Changes

Jump to navigation Jump to search
Adding content - to be edited
Line 23: Line 23:     
== Importance of Trivarga ==
 
== Importance of Trivarga ==
The doctrine of Trivarga is an enduring system of values holding good in the social, political, domestic and international planes of human business. The greatest epics Ramayana and Mahabharata, Manusmrti, Kautilya’s Arthashastra, Brhaspati Smrti, Somadeva’s Nitivakyamrta, Kamandaka's Nitisara all unanimously declared that rule of Trivarga should be followed both by the rulers and the ruled and that alone was a guarantee for peace and happiness of human beings.<ref name=":0" />
+
The doctrine of Trivarga is an enduring system of values holding good in the social, political, domestic and international planes of human business. The greatest epics Ramayana and Mahabharata, Manusmrti, Kautilya’s Arthashastra, Brhaspati Smrti, Somadeva’s Nitivakyamrta, Kamandaka's Nitisara all unanimously declared that rule of Trivarga should be followed both by the rulers and the ruled and that alone was a guarantee for peace and happiness of human beings. It has been the guiding principle for the rulers and the ruled.<ref name=":0" />
    
The propounders of Dharma did realise that the fulfillment of desires of human beings was essential to secure happiness but were of the opinion that unless the desires were regulated by Dharma, they would bring about undesirable results. Therefore, all the propounders of Dharma were unanimous that for the existence of an orderly society and peace and to secure the basic human right of happiness to all, the desires (kama) for material enjoyment, and earning wealth (Artha) should always conform to Dharma (Code of Right Conduct) and be never inconsistent with it.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":0" /><blockquote>तस्माच्छास्त्रं प्रमाणं ते कार्याकार्यव्यवस्थितौ । ज्ञात्वा शास्त्रविधानोक्तं कर्म कर्तुमिहार्हसि ॥१६- २४॥<ref>Bhagavad Gita, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE/%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 16.]</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''tasmācchāstraṁ pramāṇaṁ tē kāryākāryavyavasthitau । jñātvā śāstravidhānōktaṁ karma kartumihārhasi ॥16- 24॥''</blockquote>Meaning: Let the shastras be your authority in deciding what you should do and what you should desist from doing.<ref name=":2" />
 
The propounders of Dharma did realise that the fulfillment of desires of human beings was essential to secure happiness but were of the opinion that unless the desires were regulated by Dharma, they would bring about undesirable results. Therefore, all the propounders of Dharma were unanimous that for the existence of an orderly society and peace and to secure the basic human right of happiness to all, the desires (kama) for material enjoyment, and earning wealth (Artha) should always conform to Dharma (Code of Right Conduct) and be never inconsistent with it.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":0" /><blockquote>तस्माच्छास्त्रं प्रमाणं ते कार्याकार्यव्यवस्थितौ । ज्ञात्वा शास्त्रविधानोक्तं कर्म कर्तुमिहार्हसि ॥१६- २४॥<ref>Bhagavad Gita, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE/%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 16.]</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''tasmācchāstraṁ pramāṇaṁ tē kāryākāryavyavasthitau । jñātvā śāstravidhānōktaṁ karma kartumihārhasi ॥16- 24॥''</blockquote>Meaning: Let the shastras be your authority in deciding what you should do and what you should desist from doing.<ref name=":2" />
Line 35: Line 35:     
In KAUTILYA - Raja Sutra<blockquote>समं वा त्रिवर्गं सेवेत । धर्मार्थकामानां युगपत्समवाये । पूर्वाः पूर्वा गरीयान् ॥७</blockquote><blockquote>''samaṁ vā trivargaṁ seveta । dharmārthakāmānāṁ yugapatsamavāye । pūrvāḥ pūrvā garīyān ॥''</blockquote>Meaning: In the inseparable unit of Dharma, Artha and Kama the one mentioned earlier is superior. The Trivarga (Dharma, Artha and Kama) should be followed together.<ref name=":0" />
 
In KAUTILYA - Raja Sutra<blockquote>समं वा त्रिवर्गं सेवेत । धर्मार्थकामानां युगपत्समवाये । पूर्वाः पूर्वा गरीयान् ॥७</blockquote><blockquote>''samaṁ vā trivargaṁ seveta । dharmārthakāmānāṁ yugapatsamavāye । pūrvāḥ pūrvā garīyān ॥''</blockquote>Meaning: In the inseparable unit of Dharma, Artha and Kama the one mentioned earlier is superior. The Trivarga (Dharma, Artha and Kama) should be followed together.<ref name=":0" />
 +
 +
== कौटुम्बिकजीवनस्य आधारः ॥ Foundation of Family Life ==
 +
The sanctity attached to the relationship of the husband and wife brought about by Vivaha (marriage) and the inseparability of their relationship was the firm foundation laid by the propounders of Dharma, on which the social life was constructed. This again was founded on the doctrine of Trivarga.
 +
 +
Vivaha (marriage) was one of the most important of the several ‘samskaras’ (sacraments) prescribed by Dharmasastras for the individual. The object and purpose of marriage was declared in the Dharmasastras by the  propounders of Dharma after deep thought and consideration. They stressed that coming together of a man and woman was necessary for the fulfillment of the threefold ideals of life, ie., Dharma, Artha and Kama. The  sum and substance of these three goals was that the husband and the wife, remaining loyal to each other throughout their life, should restrain their desire (kama) for material pleasure, wealth and prosperity (Artha) by Dharma (righteous rules of conduct) and should share the happiness and misery and discharge their prescribed duties towards the family and society throughout their life.
 +
 +
This is highlighted by a promise which a bridegroom was required to make while undergoing the vivaha Samskara. While giving the girl in marriage, the father, or in his absence the guardian, addresses the bridegroom with the following words:
 +
 +
Meaning: You shall not transgress Dharma in the attainment of Artha and Kama.
 +
 +
The bridegroom accepts the condition with these words:
 +
 +
Meaning: I shall not transgress Dharma, in matters of Artha and Kama.
 +
 +
The promise taken indicates that the purpose of marriage was the fulfillment of Trivarga doctrine throughout the life of husband and wife. In order to impress upon the minds of the bride and bridegroom about the sanctity and permanence of marriage bond and to make them to commit publicly, in the presence of relatives and guests, that they would fulfill the obligations of married life towards the society vivaha was prescribed as a Samskara. This is one of the most important and basic aspects of the social system based on Dharma. It was regarded as the foundation of family life. After marriage  the husband and the wife would enter the stage in life, which was called ‘“Grihasthashrama” (Householder) ie., family life, during which it was the duty of every family to discharge its social obligation. The husband and the wife were together required to observe a code of conduct, and they had to discharge their responsibility jointly. In particular, they were together required to discharge four pious obligations namely;
 +
# towards the God
 +
# towards parents
 +
# towards teacher
 +
# towards humanity
 +
The relevant verses in Mahabharata, in which these four pious obligations have been indicated are in Adiparva Ch. 120-17-20:
 +
 +
Meaning: Every individual should discharge four pious obligations. They are Devaruna (towards God), Pitruruna (towards parents), Rishiruna (towards teachers) and Manavaruna (towards humanity).
 +
 +
A man should discharge Pitruruna by maintaining continuity of the family, Devaruna by worship of God, Rishiruna by the acquisition and dissemination of  knowledge, and Manavaruna by rendering every type of social service.
 +
 +
This could be discharged by husband and wife only by living together with mutual love and fidelity throughout their life which is the sum and substance of dharma of husband and wife. To impress upon every couple this aspect Manusmriti Ch.-[X -101 and III-60 declared thus:
 +
 +
Meaning: Mutual friendship and fidelity is the highest Dharma to be observed by husband and wife, throughout their life.
 +
 +
The family in which husband and wife have mutual affection and respect always secures happiness and prosperity.
 +
 +
The validity and utility of the directive for all and its eternal value are unexceptionable. The observance of the above directive throughout life by the husband and the wife is not only conducive to happiness and harmony in family life, but also essential for national or social life.
 +
 +
It is also pertinent to point out that the great importance attached to family life, as constituting the social edifice, and as a basic unit on which the strength of a nation depends, which was regarded as part of dharma, has been recognized by the United Nations under article 23(1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, adopted by the General Assembly on 16th December 1966. It reads:
 +
 +
The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.
 +
 +
The above article is a clear recognition of the efficacy and necessity of the Dharma of the husband and the wife evolved in this land from the most ancient times as the foundation of social life.<ref name=":0" />
    
== References ==
 
== References ==
 
<references />
 
<references />

Navigation menu