Glimpses Of World Religions

Author(s): Gunvant Barvalia
Publisher: Navbharat Sahitya Mandir

Page 20

Hinduism (The religion of the Hindus)
(1) Dharma :
Dharma or duty being the chief aim of human life or the summum bonum of life, it stands first. Here, duty means morality and good conduct; duty also means faith in God. Both these meanings are worthy of acceptance. A person is supposed to take perfect interest in all the activities, keeping Dharma in the centre by leaving wealth purushartha and sex purushartha many difficult problems will arise. Wealth is needed in each activity of life and money is necessary even in donation. Therefore the contempt of wealth is not welcome in any condition. The religion means a command to do particular work and the rules by observing which it lasts. This Dharma purushartha is inevitable for each and eyery individual. (2) Wealth (Artha) :
‘Artha' means money, wealth. This is one of the means for getting happiness in the world; yet man runs here and their to secure it. Of course, man must do this Artha Purushartha (effort to gain wealth) in order to maintain samsar and to fulfil the needs of house-hold life. But the pining for wealth makes a man forget his Dharma. The relation of Artha with Dharma is very necessary. All of us know very well what terrible results are seen in today's world. “Wealth is my Lord and I am the servant of Wealth.” This slogan has become the most lovable slogan of today to procure wealth by immoral means, adultery, corruption, bribery, hoarding, black marketing, not to pay taxes, artificial scarcity, forgery, breach of trust, cheating, how many such evils have blossomed. The demon in the form of lust is eating away humanity, because Dharma has gone away from its very root. That is why the greatest men have openly told us that the constant effort (purushartha) for Dharma should be there in every activity of life.