Justification of Death: Analyzing through Moksadharma

Abstract

The birth story of Death in Mahabharata actually tells us of the necessity of destruction. The story begins with Brahma being angry for not being able to find a solution to Earth’s suffering that arises due to burden imposed 
on her by over population of creatures. Brahma’s anger starts destroying living creatures. Seeing destruction of living creatures Stahnu appears who requests Brahma to end the annihilation. Brahma suppresses his anger and 
from this suppressed anger Death is born. Brahma tells Death to destroy living creatures which she refuses to do for fear of incurring curse of creatures. To this Brahma tells her that in her dharma will reside as she will act equally towards every creature while bringing death to them. My paper is an attempt to understand justification of destruction and also to enquire what it is that gives something the status of dharma.