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Also, as every individual has the pious obligation to acquire, and disseminate knowledge, it follows that the right to education as well as the right to impart education constitutes the most valuable fundamental right.

Also, as every individual has the pious obligation to acquire, and disseminate knowledge, it follows that the right to education as well as the right to impart education constitutes the most valuable fundamental right.

== मानवऋणम् || Manavaruna ==

== मानवऋणम् || Manava Rna ==

<nowiki>:</nowiki> Obligation towards Humanity

Manava Rna refers to obligation towards humanity. It stands to the great credit of Maharshi Vyasa that he considered that the three pious obligations on the part of every individuals laid down in the Vedas required to be supplemented by the fourth, the Manavaruna, to make the obligation of individuals to society full and complete. Maharshi Vyasa declared that discharging every kind of social obligation to society forms part of the fourth pious obligation. This pious obligation is of great importance and covers every field of human activity. In fact, it is in the discharge of this obligation, that many individuals have rendered yeoman service and have spent considerable part of their wealth for innumerable kinds of social welfare schemes or projects or institutions since time immemorial and continue to do so.

It is on account of this fourth pious obligation, that it is stated that 'Service to Humanity is Service to Divinity'. In fact this obligation supplements the first obligation namely discharging Deva Rna. After all, every human being and every living being is an incarnation of the Supreme and therefore serving living beings is equal to serving the Supreme Being and, therefore, it constitutes a pious obligation and was so declared by Maharshi Vyasa.  

It is on account of this fourth pious obligation, that it is stated that 'Service to Humanity is Service to Divinity'. In fact this obligation supplements the first obligation namely discharging Devaruna. After all every human being and every living being is an incarnation of God and therefore serving living beings is equal to serving God and, therefore, it constitutes a pious obligation and was so declared by Vyasa. It is this aspect which has been highlighted by Swami Vivekananda in the following words:-<blockquote>''So long as that millions live in hunger and ignorance, I hold educated man a traitor who, having been educated at their expense, pays not the least heed to them.''</blockquote>As rightly stated by Swami Vivekananda every individual who has secured all kinds of help from Society and who has secured education through educational institutions established by the society is under an obligation to serve them. If an individual, after securing education from the institutions established by society did not care for them and fails to use his knowledge in the service of society and uses it for making illegitimate wealth or profit, it is a clear instance of ingratitude and abuse of knowledge and therefore Vivekananda indicted such individuals as traitors, very rightly.

 

A few illustrations as to how the fourth pious obligation can be discharged are:

Swami Vivekananda highlights this aspect and states that every individual who has secured all kinds of help from Society and who has secured education through educational institutions established by the society is under an obligation to serve them. If an individual, after securing education from the institutions established by society did not care for them and fails to use his knowledge in the service of society and uses it for making illegitimate wealth or profit, it is a clear instance of ingratitude and abuse of knowledge.

# Construction of wells or tanks to secure drinking water to the public in general.  

 

A few illustrations as to how the fourth pious obligation can be discharged are,

# Construction of wells or tanks to secure drinking water for the public in general.  

# Construction of water turfs at public places and on the roadside for the benefit of travellers and for animals.  

# Construction of water turfs at public places and on the roadside for the benefit of travellers and for animals.  

# Planting of trees on both sides of roads to provide shade or shelter to the travelling public.  

# Planting of trees on both sides of roads to provide shade or shelter to the travelling public.  

# Construction of [[Dharma Shalas]] in towns and villages and more particularly at places of Pilgrimages for the use of pilgrims and travellers.  

# Construction of Dharma Shalas in towns and villages and more particularly at places of Pilgrimages for the use of pilgrims and travellers.  

# Construction of hospitals for human beings, animals and birds as well as donations for construction of Hospitals or to hospitals already established.  

# Construction of hospitals for human beings, animals and birds as well as donations for construction of Hospitals or to hospitals already established.  

# Construction of buildings for educational institutions, hostels etc.  

# Construction of buildings for educational institutions, hostels etc.  

# Establishing goshalas to look after cows and bullocks in their old age  

# Establishing goshalas to look after cows and bullocks in their old age.

# Establishing public trusts and/or endowment for any public cause.

# Establishing public trusts and/or endowment for any public cause.

The above are only illustrative and not exhaustive. There are innumerable ways in which an individual can discharge the fourth pious obligation of Manavaruna. It is very large and ever expanding.

The above are only illustrative and not exhaustive. There are innumerable ways in which an individual can discharge the fourth pious obligation of Manava Rna. It is very large and ever expanding. It is on account of this pious obligation, Seva and Tyaga have become the National Ideals of Bharata.  

It is on account of this pious obligation, Service and Sacrifice ([[Seva]] and [[Tyaga]]) have become our National Ideals. Everyone of the laws laid down in ancient India was meant to give effect to the pious obligations. Highlighting this aspect K.L. Sarkar stated thus:-<blockquote>''In interpreting texts relating to the duties and rights of the Hindus, these principles must always be kept in view, and it should be presumed that all the texts are more or less intended to promote these three classes of duties.''</blockquote><blockquote>''The civil law of the Hindus is at every step marked with the influence of the three-debt obligation. Matters of right and status are mixed up with the debt to the gods., viz., that of sacrifice. Privileges are unsparingly conferred on men of learning. Gifts to them are praised as being acts of the greatest merit.''</blockquote><blockquote>''Therefore it is clear that whenever two constructions of a text are possible, one tending to the discharge of one or other of the three debts, and the other inconsistent with such discharge, the former construction is to be adopted and not the later.''</blockquote>In order to impress upon every individual as to how he should conduct himself, at the end of Shikshavalli, (Ch. 1, Lesson-11 ) advice is given to the outgoing students.

 

Excerpts from it are reproduced below, which give an idea about the good conduct expected from them throughout their life.<blockquote>सत्यं वद | धर्मं चर | सत्यान्न प्रमदितव्यम् | धर्मान्न प्रमदितव्यम् |</blockquote><blockquote>मातृदेवो भव | पितृदेवो भव | आचार्यदोवो भव | अतिथिदेवो भव</blockquote><blockquote>यान्यनवद्यानि कर्माणि | तानि सेवितव्यानि | नो इतराणि |</blockquote><blockquote>एष आदेश: | एष उपदेश: एतदनुशासनम् | (Taittiriyopanishad)</blockquote><blockquote>''satyaṁ vada | dharmaṁ cara | satyānna pramaditavyam | dharmānna pramaditavyam |''</blockquote><blockquote>''mātr̥devo bhava | pitr̥devo bhava | ācāryadovo bhava | atithidevo bhava |''</blockquote><blockquote>''yānyanavadyāni karmāṇi | tāni sevitavyāni | no itarāṇi |''</blockquote><blockquote>''eṣa ādeśa: | eṣa upadeśa: etadanuśāsanam | (Taittiriyopanishad)''</blockquote>Meaning: Speak the truth; follow the prescribed conduct; Do not fail to pay attention to truth; Never fail to perform duty Do not disregard what is proper and good Treat your Mother, Father and Teacher as equal to God So also, treat your guest as God Those acts that are irreproachable alone are to be performed, and not those that are forbidden This is the directive. This is the advice. This is the discipline to be observed throughout life.

Everyone of the laws laid down in ancient Bharata was meant to give effect to the pious obligations. Highlighting this aspect K.L. Sarkar stated thus,<blockquote>''In interpreting texts relating to the duties and rights of the Hindus, these principles must always be kept in view, and it should be presumed that all the texts are more or less intended to promote these three classes of duties.''</blockquote><blockquote>''The civil law of the Hindus is at every step marked with the influence of the three-debt obligation...''</blockquote><blockquote>''Therefore it is clear that whenever two constructions of a text are possible, one tending to the discharge of one or other of the three debts, and the other inconsistent with such discharge, the former construction is to be adopted and not the later.''</blockquote>In order to impress upon every individual as to how he should conduct himself, at the end of Shikshavalli, (Ch. 1, Lesson-11) advice is given to the outgoing students. Excerpts from it are reproduced below, which give an idea about the good conduct expected from them throughout their life.<blockquote>सत्यं वद | धर्मं चर | सत्यान्न प्रमदितव्यम् | धर्मान्न प्रमदितव्यम् | मातृदेवो भव | पितृदेवो भव | आचार्यदोवो भव | अतिथिदेवो भव | यान्यनवद्यानि कर्माणि | तानि सेवितव्यानि | नो इतराणि | एष आदेश: | एष उपदेश: एतदनुशासनम् | (Taittiriyopanishad)</blockquote><blockquote>''satyaṁ vada | dharmaṁ cara | satyānna pramaditavyam | dharmānna pramaditavyam |'' ''mātr̥devo bhava | pitr̥devo bhava | ācāryadovo bhava | atithidevo bhava |'' ''yānyanavadyāni karmāṇi | tāni sevitavyāni | no itarāṇi |'' ''eṣa ādeśa: | eṣa upadeśa: etadanuśāsanam |'' </blockquote>Meaning: Speak the truth; follow the prescribed conduct; Do not fail to pay attention to truth; Never fail to perform duty. Do not disregard what is proper and treat your Mother, Father and Teacher well and as equal to the Supreme Being. So also, treat your guest as Supreme. Those acts that are irreproachable alone are to be performed, and not those that are forbidden. This is the directive. This is the advice. This is the discipline to be observed throughout life.

A reading of every one of the directive given to students is highly inspiring and it concludes with the statement that it is the advice (Upadehsa) and it is the directive (Adesha). It is not only a specific injunction to an outgoing student but also a direction to every human being. Thus the directive to every individual to discharge the four pious obligations is one of the most important values of life which forms part of 'Dharma'.

A reading of every one of the directive given to students is highly inspiring and it concludes with the statement that it is the advice (Upadesha) and it is the directive (Adesha). It is not only a specific injunction to an outgoing student but also a direction to every human being. Thus the directive to every individual to discharge the four pious obligations is one of the most important values of life which forms part of 'Dharma'.

== Marriage: the Source of Paying the three Debts ==

== Marriage: the Source of Paying the three Debts ==