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It was also clearly stated by Manu that a society that doesn't follow Dharma would destroy itself.
It was also clearly stated by Manu that a society that doesn't follow Dharma would destroy itself.
धर्म एव हतो हन्ति धर्मो रक्षति रक्षितः ।<br>
धर्म एव हतो हन्ति धर्मो रक्षति रक्षितः ।<br>तस्माद्धर्मो न हन्तव्यो मा नो धर्मो हतोऽवधीत् ।।<ref>मनुस्मृति, 8-15</ref><br>Meaning: Dharma destroys those who destroy it. Dharma protects those who protect it. Therefore, do not destroy Dharma so that we do not get destroyed.
तस्माद्धर्मो न हन्तव्यो मा नो धर्मो हतोऽवधीत् ।।<ref>मनुस्मृति, 8-15</ref><br>
Meaning: Dharma destroys those who destroy it. Dharma protects those who protect it. Therefore, do not destroy Dharma so that we do not get destroyed.
This consequence is natural: powerful individuals with uncontrolled Kama and in disregard for Dharma oppress the weak and severely injure the society with their actions. Bhishma tells Yudhishtira after the [[Mahabharata|Mahabharata]] war that there existed a time when every individual followed Dharma and mutually protected the society. As time progressed and few strong individuals started flouting Dharma and the king was brought into existence with the duty to protect Dharma and with the right to punish the individuals practising Adharma.<ref name="LCHI-Rama_Jois-Ch1" />
This consequence is natural: powerful individuals with uncontrolled Kama and in disregard for Dharma oppress the weak and severely injure the society with their actions. Bhishma tells Yudhishtira after the [[Mahabharata|Mahabharata]] war that there existed a time when every individual followed Dharma and mutually protected the society. As time progressed and few strong individuals started flouting Dharma and the king was brought into existence with the duty to protect Dharma and with the right to punish the individuals practising Adharma.<ref name="LCHI-Rama_Jois-Ch1" />
(i) non-violence, (ii) truth, (iii) purity and (iv) self-control. All the above virtues come under the above four cardinal virtues.<ref name=":4" />
(i) non-violence, (ii) truth, (iii) purity and (iv) self-control. All the above virtues come under the above four cardinal virtues.<ref name=":4" />
While Dharma touches on a wide varieties of topics, the essence of Dharma common to all human beings is also declared in various works.
अक्रोधः सत्यवचनं संविभागः क्षमा तथा । प्रजनः स्वेषु दारेषु शौचमद्रोह एव च ॥
आर्जवं भृत्यभरणं नवैते सार्ववर्णिकः ।
Meaning : Truthfulness, to be free from anger, sharing wealth with others, (samvibhaga) forgiveness, procreation of children from one's wife alone, purity, absence of enmity, straightforwardness and maintaining persons dependent on oneself are the nine rules of the Dharma of persons belonging to all the varnas. (Yaj. 1-122 is similar).
A reading of each one of the above rules at once makes an individual realise what he should do and what he should not do. The observance of the above rules alone secures real happiness and harmony in life. Manu Smriti is more concise and brought 'Dharma' under five heads.
अहिंसा सत्यमस्तेयं शौचमिन्द्रियनिग्रहः । एतं सामासिकं धर्मं चातुर्वर्ण्येऽब्रवीन्मनुः ॥ Manu Smrt 10.163
Meaning : Ahimsa(non-violence), Satya (truthfulness), Asteya (not acquiring illegitimate wealth), Shoucham (purity), and Indriyanigraha (control of senses) are, in brief, the common Dharma for all the varnas.
The first rule is not to indulge in violence against other living beings. The second rule requires every one to be truthful in day to day life. The third rule is of the utmost importance. It is the desire to secure wealth by illegitimate methods which makes a man corrupt, a cheat, a smuggler, a black marketeer, an exploiter, and makes even men in noble professions exploit the miseries of others to make more and more money in utter .disregard to professional ethics. Therefore, it is very essential to ingrain in the heart and mind of every individual the desire not to indulge in 'asteya' i.e., acquiring wealth by illegitimate and immoral methods. The fourth one commands every individual to maintain purity of thought, word and deed (Trikarana shuddi i.e., Kaya, Vacha, Manasa), which is also called Antaranga Shuddi (internal/mental purity) and Bahiranga Shuddi (external purity or purity in action). This rule means absolute honesty in that there should be harmony in thought, word and deed of an individual. One should not think something in the mind, speak something else, and do entirely another thing.
The fifth perhaps is very important i.e., control of senses. It is lack of control over the senses which results in individuals indulging in all types of illegal and immoral actions, being instigated by the one or more of the six inherent enemies (Arishadvargas). This lands himself as well as others in misery and loss of happiness.
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 child hood. 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 sinful thoughts Dharma- the sextuple 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 'Samskara'.
Adi Shankara in his commentary on Vedanta Sutra has explained this process thus:-
संस्कारो हि नाम गुणाधानेन वा स्याद् दोषापनयनेन वा ।
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:-
धर्मो विश्वस्य जगतः प्रतिष्ठा । लोके धर्मिष्ठं प्रजा उपसर्पन्ति । धर्मेण पापमपनुदति । धर्मे सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम् । तस्माद्धर्मं परमं वदन्ति ।
Meaning : Dharma constitutes the foundation of all affairs in the World. People respect those who adhere to Dharma. Dharma insulates (man) against sinful 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 sinful actions as it destroys the very cause of such actions, namely sinful 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 sinful thoughts arising on account of the instigation of one or more of the six inherent enemies (arishadwarga).<ref name=":3" />
== युगधर्मः ॥ Yuga Dharma ==
== युगधर्मः ॥ Yuga Dharma ==