DHARMA STORIES · CHARACTER IN ACTION
Stories that help goodness become courage
5,100 stories about truthfulness, fearlessness, compassion, service, generosity, helpful thoughts and conduct that protects others.
5,100 stories found · Page 1 of 213
King Harishchandra and the cost of truth — honesty lens
Harishchandra refuses to abandon truth even when power, wealth and comfort disappear.
Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa; also developed in later retellingsRead the complete story →0002 · CourageTraditional retellingKing Harishchandra and the cost of truth — courage lens
Harishchandra refuses to abandon truth even when power, wealth and comfort disappear.
Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa; also developed in later retellingsRead the complete story →0003 · ServiceTraditional retellingKing Harishchandra and the cost of truth — service lens
Harishchandra refuses to abandon truth even when power, wealth and comfort disappear.
Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa; also developed in later retellingsRead the complete story →0004 · HonestyTraditional retellingNachiketa before Yama — honesty lens
A young seeker keeps his word, faces death without panic, and asks for knowledge rather than luxury.
Kaṭha UpaniṣadRead the complete story →0005 · CourageTraditional retellingNachiketa before Yama — courage lens
A young seeker keeps his word, faces death without panic, and asks for knowledge rather than luxury.
Kaṭha UpaniṣadRead the complete story →0006 · ServiceTraditional retellingNachiketa before Yama — service lens
A young seeker keeps his word, faces death without panic, and asks for knowledge rather than luxury.
Kaṭha UpaniṣadRead the complete story →0007 · HonestyTraditional retellingSatyakāma tells the whole truth — honesty lens
Satyakāma openly admits that he does not know his lineage; his honesty reveals his fitness for sacred learning.
Chāndogya Upaniṣad 4Read the complete story →0008 · CourageTraditional retellingSatyakāma tells the whole truth — courage lens
Satyakāma openly admits that he does not know his lineage; his honesty reveals his fitness for sacred learning.
Chāndogya Upaniṣad 4Read the complete story →0009 · ServiceTraditional retellingSatyakāma tells the whole truth — service lens
Satyakāma openly admits that he does not know his lineage; his honesty reveals his fitness for sacred learning.
Chāndogya Upaniṣad 4Read the complete story →0010 · HonestyTraditional retellingKing Śibi protects the dove — honesty lens
Śibi accepts personal loss rather than surrender a frightened being that has sought refuge.
Mahābhārata, Vana Parva; related traditional versionsRead the complete story →0011 · CourageTraditional retellingKing Śibi protects the dove — courage lens
Śibi accepts personal loss rather than surrender a frightened being that has sought refuge.
Mahābhārata, Vana Parva; related traditional versionsRead the complete story →0012 · ServiceTraditional retellingKing Śibi protects the dove — service lens
Śibi accepts personal loss rather than surrender a frightened being that has sought refuge.
Mahābhārata, Vana Parva; related traditional versionsRead the complete story →0013 · HonestyTraditional retellingRantideva shares his final meal — honesty lens
Though hungry and exhausted, Rantideva sees the suffering before him and shares what little remains.
Bhāgavata Purāṇa 9Read the complete story →0014 · CourageTraditional retellingRantideva shares his final meal — courage lens
Though hungry and exhausted, Rantideva sees the suffering before him and shares what little remains.
Bhāgavata Purāṇa 9Read the complete story →0015 · ServiceTraditional retellingRantideva shares his final meal — service lens
Though hungry and exhausted, Rantideva sees the suffering before him and shares what little remains.
Bhāgavata Purāṇa 9Read the complete story →0016 · HonestyTraditional retellingSudāmā visits Kṛṣṇa — honesty lens
A poor friend approaches without entitlement; friendship answers him with dignity rather than humiliation.
Bhāgavata Purāṇa 10Read the complete story →0017 · CourageTraditional retellingSudāmā visits Kṛṣṇa — courage lens
A poor friend approaches without entitlement; friendship answers him with dignity rather than humiliation.
Bhāgavata Purāṇa 10Read the complete story →0018 · ServiceTraditional retellingSudāmā visits Kṛṣṇa — service lens
A poor friend approaches without entitlement; friendship answers him with dignity rather than humiliation.
Bhāgavata Purāṇa 10Read the complete story →0019 · HonestyTraditional retellingŚabarī's patient welcome — honesty lens
Śabarī sustains humble service and patient devotion until Rāma reaches her forest dwelling.
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Araṇya Kāṇḍa; later devotional retellings add detailsRead the complete story →0020 · CourageTraditional retellingŚabarī's patient welcome — courage lens
Śabarī sustains humble service and patient devotion until Rāma reaches her forest dwelling.
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Araṇya Kāṇḍa; later devotional retellings add detailsRead the complete story →0021 · ServiceTraditional retellingŚabarī's patient welcome — service lens
Śabarī sustains humble service and patient devotion until Rāma reaches her forest dwelling.
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Araṇya Kāṇḍa; later devotional retellings add detailsRead the complete story →0022 · HonestyTraditional retellingHanumān remembers his strength — honesty lens
When the task seems impossible, wise encouragement helps Hanumān recover disciplined confidence and cross the ocean.
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Sundara KāṇḍaRead the complete story →0023 · CourageTraditional retellingHanumān remembers his strength — courage lens
When the task seems impossible, wise encouragement helps Hanumān recover disciplined confidence and cross the ocean.
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Sundara KāṇḍaRead the complete story →0024 · ServiceTraditional retellingHanumān remembers his strength — service lens
When the task seems impossible, wise encouragement helps Hanumān recover disciplined confidence and cross the ocean.
Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Sundara KāṇḍaRead the complete story →