Moralities in ŠHÂHNÂME and MOHÂBHÂRÂT

Abstract

Moralities are some laws in human thoughts which show a way to gain spirituality. Humans always attend spirituality by using moralities because their main concern is perfection anytime and anywhere. Iranian and Indian cultures were close to each other in antiquity and they have had some similarities. Their common origin causes them to be alike in epic so it leads to the literary epic.

The literature is a sign of a nation’s culture and social values. This article investigates two epics Šhâhnâme and Mohâbhârât comparatively from the moral point of view. In this comparison we study many moral similarities and a few differences. The most prominent similarities are celebration of justice, respecting to parents, respecting professor, loyalty of woman, truth, charity, peace, blaming fear, controlling male-female relationships before the marriage, consult and hospitability. Attitudes toward women are so different in these two epics. Disregarding to women is a value in Mohâbhârât whereas it is rejected in Šhâhnâme. Šhâhnâme, as a national document and Iranian identity, and Mohâbhârât, as a great Indian epic , presents transcendent thoughts. Both of them, in their stories, encourage humans to achieve moralities and prevent them from vices.