Manava Dharma

Author(s): Bhurmal Shastri, Nihalchandra Jain
Publisher: Aacharya Gyansagar Vagartha Vimarsha Kendra

Page 67

MANAV DHARMA / 45 duties. Every child takes birth on this earth, but the special traits do develop in the child gradually when he is marching towards manhood. Power and valour do come in a man slowly but remain upto the end of young age. With this strength of manhood and valour, he challenges the whole world and determines to achieve even the impossible, provided his sound health is maintained by him. But the position is changed if unluckily he is attacked by some severe illness, which compels him to be on sick-bed and looks for other's help even for drinking the water. Such things are bound to happen in an old age of the man when the parts of the body like hand and feet. eyes and ears, all become feeble and stop working properly. The man becomes so weak that he has to seek the support of a Lathi for his movements. Here the author advises that what is the use of being proud of such power or strength of the body which is meagre and destructive - going to degradation side. A learned man, with his powerful body, should always help and protect the poor and sufferers. But for uneducated and low minded people the powerful body is only meant to create troubles and pains for others as said - (faen faaigra, 7-14614, pift: mai frustry) And if luckily the Goddess Laxmi is also pleased on such man, then this man becomes highly proud in assessing that the whole world is depended and guided by him.
ज्ञान वृद्ध वयोवृद्धास्तपोवृद्धस्तथैवच । सर्वेऽपि धनवृद्धस्य द्वारे तिष्ठन्ति नित्यशः ॥
Not only the highly educated persons but also grown up and aged people and even the great sages, all remain busy in the flattery of the rich, as they think that nothing can be achieved without money or wealth. But a wise man, with proper understanding considers the wealth of the world as immaterial and a big burden upon him. He realises that it is highly painful, fearful and troublesome to earn the riches, to preserve it and to multiply it every day. Money is the root evil of every thing and on this notion, a wise man wants to leave it but he becomes helpless when the time comes just like a bullock tied up with a yoke. But he expresses his gratitude towards those who give their wealth in charity, because charity elevates his feelings of goodness. This idea has been expressed in following lines - A gentleman is astonished to see a rich man offering his property in charity and for the welfare of weak people. The rich man replies that -
देने वाला और है जो देता दिन रैन । लोग भरम मेरा करे याते नीचे नैन ॥