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B Shantanu
Source: What is Dharma? – Concluding Part

The final part of “What is Dharma” by Harapriya. Today, can one fight a dharma yudh against adharma?
*** What is “Dharma”? – Concluding Part by K Harapriya ***

Can one fight a dharma yudh against adharma?
The Mahabharata gives a pretty clear answer —-yes, we can fight a dharmic [...]

B Shantanu
Source: What is Dharma? – Part II

Continuing from Part-I that appeared earlier this week. Today, lessons from the MahaBharata.
*** What is “Dharma”? – Part II by K Harapriya ***

Lessons of the Mahabharata
One epic which still holds profound lessons for us, is the Mahabharata. Here is an epic where a central character, Duryodhana, [...]

B Shantanu
Source: What is “Dharma”? – Guest Post by Harapriya

Dear All: It is my pleasure to publish this guest post on “Dharma” by K Harapriya. I will be posting this in three parts. At the outset, I am grateful to her for a very well articulated exposition of a difficult concept. Please read and share [...]

Following five aspects of life recommended in native Indian tradition as the essence of Dharma: Ahimsa Satyam Astheyam Shoucham Indhriya Nigrahaa: Each Hindu by practising the five facets of life will be true to his Dharma, whatever be his tribal, linguistic, caste or economic status. These are the touchstones that act as moral compass, help formulate Hindu behavior.

First is Ahimsa. Ahimsa not only means “not to use physical violence” and “not to kill”. It also means one should not hurt another even in the mind’s plane. So the words one speaks consciously should be such that another should not feel hurt. Dont hurt others is the essence of Ahimsa.

(Corollary: This does not mean one should pontificate ahimsa in a war situation. After extolling virtues of ahimsa, Krishn asks Arjun to fight citing it as his duty and indicates it’ll be a terrible mistake if he abdigates his responsibility. Pacifism in front of a osama’s islam or hitler type catholic bully, wont be noble acts. That said, in an ordinary situation, everyone cant take to arms and choose violence. Another important corollary is abuse of power is considered himsa)

King Yudhishtira was very proud of his charity in feeding 16oo8 Brahmans everyday from the magic all-providing pot which he had. All these Brahmins used to follow him wherever he went and eat the sumptuous meals given to them gratis.

Sri Krishna wanted to humble Yudhistira’s pride- One day, He took him to the underworld where the righteous King Mahabali ruled. Mahabali received the Lord Krishna with all proper worship. Sri Krishna told Mahabali, ‘This is my cousin Yudhistira.’ At once, Mahabali went and most respectfully invited Yudhistira to his kingdom. ‘Ah!’ said Sri Krishna to Mahabali, ‘you don’t know the full glories of my cousin who is the abode of charity. He feeds 16008 Brahmans gratis three times every day and they follow him, wherever he goes.

A Serpent turned suddenly religious and wanted to forsake its old evil ways. It went and consulted a saint as to what it should do. The saint advised it to plunge in deep meditation and resolve to do not the least harm to any living being however great the provocation. The serpent adopted the advice. It resolved never to cause any the least harm to any living being. It went near a temple and lay down in deep meditation on the grass by the side of the road.

At first people ran away as soon as they saw the serpent, but, since it did not hiss or run after them, they began to become more courageous.. [...]