What should I do when two duties clash?

weigh them by scripture, by the example of good people and by a clear conscience — and seek wise counsel.

The Gītā itself begins with a clash of duties: Arjuna's duty to protect justice against his love for family and teachers. The Mahābhārata often says that dharma is subtle, and Bhīṣma's long teaching in the Śānti Parva includes āpad-dharma, what is right in emergencies, when ordinary rules cannot all be kept.

The tradition offers four guides, listed in the Manusmṛti: the Veda, the smṛti texts, sadācāra (the conduct of good people), and what satisfies one's own pure conscience. In practice, ask: which choice causes the least harm? Which keeps my word and protects the vulnerable? What would someone I deeply respect do? Will I be at peace with this in ten years?

Some clashes — a sick parent versus a job abroad, honesty versus a friend's secret — have no perfect answer. Choose sincerely, accept the cost, and keep repairing what you can. If your situation is specific, Ask Chiluka.

Source: Manusmṛti ch. 2; Mahābhārata, Śānti Parva · Āpad-dharma: dharma in emergencies

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