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It is only by following the path of Dharma or rectitude that the sun and moon are revolving unerringly on their orbits; it is only the call of Dharma that makes all the divine powers adhere to their various duties and responsibilities; Dharma only keeps the five elements bound to the principles of their nature. You should derive the greatest possible benefit from Dharma and avoid, while following it, causing any injury to yourselves or others. You must spread the glory of Dharma by making yourself a shining example of the peace and joy it gives. Do not follow the trail of dry logic; do not confuse your brain by cynicism and prejudice, do not get interested in what others do or believe in and try to reform them or correct their footsteps; have faith in the basic Atma which is your real truth; test all lines of conduct on that basis, whether it will hinder the process of revealing the Atma or not; and carry on, in the light of that faith and that test, your daily duties and rites. Then, you will never fall into error. You will also derive great joy. There are some worldly maxims like "Udyogam purusha lakshanam" or "Karmam purushalakshanam", which say that being engaged in a profession is the sign of man, or being engaged in a task is the sign of manhood etc. But, the real maxim is "Dharmam purushalakshanam", "Observance of Dharma is the sign of manhood". Every one must engage in Dharmakarma, or tasks infused with Dharma, while putting into action the purusharthas of Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. As Pathivrathaadharma is for women, Brahmacharya is for men. Just as
woman should consider one person and one person only as her master and
husband, man too has to be faithful to one woman and one woman only, as
his mate, his wife. She has to consider the husband as God and worship
him and minister to and follow his desires for the fulfillment of her
duty of Pathivrathaa; so man too should honour his wife as the "Mistress
of the Home" and act in accordance with her wishes, for she is the Griha
Lakshmi. Then only can he deserve the status of "man". Name and fame,
honour and dishonour, vice and wickedness, good and bad are all equal
and uniform for both men and women. There is no such thing as woman alone
being bound and man being free; both are equally bound by the rules of
Dharma. Both will fall into Adharma if they behave without consideration
of the claims of the four pairs of attributes mentioned above. Men too
are bound in certain matters just as women are; men have no right to do
certain things. There are some important pledges between the husband and
the wife. |