From the Mahbhrata

Arjuna says:

Thus, if we slay
Kinsfolk and friends for love of earthly power,
Ahovat! what an evil fault it were!
Better I deem it, if my kinsmen strike,
To face them weaponless, and bare my breast
To shaft and spear, than answer blow with blow.

So speaking, in the face of those two hosts,
Arjuna sank upon his chariot-seat,
And let fall bow and arrows, sick at heart.

Krishna replies:

No man shall ‘scape from act
By shunning action; nay, and none shall come
By mere renouncements unto perfectness.
Nay, and no jot of time, at any time,
Rests any actionless; his nature’s law
Compels him, even unwilling, into act;
[For thought is act in fancy]. He who sits
Suppressing all the instruments of flesh,
Yet in his idle heart thinking on them,
Plays the inept and guilty hypocrite:
But he who, with strong body serving mind,
Gives up his mortal powers to worthy work,
Not seeking gain, Arjuna! such an one
Is honourable. Do thine allotted task!
Work is more excellent than idleness;
The body’s life proceeds not, lacking work.
There is a task of holiness to do,
Unlike world-binding toil, which bindeth not
The faithful soul; such earthly duty do
Free from desire, and thou shalt well perform                                                                                                                                Thy heavenly purpose.

From the Ramayana

Rama says

Calm and unmoved by threatened woe
The noble conqueror of the foe
Answered the cruel words she spoke,
Nor quailed beneath the murderous stroke

Yea, for my father’s promise sake
I to the wood my way will take,
And dwell a lonely exile there
In hermit dress with matted hair.
One thing alone I fain would learn,
Why is the king this day so stern?
Why is the scourge of foes so cold,
Nor gives me greeting as of old?
Now let not anger flush thy cheek:
Before thy face the truth I speak,
In hermit’s coat with matted hair
To the wild wood will I repair.
How can I fail his will to do,
Friend, master, grateful sovereign too?
One only pang consumes my breast.
That his own lips have not expressed
His will, nor made his longing known
That Bharat should ascend the throne.

To Bharat I would yield my wife,
My realm and wealth, mine own dear life,
Unasked I fain would yield them all:
More gladly at my father’s call,
More gladly when the gift may free
His honour and bring joy to thee.
Thus, lady, his sad heart release
From the sore shame, and give him peace.
But tell me, O, I pray thee, why
The lord of men, with downcast eye,
Lies prostrate thus, and one by one
Down his pale cheek the tear-drops run.
Let couriers to thy father speed
On horses of the swiftest breed,
And, by the mandate of the king,
Thy Bharat to his presence bring.
My father’s words I will not stay
To question, but this very day
To Dandak’s pathless wild will fare.

TEIRESIAS
                                                Creon is no threat.
      You have made this trouble on your own.

OEDIPUS
      O wealth and ruling power, skill after skill                                                    [380]
      surpassing all in life’s rich rivalries,
      how much envy you must carry with you,
      if, for this kingly office—which the city                                              460
      gave me, for I did not seek it out—
      Creon, my old trusted family friend,
      has secretly conspired to overthrow me
      and paid off a double-dealing quack like this,
      a crafty bogus priest, who can only see
      his own advantage, who in his special art
      is absolutely blind. Come on, tell me                                                              [390]
      how you have ever given evidence
      of your wise prophecy. When the Sphinx,
      that singing bitch, was here, you said nothing                                   470
      to set the people free. Why not? Her riddle
      was not something the first man to stroll along
      could solve—a prophet was required. And there
      the people saw your knowledge was no use—
      nothing from birds or picked up from the gods.
      But then I came, Oedipus, who knew nothing.
      Yet I finished her off, using my wits
      rather than relying on birds. That’s the man
      you want to overthrow, hoping, no doubt,
      to stand up there with Creon, once he’s king.                                              480       [400]
      But I think you and your conspirator in this
      will regret trying to drive me from the state.
      If you did not look so old, you’d find out
      the punishment your arrogance deserves