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Yoga-shti-samuchaya
A year's worth of donations were given before the renunciation. Oh! Even after taking initiation, the supremely merciful Mahavira Deva, out of special compassion, gave the Brahmin a divine garment! ×
3. Principles, Writings, etc. by Dharma
To write, or cause to be written, relying on the subject matter of principles, eternal scriptures, and true scriptures, is also an excellent seed of devotion. But to write, or cause to be written, relying on the false scriptures like the Kama-shastra, Artha-shastra, etc., is not a yagya. Therefore, it is said to rely on principles. "False scriptures delude the mind and throw it directly into the ocean of misery. They may sound sweet to the ears for a moment, but then they spread the poison of ignorance and pollute the soul. What is the use of such false scriptures to the soul? When true scriptures, which are the salvation of the world, exist, why would a wise person, with a good intellect, torture his own soul with false scriptures?" Thus, Shubha-chandra-acharya has said in Shri Jnanav. Therefore, false scriptures are prohibited here. The soul should only engage in writing, etc., of true scriptures.
This writing, etc., of principles should also be done according to dharma. By dharma, it means that only wealth earned justly, through righteous and honest means, should be used in such noble deeds. Wealth earned by looting, exploiting, cheating, black-marketing, and engaging in various kinds of fraud and dishonesty has no place in such noble deeds. If someone knows that he is accumulating money through various kinds of deceit and then intends to use it in such religious activities, he is merely playing in delusion, dwelling in a fool's paradise! Because wealth earned justly is the primary, primary characteristic of one who follows the righteous path, it is the first step, the first role, the first letter of the alphabet. This is what is meant by dharma here. And that wealth should also be used wisely, for the best purpose. In whatever way the respect, devotion, glory, and greatness of the principles and scriptures increase, in whatever way their influence is felt in the soul and in the world, in that way, one should use discretion in engaging in external and internal, all-round beautiful practices, writing, etc., that are appropriate and fitting. This is dharma. Shri Mansukh Bhai has said very meaningful words about this:
By dharma, it means
* " धर्माङ्गत्वं स्फुटीकर्तुं दानस्य भगवानपि । अत एव वतं ग्रहन् ददौ संवत्सरं वसु ॥ " Shri Dvada
" ज्ञापकं चात्र भगवान्निष्क्रान्तोऽपि द्विजन्मने । देवदूष्यं ददद्धीमाननुकंपा विशेषतः ॥ " Shri Haribhadra Suri's Ashtak.