Manava Dharma

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

Page 70

48 / MANAV DHARMA
the influx of sin still continues, then what purpose will be servec by wealth and the like? Description :
A man must lack the feelings of sin, selfishness and vanity. What shall a man profit if he gains all the goods and prosperity of the world, but loses his own soul ? Certainly no truly useful purpose is ever served by the riches; their acquisition is associated with sin and so is their enjoyment. A selfish man possessing all worldly objects, can never feel the pleasure and happiness; while on the otherhand, these create troubles to man, Here is an example of Lord Rama and King Ravana which is sufficient to make us under-stand the importance of the above version. See that Lord Ramchandraji, with the deep feelings of benevolence, abandoned the kingdom of Ayodhya and in order to comply with the orders of his father, he himself decided to go in the forest alone leaving aside all worldly means of comforts. But his luck favoured him and the result was that even in forest, Lord Rama was able to get all facilities of life and the troubles were converted into riches and happiness. While on the other hand king Ravana, due to selfishness, failed to get any kind of favour, facility and pleasure. In the end, how had he to face all miseries, is very well known to the people specially to considerate persons. Even his own public stood against him; even his own real brother, Vibhishan, left him and joined hands with Lord Rama. Ravan had to face a very tragic end or death at the hands of Lord Rama. Same is the case with Kauravas and Pandavas. Being blessed with all kinds of prosperity and happiness, Kauravas had to face their defeat bitterly and most of them had to face the crucial death at the hands of pandavas. And all the five Pandavas had to face such a grand success that no one could hurt them in any way. Kauravas got their destruction at the hands of Pandavas.
The “Acharya", therefore, says that there is gain in renunciation of material goods but not in their acquisition :
श्वापि देवोऽपि देवः श्वा जायते धर्म-किल्विषात् ।
कापि नाम भवेदन्या सम्पद्धर्माच्छरीरिणाम् ॥२८॥ Explanation :
A dog becomes a DEVA and a Deva becomes a dog with virtue and vice respectively; from “Dharma" living beings obtain even such prosperity as is indescribable in words.