Changes

== Dharma ==

== Dharma ==

Mahabharata which is acclaimed as the मानव कर्तव्य शास्त्र || Manava kartavya sastra, has a discussion of this topic in the form of conversation between Yudhistira and Bhishma thus (Mahabharata Vol 5 Page 323)<ref>Shastri. Pt Ramnarayan. (1955). ''[https://archive.org/stream/Mahabharata04SanskritHindiPanditRamnarayanGitaPress/Mahabharata05_Sanskrit-hindi_panditRamnarayan_gitaPress#page/n321/mode/2up Mahabharata Vol.5].'' Gorakhpur:Gita Press.</ref>,<blockquote>तादृशोऽयमनुप्रश्नो यत्र धर्मः सुदुर्लभः । दुष्करः प्रतिसंख्यातुं तत्केनात्र व्यवस्यति  ॥(Maha. Shanti. 109. 9)</blockquote><blockquote>प्रभावार्थाय भूतानां धर्मप्रवचनं कृतम् । यः स्यात्प्रभवसंयुक्तः स धर्म इति निश्चयः ॥  (Maha. Shanti. 109. 11)</blockquote><blockquote>tādṛśo'yamanupraśno yatra dharmaḥ sudurlabhaḥ | duṣkaraḥ pratisaṃkhyātuṃ tatkenātra vyavasyati || (Maha. Shanti. 109.9)</blockquote><blockquote>prabhāvārthāya bhūtānāṃ dharmapravacanaṃ kṛtam | yaḥ syātprabhavasaṃyuktaḥ sa dharma iti niścayaḥ || (Maha. Shanti. 109.11)</blockquote><blockquote>Meaning : It is most difficult to define Dharma. Dharma has been explained to be that which helps the upliftment of living beings. Therefore, that which helps ensures the welfare of living beings is surely Dharma. The learned rishis have declared that which sustains is Dharma.</blockquote><blockquote>धारणाद् धर्म इत्याहुर्धर्मो धारयते प्रजाः | यत् स्याद् धारणसंयुक्तं स धर्म इति निश्चयः || (Maha. Karna. 69-58)</blockquote><blockquote>dhāraṇād dharma ityāhurdharmo dhārayate prajāḥ | yat syād dhāraṇasaṃyuktaṃ sa dharma iti niścayaḥ || (Maha. Karna. 69-58)</blockquote><blockquote>Meaning : The above verse eulogizes Dharma as follows  Dharma sustains the society, Dharma maintains the social order, Dharma ensures the well being and progress of humanity, Dharma is surely that which fulfills these objectives</blockquote>Therefore, Dharma embraces every type of righteous conduct covering every aspect of life essential for the sustenance and welfare of the individual and society and includes those rules which guide and enable those who believe in God and heaven to attain मोक्ष || moksha (eternal bliss).   

Mahabharata which is acclaimed as the मानव कर्तव्य शास्त्र || Manava kartavya sastra, has a discussion of this topic in the form of conversation between Yudhistira and Bhishma thus (Pt. Ramnarayan's Mahabharata: Volume 4<ref>Shastri. Pt Ramnarayan. (1955). ''[https://archive.org/stream/Mahabharata04SanskritHindiPanditRamnarayanGitaPress/Mahabharata04_Sanskrit-hindi_panditRamnarayan_gitaPress#page/n5/mode/2up Mahabharata Vol.4].'' Gorakhpur:Gita Press.</ref>  and Vol 5 Shanti Parva Page 323)<ref>Shastri. Pt Ramnarayan. (1955). ''[https://archive.org/stream/Mahabharata04SanskritHindiPanditRamnarayanGitaPress/Mahabharata05_Sanskrit-hindi_panditRamnarayan_gitaPress#page/n321/mode/2up Mahabharata Vol.5].'' Gorakhpur:Gita Press.</ref><blockquote>तादृशोऽयमनुप्रश्नो यत्र धर्मः सुदुर्लभः । दुष्करः प्रतिसंख्यातुं तत्केनात्र व्यवस्यति  ॥(Maha. Shanti. 109. 9)</blockquote><blockquote>प्रभावार्थाय भूतानां धर्मप्रवचनं कृतम् । यः स्यात्प्रभवसंयुक्तः स धर्म इति निश्चयः ॥  (Maha. Shanti. 109. 11)</blockquote><blockquote>tādṛśo'yamanupraśno yatra dharmaḥ sudurlabhaḥ | duṣkaraḥ pratisaṃkhyātuṃ tatkenātra vyavasyati || (Maha. Shanti. 109.9)</blockquote><blockquote>prabhāvārthāya bhūtānāṃ dharmapravacanaṃ kṛtam | yaḥ syātprabhavasaṃyuktaḥ sa dharma iti niścayaḥ || (Maha. Shanti. 109.11)</blockquote><blockquote>Meaning : It is most difficult to define Dharma. Dharma has been explained to be that which helps the upliftment of living beings. Therefore, that which helps ensures the welfare of living beings is surely Dharma. The learned rishis have declared that which sustains is Dharma.</blockquote><blockquote>धारणाद् धर्म इत्याहुर्धर्मो धारयते प्रजाः | यत् स्याद् धारणसंयुक्तं स धर्म इति निश्चयः || (Maha. Karna. 69-58)</blockquote><blockquote>dhāraṇād dharma ityāhurdharmo dhārayate prajāḥ | yat syād dhāraṇasaṃyuktaṃ sa dharma iti niścayaḥ || (Maha. Karna. 69-58)</blockquote><blockquote>Meaning : The above verse eulogizes Dharma as follows  Dharma sustains the society, Dharma maintains the social order, Dharma ensures the well being and progress of humanity, Dharma is surely that which fulfills these objectives</blockquote>Therefore, Dharma embraces every type of righteous conduct covering every aspect of life essential for the sustenance and welfare of the individual and society and includes those rules which guide and enable those who believe in God and heaven to attain मोक्ष || moksha (eternal bliss).   

The necessity of scrupulous practice of Dharma is forcefully expressed in Manusmriti thus:<blockquote>धर्म एव हतो हन्ति धर्मो रक्षति रक्षितः | तस्माध्दर्मो न हन्तव्यो मा नो धर्मो हतोऽवधीत्  || (Manu 6-11-15)<ref name=":1" /></blockquote><blockquote>dharma eva hato hanti dharmo rakṣati rakṣitaḥ | tasmādhdarmo na hantavyo mā no dharmo hato'vadhīt || (Manu 6-11-15)</blockquote><blockquote>Meaning : Dharma protects those who protect it. Those who destroy Dharma get destroyed. Therefore, Dharma should not be destroyed so that we may not be destroyed as a consequence thereof.</blockquote>

The necessity of scrupulous practice of Dharma is forcefully expressed in Manusmriti thus:<blockquote>धर्म एव हतो हन्ति धर्मो रक्षति रक्षितः | तस्माध्दर्मो न हन्तव्यो मा नो धर्मो हतोऽवधीत्  || (Manu 6-11-15)<ref name=":1" /></blockquote><blockquote>dharma eva hato hanti dharmo rakṣati rakṣitaḥ | tasmādhdarmo na hantavyo mā no dharmo hato'vadhīt || (Manu 6-11-15)</blockquote><blockquote>Meaning : Dharma protects those who protect it. Those who destroy Dharma get destroyed. Therefore, Dharma should not be destroyed so that we may not be destroyed as a consequence thereof.</blockquote>