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Lesson 3 of 6

Dharma: Yudhishthira and the dog

I can explain why Hindus act with compassion towards all living things.

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Lesson 3 of 6
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Dharma: Yudhishthira and the dog

I can explain why Hindus act with compassion towards all living things.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Many Hindu stories help Hindus to answer big philosophical questions.
  2. Dharma is the true essence of any living thing.
  3. Many Hindus see dharma as to act with compassion for all living things.
  4. The story of Yudhishthira and the dog shows the dharmic choice is to act with love for all beings.

Keywords

  • Dharma - the practice of compassion and kindness

  • Essence - the most important quality of a thing

  • Compassion - caring about others and wanting to help

Common misconception

Hindus think that dharma is about caring only for people.

Dharma is about compassion for all living things, not just people.

Encourage children to discuss why they think it's important to look after all living beings.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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4 Questions

Q1.
What sound do Hindus say was at the start of the universe?

Ding
Boom
Correct answer: Aum

Q2.
How do many Hindus describe the Earth?

Correct answer: as a mother
as a mountain
as a playground

Q3.
Why are Hindus and the Save the Soil organisation working to protect soil?

Correct answer: too much land is being cleared for farming
too many animals are digging it
people are building playgrounds on it

Q4.
A is a wise and respected Hindu teacher.

Correct Answer: guru, Guru

Assessment exit quiz

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4 Questions

Q1.
Dharma means acting with kindness for living things.

Correct Answer: all, All

Q2.
What does compassion mean?

Correct answer: caring about others and wanting to help
ignoring people’s problems
only thinking about yourself

Q3.
The story of Yudhishthira shows that is the true way to act with dharma.

Correct Answer: love, Love

Q4.
In what way does Yudhishthira show love, kindness and compassion?

Yudhishthira left the dog behind to go to heaven.
Yudhishthira ignored the dog and accepted the chariot.
Correct answer: Yudhishthira refused to leave the dog and gave up heaven.

Lesson appears in

UnitReligious education / Natural world: what does dharma teach about attitudes to the planet?

Religious education

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