Svadharma (स्वधर्मः)
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Purusharthas are very vital for people to lead their lives to the fullest. An individual will only find self-fulfillment and contentment, when he is able to understand his inner potential and work towards realizing them on the ground, all the while also fulfilling his other basic needs, on the one hand and slowly moving towards adhyatmik emancipation, on the other. Thus, performance of svadharma or righteous duties constitute the key to attaining overall wellbeing by an individual.[1]
Among the different elements of vishesha dharma, it is the varna dharma along with ashrama dharma that caters to different stages in a person’s life, which can be considered as the most defining principles of svadharma or righteous duties with respect to an individual, since they alone cater to the unique temperaments, potential competencies, and inner calling of an individual.[1]
According to the Bhagavata Purana, in every age, the dharma (the course of duties) of people is generally determined by their innate nature (accordingly as they are predominantly sattvik, rajasik or tamasik). The Vedic seers have regarded that (particular) course of dharma as conducive to happiness (of persons with such natures) both here and hereafter.[2]
प्रायः स्वभावविहितो नृणां धर्मो युगे युगे । वेददृग्भिः स्मृतो राजन् प्रेत्य चेह च शर्मकृत् ॥ ३१॥[3]
prāyaḥ svabhāvavihito nr̥ṇāṁ dharmo yuge yuge । vedadr̥gbhiḥ smr̥to rājan pretya ceha ca śarmakr̥t ॥ 31॥
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Nithin Sridhar, Varṇa vyavastha as a conceptual social order that facilitates self-actualization, indiafacts.org
- ↑ Ganesh Vasudeo Tagare, The Bhagavata Purana (Part III), Ancient Indian Tradition & Mythology (Volume 9), Edited by J.L.Shastri, New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, P.no.967.
- ↑ Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 7, Adhyaya 11.