Dharma is a unique position of civility for a human being. It sets boundaries of etiquette by individuals, groups, societies, communities and nations. It works at all levels and requires attention by all. Everyone believes in responsible duty and that is Dharma. No one is required to believe in Dharma because it is as lucent as the Sun, as pervading as air and as liquid as water. Which literally means that Dharma is the cosmological law that applies to everyone living or dead or non-living entity on this planet and beyond. Dharma codes are universal and all pervading just like Brahm. However, it is very difficult to decipher the actual verdict of Dharma.
There can be many factors involved as per the time place and circumstance.
As per Vedas there are twelve authorities who are considered expert in Dharma. The foremost of them is Yamaraj. Their verdict is often the final.
स्वयम्भूर्नारद: शम्भु: कुमार: कपिलो मनु: ।
प्रह्लादो जनको भीष्मो बलिर्वैयासकिर्वयम् ॥ २० ॥
द्वादशैते विजानीमो धर्मं भागवतं भटा: ।
गुह्यं विशुद्धं दुर्बोधं यं ज्ञात्वामृतमश्नुते ॥ २१ ॥
Brahmā, Nārada, Śiva, the four Kumāras, Kapila [the son of Devahūti], Svāyambhuva Manu, Prahlāda Mahārāja, Janaka Mahārāja, Bhīṣma, Bali Mahārāja, Śukadeva Gosvāmī and I (Yamaraj) myself know the real Dharma.
Dharma not only applies to individuals in the form of Karma, but also applies to states in the form of collective dharma of all people in that state.
Consequently, the dharma of a democratically elected government is guided by the people who elected them. Dharma of the nation state is often reflected in its foreign policy and military policy. Dharma for an individual means dedication and service to Vedic Sanatana culture as very lucidly explained in Bhagavad Gita.
Chanakya Pandit very well said, “One’s own mother, the wife of Guru, the wife of a Brahmans, the wife of a King, the cow, the nurse, and the earth are known as the seven mothers of a man.”
Now that is a dharmic principle. Protecting one’s culture and land is a dharmic principle.
‘संसिद्धीर हरि तोषणम’ meaning that everything needs to be done for the satisfaction of Hari, is a dharmic principle.
As per Dharma, everyone is required to work for the pleasure of Hari. The words of Hari are very lucidly explained in Bhagavad Gita. Any action performed keeping in mind the spirit of Bhagavad Gita becomes dharma compliant. For such a performer, all Devata and Hari bestow their blessings on that person. Similarly, when a state runs for the pleasure of Hari, then that state gets unlimited wealth, power, prestige and fame.
The concept of dharma-less states never existed nor will there any such state will exist in future.
The French philosophy of left wing and right wing politics pales in front of Dharma based politics. Left wing and right wing political groupings represent chaos, anarchy and a perpetual fight. People are tired of that bracketing. Communism, socialism and even to some extent capitalism have all failed to deliver peace, prosperity and civility to a human being. In all such political philosophies and ideologies, one is assumed to be an aggressor and another a defender. The entire victim-hood politics has also sprung from that. Dharma is uniquely poised to defeat such useless political ideologies.
Dharma is a platform which delivers peace, prosperity and happiness at both individual and state level.
At individual level it empowers an individual with satisfaction through Yoga, Meditation and Truth. At the nation state level it delivers the right decision making power and clarity of purpose. For example, action against any adharmic state is the duty of a dharmic State. Dharma is the new cool thing on the bloc. But most people who should be talking about it are not doing much. Dharma is in danger today !
Disclaimer: Views expressed are personal to the author
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