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Inculcating these values is capable of giving rise to better individuals, lead a simple but better family life; helps in securing a better national life and environment, ensuring happiness to Humanity as also to all living beings. And comes across as a long range solution for all the problems of the World.

Inculcating these values is capable of giving rise to better individuals, lead a simple but better family life; helps in securing a better national life and environment, ensuring happiness to Humanity as also to all living beings. And comes across as a long range solution for all the problems of the World.

== धर्मसंस्कारः || Inculcation of Dharma<ref name=":3" /> ==

== धर्मसंस्कारः || Inculcation of Dharma ==

The mere knowledge of the rules of Dharma, however, does not make a man 'Dharmishta' i.e. a man acting always in conformity with Dharma. Therefore, Dharma has to be ingrained in the mind of every individual from childhood. Just as triple antigen for giving immunity to the body against dreaded disease has to be administered to a young child, for giving immunity to the mind against immoral thoughts, Dharma - the antigen has to be administered to the mind of an individual as part of education. It is a slow but a sure process. This process was called '[[Samskaras (संस्काराः)|Samskara]]'.

The mere knowledge of the rules of Dharma, however, does not make a man 'Dharmishta' i.e. a man acting always in conformity with Dharma. Therefore, Dharma has to be ingrained in the mind of every individual from childhood. Just as triple antigen for giving immunity to the body against dreaded disease has to be administered to a young child, for giving immunity to the mind against immoral thoughts, Dharma - the antigen has to be administered to the mind of an individual as part of education. It is a slow but a sure process. This process was called '[[Samskaras (संस्काराः)|Samskara]]'.

[[Adi Shankaracharya (आदिशङ्कराचार्यः)|Adi Shankaracharya]] in his commentary on the [[Vedanta (वेदान्तः)|Vedanta]] Sutra has explained this process thus:-<blockquote>संस्कारो हि नाम गुणाधानेन वा स्याद् दोषापनयनेन वा ।{{Citation needed}} </blockquote><blockquote>''saṁskāro hi nāma guṇādhānena vā syād doṣāpanayanena vā ।''</blockquote>Thus, when knowledge of rules of Dharma and of Dharma abiding nature is ingrained in the mind of an individual, it acts as antigen against the six enemies inherent in him and always makes him conform to dharma. That is why 'Dharma' is given the pride of place by our ancestors. This aspect is declared in Mahanarayanopanishat Section 79-7 thus:-<blockquote>धर्मो विश्वस्य जगतः प्रतिष्ठा । लोके धर्मिष्ठं प्रजा उपसर्पन्ति । धर्मेण पापमपनुदति । धर्मे सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम् । तस्माद्धर्मं परमं वदन्ति ।<ref>[https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D Mahanarayanopanishad].</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''dharmo viśvasya jagataḥ pratiṣṭhā । loke dharmiṣṭhaṁ prajā upasarpanti । dharmeṇa pāpamapanudati । dharme sarvaṁ pratiṣṭhitam । tasmāddharmaṁ paramaṁ vadanti ।''</blockquote>Meaning : Dharma constitutes the foundation of all affairs in the World. People respect those who adhere to Dharma. Dharma insulates (man) against immoral thoughts. Everything in this world is founded on Dharma. Dharma therefore, is considered supreme.

[[Adi Shankaracharya (आदिशङ्कराचार्यः)|Adi Shankaracharya]] in his commentary on the [[Vedanta (वेदान्तः)|Vedanta]] Sutra has explained this process thus:-<blockquote>संस्कारो हि नाम गुणाधानेन वा स्याद् दोषापनयनेन वा ।{{Citation needed}} </blockquote><blockquote>''saṁskāro hi nāma guṇādhānena vā syād doṣāpanayanena vā ।''</blockquote>Thus, when knowledge of rules of Dharma and of Dharma abiding nature is ingrained in the mind of an individual, it acts as antigen against the six enemies inherent in him and always makes him conform to dharma. That is why 'Dharma' is given the pride of place by our ancestors. This aspect is declared in Mahanarayanopanishat thus,<ref name=":3" /><blockquote>धर्मो विश्वस्य जगतः प्रतिष्ठा । लोके धर्मिष्ठं प्रजा उपसर्पन्ति । धर्मेण पापमपनुदति । धर्मे सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम् । तस्माद्धर्मं परमं वदन्ति ।79.7|<ref>[https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D Mahanarayanopanishad].</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''dharmo viśvasya jagataḥ pratiṣṭhā । loke dharmiṣṭhaṁ prajā upasarpanti । dharmeṇa pāpamapanudati । dharme sarvaṁ pratiṣṭhitam । tasmāddharmaṁ paramaṁ vadanti ।''</blockquote>Meaning : Dharma constitutes the foundation of all affairs in the World. People respect those who adhere to Dharma. Dharma insulates (man) against immoral thoughts. Everything in this world is founded on Dharma. Dharma therefore, is considered supreme.

The role of Dharma is that, it acts as an internal check, a preventive against immoral actions as it destroys the very cause of such actions, namely immoral thoughts.

The role of Dharma is that, it acts as an internal check, a preventive against immoral actions as it destroys the very cause of such actions, namely immoral thoughts.

To put it in a nutshell, the power of law is to punish those who commit offences after the acts, if only they are caught and evidence is available. It is punitive in nature. But "Dharma" has the power to prevent a man from committing an offence by acting as an antigen against the six enemies inherent in every man. It is preventive. Therefore, it can rightly be described as the six antigen for the mind which gives immunity against immoral thoughts arising on account of the instigation of one or more of the six inherent enemies (arishadwarga).

To put it in a nutshell, the power of law is to punish those who commit offences after the acts, if only they are caught and evidence is available. It is punitive in nature. But "Dharma" has the power to prevent a man from committing an offence by acting as an antigen against the six enemies inherent in every man. It is preventive. Therefore, it can rightly be described as the six antigen for the mind which gives immunity against immoral thoughts arising on account of the instigation of one or more of the six inherent enemies (arishadwarga).<ref name=":3" />

== धर्मनिष्ठायाः प्रयोजनं महत्त्वं च || Need and Importance of Adhering to Dharma ==

== धर्मनिष्ठायाः प्रयोजनं महत्त्वं च || Need and Importance of Adhering to Dharma ==

Ultimately in this ephemeral world, what survives for an individual is the Dharma practiced by him during his life time and not anything or anyone else. Therefore, everyone should conform to Dharma in day to day life. This aspect is indicated in Manusmrti as follows:<ref name=":3" /><blockquote>नामुत्र हि सहायार्थं पिता माता च तिष्ठतः । न पुत्रदारं न ज्ञातिर्धर्मस्तिष्ठति केवलः । । ४.२३९ । ।</blockquote><blockquote>एकः प्रजायते जन्तुरेक एव प्रलीयते । एकोऽनुभुङ्क्ते सुकृतं एक एव च दुष्कृतम् । । ४.२४० । ।<ref name=":2">Manusmrti, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A5%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 4].</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''nāmutra hi sahāyārthaṁ pitā mātā ca tiṣṭhataḥ । na putradāraṁ na jñātirdharmastiṣṭhati kevalaḥ । । 4.239 । ।''</blockquote><blockquote>''ekaḥ prajāyate jantureka eva pralīyate । eko'nubhuṅkte sukr̥taṁ eka eva ca duṣkr̥tam । । 4.240 । ।''</blockquote>Meaning: When one departs from this world to the other World, neither father nor mother, neither son nor wife will accompany him. Only the "Dharma" practiced by an individual follows him even after death. A person takes birth alone and dies alone, (thereby) he alone enjoys or suffers the consequences of his evil deeds. Similarly,<ref name=":3" /> <blockquote>मृतं शरीरं उत्सृज्य काष्ठलोष्टसमं क्षितौ । विमुखा बान्धवा यान्ति धर्मस्तं अनुगच्छति । । ४.२४१ । ।</blockquote><blockquote>तस्माद्धर्मं सहायार्थं नित्यं संचिनुयाच्छनैः । धर्मेण हि सहायेन तमस्तरति दुस्तरम् । । ४.२४२ । ।<ref name=":2" /></blockquote><blockquote>''mr̥taṁ śarīraṁ utsr̥jya kāṣṭhaloṣṭasamaṁ kṣitau । vimukhā bāndhavā yānti dharmastaṁ anugacchati । । 4.241 । ।''</blockquote><blockquote>''tasmāddharmaṁ sahāyārthaṁ nityaṁ saṁcinuyācchanaiḥ । dharmeṇa hi sahāyena tamastarati dustaram । । 4.242 । ।''</blockquote>Meaning: Once a person dies, his relatives cremate the body and leave for home. Only the Dharma performed by him during his life time remains with him. Therefore, it is essential that a person should conform to Dharma during his life time.

Ultimately in this ephemeral world, what survives for an individual is the Dharma practiced by him during his life time and not anything or anyone else. Therefore, everyone should conform to Dharma in day to day life. This aspect is indicated in Manusmrti as follows:<ref name=":3" /><blockquote>नामुत्र हि सहायार्थं पिता माता च तिष्ठतः । न पुत्रदारं न ज्ञातिर्धर्मस्तिष्ठति केवलः । । ४.२३९ । ।</blockquote><blockquote>एकः प्रजायते जन्तुरेक एव प्रलीयते । एकोऽनुभुङ्क्ते सुकृतं एक एव च दुष्कृतम् । । ४.२४० । ।<ref name=":2">Manusmrti, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A5%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 4].</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''nāmutra hi sahāyārthaṁ pitā mātā ca tiṣṭhataḥ । na putradāraṁ na jñātirdharmastiṣṭhati kevalaḥ । । 4.239 । ।''</blockquote><blockquote>''ekaḥ prajāyate jantureka eva pralīyate । eko'nubhuṅkte sukr̥taṁ eka eva ca duṣkr̥tam । । 4.240 । ।''</blockquote>Meaning: When one departs from this world to the other World, neither father nor mother, neither son nor wife will accompany him. Only the "Dharma" practiced by an individual follows him even after death. A person takes birth alone and dies alone, (thereby) he alone enjoys or suffers the consequences of his evil deeds. Similarly,<ref name=":3" /> <blockquote>मृतं शरीरं उत्सृज्य काष्ठलोष्टसमं क्षितौ । विमुखा बान्धवा यान्ति धर्मस्तं अनुगच्छति । । ४.२४१ । ।</blockquote><blockquote>तस्माद्धर्मं सहायार्थं नित्यं संचिनुयाच्छनैः । धर्मेण हि सहायेन तमस्तरति दुस्तरम् । । ४.२४२ । ।<ref name=":2" /></blockquote><blockquote>''mr̥taṁ śarīraṁ utsr̥jya kāṣṭhaloṣṭasamaṁ kṣitau । vimukhā bāndhavā yānti dharmastaṁ anugacchati । । 4.241 । ।''</blockquote><blockquote>''tasmāddharmaṁ sahāyārthaṁ nityaṁ saṁcinuyācchanaiḥ । dharmeṇa hi sahāyena tamastarati dustaram । । 4.242 । ।''</blockquote>Meaning: Once a person dies, his relatives cremate the body and leave for home. Only the Dharma performed by him during his life time remains with him. Therefore, it is essential that a person should conform to Dharma during his life time.