Vaishali Institute Research Bulletin 1

Author(s): Nathmal Tatia
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 172

VALUES AND RELIGION
NATHMAL TATIA
na párvāhpa-madhyandini-parahộan aphalan kuryad yathāśakti dharınärthakämebhyaḥ, teşu tu dharmottaraḥ syāt.-Gautamadharmasūtra, IX. 48-49.
One should not pass the mornings, the middays and the evenings in vain without performing religious duty (dharma), acquiring wealth (artha), and enjoying the pleasures of life (kāma) to the best of one's ability. Among these (three), however, one should place religious duty first and foremost.
1. The nearest Sanskrit equivalent of 'value' is śreyas which is defined by Kumārila as human happiness (śreyo hi puruşapritiḥ-ślokavārttika, codanāsūtra, 191). The Manusamhita (II. 224) characterizes dharma, artha and kama as śreyas and states the different ancient theories about them, along with its own, as follows:
dharmarthavucyate śreyaḥ kamarthau dharma eva ca. artha eveha va sreyas trivarga iti tu sthiti”.
That is, religious duty and wealth alone are considered śreyas 'conducive to human happiness' (by some thinkers); (according to others) it is pleasures and wealth alone (that are śreyas); (according to some) religious duty alone (is śreyas); wealth alone is śreyas here (in this world, according to others). The fact, however, is that the (entire) group of three is (the śreyas).
In the Mahabharata (Šintiparva, Chapter 161, B.O.R.I. Edition, 1954), we find a detailed discussion of these theories. There Vidura places religious duty (dharma) at the top and pleasures (kama) at the bottom of the triad. Arjuna considers wealth as the sine qua non of both religious duty and pleasures. While endorsing Arjuna's advocacy for a strong economic foundation for the acquisition of pleasures, Nakula and Sahadeva regard religious duty and wealth as co-ordinates, the latter adding favour to the former which confers immortality (madhvivāmstasa niyuktam). Bhima's approach to the problem is psychological. He finds kama (desire) at the root of all activities. A man
1. Read at the All India Seminar on “Religion and Changing values"
organized by the centre of Advanced Study in Philosophy, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, March 12-14, 1970: