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Hinduism Debunked
Table of contents
  1. Vedas
  2. Bhagavad Gita
  3. Ramayana
  4. Mahabharata
  5. Upanishads
  6. Puranas
  7. Manusmriti

Comments

Vedas

Bhagavad Gita

BG 4.7-8

Translations:

Besant: Whenever there is decay of righteousness, O BhĂąrata, and there is exaltation of unrighteousness, then I Myself come forth; For the protection of the good, for the destruction of evil-doers, for the sake of firmly establishing righteousness, I am born from age to age.

Comment: This makes destruction of “evil-doers” part of divine mission, which can sanctify violence when opponents are labeled evil.

BG 2.31

Translations:

Besant: Looking to thine own duty thou shouldst not tremble, for there is no greater good for a Kshattriya than righteous war.

As It Is: Considering your specific duty as a káčŁatriya, you should know that there is no better engagement for you than fighting on religious principles; and so there is no need for hesitation.

Comment: This verse moralizes war as sacred duty and pressures people to fight based on class duty rather than human empathy. Besant’s “righteous war” and As It Is “fighting on religious principles” differ in phrasing, but not in core meaning.

BG 2.37

Translations:

Besant: Slain, thou gainest heaven; victorious, thou enjoyest the earth; therefore stand up, O son of KuntĂź, resolved to fight.

As It Is: O son of Kuntī, either you will be killed on the battlefield and attain the heavenly planets, or you will conquer and enjoy the earthly kingdom. Therefore, get up and fight with determination.

Comment: It frames both killing and dying as desirable outcomes, which can normalize violence instead of minimizing harm.

BG 2.38

Translations:

Besant: Holding pleasure and pain, gain and loss, victory and defeat as equal, then prepare for battle, and thus thou shalt not incur sin.

As It Is: Do thou fight for the sake of fighting, without considering happiness or distress, loss or gain, victory or defeat — and by so doing you shall never incur sin.

Comment: This attempts to remove moral guilt from warfare by changing mindset, which is ethically dangerous.

Ramayana

Mahabharata

Upanishads

Puranas

Manusmriti

Source: sacred-texts.com/hin/manu.htm

MS VIII.270

A once-born man (a Sudra), who insults a twice-born man with gross invective, shall have his tongue cut out; for he is of low origin.

MS VIII.271

If he mentions the names and castes (gati) of the (twice-born) with contumely, an iron nail, ten fingers long, shall be thrust red-hot into his mouth.

MS VIII.272

If a once-born man (a Sudra), arrogantly teaches Brahmanas their duty, the king shall cause hot oil to be poured into his mouth and into his ears.

MS VIII.374

A Sudra who has intercourse with a woman of a twice-born caste (varna), guarded or unguarded, (shall be punished in the following manner): if she was unguarded, he loses the part (offending) and all his property; if she was guarded, everything (even his life).

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