परम धर्म श्रुति विदित अहिंसा, पर निन्दा सम अघ न गरीसा।
( Ch 7, Uttarkand)Continuing learnings from the sacred scripture" Ramcharitmanas " of Indian Sant Shiromani, Goswami Tulsidas of Bhakti Era, which we began in previous blog 17, we shall now pick up messages on Universal Dharma and Ethical practices conveyed by him, in the current Blog. In the above verse, the author says that Ahimnsa ( Non-Violence) is the biggest Dharma, while hurting or demeaning others is the greatest unethical practice or bad deed. A great transformational learning indeed!
Quoting a few verses from Ramcharitmanas focusing on Universal Dharma and Ethical practices;
धरम न दूसर सत्य़ समाना, आगम निगम पुरान बखाना।
मैं सोइ धरमु सुलभ करिपावा, तजें तिहुंपुर अपजसु छावा।।--- Ch 2, Ayodhyakand
Lord Rama conveying that following Truthful practices is the biggest Dharma, which He has achieved in life so easily and now if He discards it, He will lose His entire credibility. In another context in Ch 2, Ayodhyakand, King Dasratha, conveys the importance of Truthfulness in life as a great Ethical practice;
सत्य़मूल सब सुकृत सुहाए, वेद पुराण विदित मनु गाए। ie devotion to "Truthfulness", is the root of all good deeds and noble virtues as stated in great Indian Scriptures, Vedas as well as conveyed by great Saint Manu. On Non-Truth or telling lies, in the same chapter, it is said " नहिं असत्य़ सम पापक पुंजा " ie even a multitude of sins can not be equated with a lie. .
On Ethical Practices in life, the scripture has enormous messages. Quoting from Ch 3, Aranyakand, where Lord Rama is narrating attributes of Saintly persons in society, with sage Narada;
षट विकार जित अनघ अकामा, अचल अकिंचन सुचि सुखधामा।
अमित बोध अनीह मितभोगी, सत्य़सार कबि कोबिद जोगी।।- Saints have won over six vices, namely lust, anger, greed, infatuation, pride and jealousy. Moreover. they are sinless,disinterested in earthly pleasures & materialistic possessions, firm in thoughts, pure ( both within and outside), full of bliss, have boundless wisdom, desire-less, moderate in diet, truthful, inspired & self motivated and united with divine.
सावधान मानद मदहीना, धीर धर्म गति परम प्रवीना। Saintly persons believe in bestowing honors on others, free from pride, strong minded and well conversant with the path and practices of Dharma or Righteousness, Such people never abandon the right course in life.
निज गुण श्रवन सुनत सकुचाहीं, पर गुण सुनत अधिक हरषाहीं। Saintly people blush at hearing their praise, but feel delighted to hear other's praise.
जप तप ब्रत दम संजम नेमा, गुरु गोविंद विप्र पद नेमा। Saintly people consistently engage in prayers, austerity, control of senses, self denial and religious observances. They demonstrate high respect towards knowledgeable people in society. They have great faith in divine.
Again, in Ch 7, Uttarkand, Lord Rama shares traits of Saintly and Ethical people with his brothers. Quoting a few verses;
विषय़ अलंपट सील गुनाकर, पर दुख दुख,सुख सुख देखे पर।
सम अभूतरिपु विमद विरागी, लोभाभरण हरष भ्रय त्य़ागी।। ie Saintly people have no hankering for pleasure of senses and are storehouse of amiability & other noble virtues. They feel delighted on seeing other's in joy and happiness, at the same time, feel unhappy in seeing others in distress and pain. It means that they are emphatic people, who strongly feel for others at all times, while demonstrating self control. Further, such people are even minded and treat the whole world as one, with no one as their enemy. Conquering vanity & passions, such persons demonstrate mastery over greed, anger, joy and fear.
कोमलचित्त दीनन्ह पर दाया, मन वच क्रम मम भगति अमाया।
विगत काम मम नाम परायन, सांति बिरति बिनती मुदितायन।। ie Saintly people are tender at heart and compassionate to the distressed & poor. They cherish unflinching faith & devotion to Lord in thoughts, words and deeds. They are modest in living and give honor to others. They have no interested motive of their own ( Selfless). They are the real abodes of tranquility, dispassion, humility and even good humor. Such people are joyous in nature, with a strong peaceful disposition.
In the same chapter, Lord Rama also shares the characteristics of unethical persons and the bad impact they create on the society. sharing a few verses;
खलन्ह ह्रदय अति ताप विषेषी, जरहिं सदा पर संपति देखी।
जहँं कहुँं निंदा सुनहिं पराई, हरषँंहि मनहुँं परी निधि पाई।। ie Impious people suffer terrible agony, they burn at the sight of other's prosperity. Whenever they hear about other's criticism or misery, they feel delighted as if they have stumbled upon a treasure. In other words, they are at an extremely low level of self development and demonstrate low self esteem. They bear enmity towards all without any reason.
झूठई लेना झूठई देना, झूठई भोजन झूठई चबेना। ie they believe in falsehood at all times and in every situation.They may speak honeyed words, yet they are untruthful in all dealings with people throughout the day from morning till night.
पर द्रोही पर दार रत, पर धन पर अपवाद। ie they believe in fighting others without reason, interested in other's wives and wealth and take delight at slandering others. They are sinful in all respects and are a liability to society.
Ramcharitmanas has indeed, endless lessons for the society and the masses in general, to lead a socially acceptable ethical life. Though in a story form, yet it focuses on Dharma, Morality and Ethical practices. In another context, Goswami Tulsidas, in Ch 7, Uttarkand, strongly conveys the evils of EGO& other vices. Quoting "अहंकार अति दुखद डमरुआ, दंभ कपट मद मान नेहरुआ। ie Egotism is the most painful attribute like painful gout in body, while hypocrisy, deceit, arrogance and pride correspond to a frightening disease of NERVES in body, which is difficult to cure.
Conveying a strong ethical message, in another context, in Ch 5, Sundarkand, even demon king Ravana's wife tries to emphasize her concern to her husband; " काम क्रोध मद लोभ सब, नाथ नरक के पंथ। ie Lust, anger, vanity, greed and acquisitive desire for other's possessions, are all paths leading to hell.
Let me end this blog by another verse from" Uttarkand", on one of the topmost value of a Saintly & Ethical person, conveying that such persons take all the miseries & pains upon themselves. Saints undergo suffering in the interest of others, while impious persons do so with a view to torment others.
संत सहहिं दुख परहित लागी, पर दुख हेतु असंत अभागी।
