ravana's pride and Duryodhana's jealousy.

How to answer Duty and Dharma: Rama's Exile and Krishna's Teaching questions

Use this for character or theme answers on the epics.

1Name the epic and the character.
2State the duty he or she faces.
3Give the choice made and its result.
4Link to the theme of dharma or the cost of war.
5Use respectful, neutral wording.

Duty and Dharma: Rama's Exile and Krishna's Teaching in real life

The idea, met in an everyday situation. Answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

A hypothetical promise kept

Suppose a hypothetical pupil has promised his grandmother to help in the shop each evening, and gives up a school outing when his friends invite him.

How is this like Rama's keeping of his father's word, and how is it different?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Both keep a promise at a personal cost.
The pupil's sacrifice is small, Rama's is fourteen years.
Both are examples of duty.

Answer: Both honour a duty even when it is hard, though Rama's sacrifice is far greater.

Memory hook: Keep your word, even when it costs.

Tricks to remember Duty and Dharma: Rama's Exile and Krishna's Teaching

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

R-B-H
Rama obeys, Bharata refuses, Hanuman serves.
Use it when: Duty in the Ramayana.
Doubt, duty, Gita
Arjuna doubts, Krishna teaches.
Use it when: Kurukshetra.

Duty and Dharma: Rama's Exile and Krishna's Teaching: solved examples

Ordered from board level to HOTS. Try each one before you open the solution.

Example 1: Who refuses the throne? · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

Who refuses the throne and rules only as Rama's representative?
(a) Lakshmana (b) Bharata (c) Shatrughna (d) Sugriva

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

He places Rama's sandals on the throne.

Answer: (b) Bharata.

Example 2: The two boons · 2 marks · Short answerBoard level

What two boons does Kaikeyi claim? (2 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Bharata to be crowned (1).
Rama exiled for fourteen years (1).

Answer: That her son Bharata be crowned and that Rama be exiled to the forest for fourteen years.

Example 3: Rama and duty · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

Explain how Rama shows his duty as a son. (3 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Obeys without complaint (1).
Goes into exile (1).
Dasaratha dies of grief (1).

Answer: Rama obeys his father without complaint and goes into exile for fourteen years, even though he was about to be crowned. This shows his duty as a son, though his father dies of grief.

Example 4: Arjuna's doubt · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level

Describe Arjuna's doubt at Kurukshetra and Krishna's role. (4 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Must fight relatives and teachers (1).
Arjuna is overcome by doubt (1).
Krishna is his charioteer (1).
He teaches duty, known as the Bhagavad Gita (1).

Answer: Before the battle Arjuna is overcome by doubt at having to fight relatives and teachers. His charioteer Krishna teaches him about duty, the teaching known as the Bhagavad Gita.

Example 5: Good versus evil · 4 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency

Compare Ravana and Duryodhana as examples of the flaws that lead to downfall. (4 marks)

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Ravana: pride and carrying away Sita (1).
Duryodhana: jealousy of the Pandavas (1).
Both refuse to listen or yield (1).
Both are destroyed (1).

Answer: Ravana's pride leads him to carry away Sita, and Duryodhana's jealousy of the Pandavas leads him to plot and to refuse even five villages. Both are destroyed, showing that pride and jealousy lead to ruin.

Where students lose marks in Duty and Dharma: Rama's Exile and Krishna's Teaching

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

Mistake: Mixing the epics
Each has its own characters.
Wrong working
Hanuman is in the Mahabharata.
Right working
Hanuman is in the Ramayana.
Do this: Separate the two.
Usually costs: 1 mark
Mistake: Wrong numbers
Details are fixed.
Wrong working
Exile for ten years.
Right working
Fourteen years in the Ramayana.
Do this: Learn the numbers.
Usually costs: 1 mark
Mistake: Disrespectful or biased wording
These are sacred texts to many.
Wrong working
Casual jokes.
Right working
Respectful, neutral wording.
Do this: Attribute interpretations.
Usually costs: 2 marks

Exam tips

Use respectful, neutral wording.
Name the epic with each character.
Mention Rajaji as the retelling author.
State the duty and the cost.

Practice questions on Duty and Dharma: Rama's Exile and Krishna's Teaching

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

Q1 · 1 mark · MCQBoard level
Who leaps across the sea to find Sita?
(a) Sugriva (b) Hanuman (c) Lakshmana (d) Bharata
Hint
Devoted follower of Rama.
Answer
(b) Hanuman.
Q2 · 2 marks · Short answerBoard level
Name the five Pandavas. (2 marks)
Hint
Yudhishthira first.
Answer
Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva.
Q3 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level
How does Bharata show loyalty to Rama? (3 marks)
Hint
Sandals.
Answer
Bharata refuses the throne his mother won for him and rules only as Rama's representative, placing Rama's sandals on the throne.
Q4 · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level
What happens in the game of dice, and what are its results? (4 marks)
Hint
Rigged, exile.
Answer
In a rigged game of dice Yudhishthira loses everything, including his brothers, himself and Draupadi, who is humiliated in the court. The Pandavas are exiled for twelve years in the forest and a thirteenth in disguise.
Q5 · 4 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency
The Mahabharata shows that even a just war brings grief. Support this with two points. (4 marks)
Hint
Losses on both sides.
Answer
After eighteen days the Kauravas are destroyed, along with their great commanders, but the Pandavas also lose many of their own, among them Arjuna's son Abhimanyu. Yudhishthira becomes king, but victory brings sorrow at the enormous loss.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

1.Who retold the epics in English?Show answer
C. Rajagopalachari.
2.How many years was Rama exiled?Show answer
Fourteen.
3.Who is the demon king of Lanka?Show answer
Ravana.
4.Who led the Kauravas?Show answer
Duryodhana.
5.Where is the war fought?Show answer
Kurukshetra.
6.Who teaches Arjuna?Show answer
Krishna.

Duty and Dharma: Rama's Exile and Krishna's Teaching: frequently asked questions

Is it prescribed?

No, suggested reading.

Which year was the Mahabharata retelling published?

1951 for the Mahabharata and 1957 for the Ramayana.

Why are the epics retold?

To bring them to ordinary readers, especially the young.