Examines dharma as a means to deepen investigation of early interactions between Buddhism and classical Brahmanical Hinduism
Treats the relation between legal texts on dharma and the treatment of dharma in the literary -including but not limited to epic -traditions as never before
Breaks new ground in study of dharma over time

1. Introduction A. Classical Dharma Texts and Their Relative Dating B. Three Critical Editions C. Paradigm Shifts on Dharma : The Case of the Mahabharata D. Chapter by Chapter 2. Asoka Maurya A. Asoka's Inscriptions B. A Comprehensive Dha?ma 3. A Vedic History of Dharma A. Dhárman in Early and Later R?gvedic Usages B. Dhárman as Enigma C. Dhárman and ?gvedic Kingship D. Mantra Period and Later Sa?hita Usages E. The Brahman?as F. The Upanis?ads 4. Early Buddhism: Three Baskets of Dharma A. Sutra Basket Dharma B. Abhidharma Basket Dharma C. Vinaya Basket Dharma 5. Post-Vedic Brahmanical Dharma A. Vedic Schools and the Dharmasutras B. Toward Consensus in Brahmanical Dharma Texts C. What's New with Manu D. Brahma in Manu's Frame Narrative E. Varn?a (Caste), Asrama (Life Pattern), the King, Sudras, and Women F. Rajadharma: Establishing a King's Dharma G. A Day in a King's Life 6. Dharma over Time, I: Big Time Dharma A. Kalpas and Yugas B. Buddhist and Hindu Kalpas C. Originary Dharma in the Mahabharata D. Kalpas, Manvantaras, and Yugas in Manu and the Mahabharata 7. Dharma over Time, II: Prophesies of Disaster A. The Yuga Puran?a B. Variations on the Debacle at Kausambi C. The Yuga Puran?a and the Kausambi Myth 8. Women's Dharma : Sastric Norms and Epic Narratives A. Str?dharma B. The Law of the Mother C. Mother Ga?ga D. Mother Kali Satyavati E. The Transitional "Three Mothers" F. Mothers Kunti and Gandhari G. Kunti, Madri, and Pa?d?u among the Hundred Peak Mountain R?s?is H. Settling Mother Kunti and Her Sons Back at Hastinapura I. Conclusions 9. Two Dharma Biographies? Rama and Yudhi??hira A. The Royal Life as Adventure B. Frames and Frontmatter on Rama, Yudhis?t?hira, and Dharma C. Sidestories and Subtales, Foregrounding and Legal Precedent D. Monstrous Encounters E. Questionable Killings: Valin and Dro?a F. Rama and Yudhi??hira: Some Comparative Points 10. Draupadi and Sita: Dharmapatnis of Two Different Kinds A. Family Background, Birth, and Childhood B. Marriage, Divine Plan, Early Signs of Trouble C. Sita and Draupadi on Their Svadharma D. Captivity and Exile 11. Dharma and the Bhagavad Gita A. Svadharma and Svakarma: Qualities, Merits, and Virtues B. Who Has Svadharma C. Manu and the Bhagavad Gita : Two Kinds of Karmayoga D. Where Kr?s?n?a Is There Is Dharma E. Dharma Rings in the Bhagavad Gita Proper 12. Dharma and Bhakti A. Mapping the Divine Plans B. The Placer and the Ordainer C. "Avatara" D. Friendship, Hospitality, and Separation E. R?s?idharma F. Rama and Kr?s?n?a as Guests, Hosts, and Friends 13. Asvagho?a's Buddhacarita: A Buddhist Reading of the Sanskrit Epics and Their Treatments of Dharma A. Asvaghos?a's Buddhacarita B. The Centrality of Dharma in Asvaghos?a's Buddhacarita C. Asvaghos?a the Brahmin, Buddhist Convert, and Scholar D. Asvaghos?a and Epic Precedents E. The Buddhacarita and the Ramayan?a F. The Buddhacarita and the Mahabharata G. Postscript on Asoka