Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitah: To Uphold To Sustain To Integrate Part 3/3

Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitah: To Uphold To Sustain To Integrate Part 3/3

By Pujya Swami Prakashanandaji (Feature address delivered at Varsha Pratipada Sansad, 2025)

TULASIDAS JI

While we speak of truth being to foundation of dharma, there is an interesting doha by Govswami ji which says:

Dayaa dharma ka moola hai, paapa moola abhimaana

Tulasi dayaa na chhadiye, jaba laga ghata mein praana

Dayaa (compassion) is the very foundation of dharma. Abhimaana (arrogance/pride) is the cause of paapa (evil). Tulasidas says as long as life persists we should not relinquish dayaa.

This idea ties in very nicely with the Gita idea I mentioned earlier—aatmaupamyena sarvatra. Upanishad also says I love myself the most—aatmanastu kaamaaya sarvam priyam bhavati. I have the most compassion for myself. Therefore, extending that compassion to others becomes the highest and most sacred act we can engage in. Since it is inconceivable that I will act antithetical to my own interest because of my love and compassion for my own self, if I extend that compassion to others, I will always be following dharma—I will only seek their benefit as I do for myself.

SANATANA DHARMA

If saamaanya dharma is valued by all religions then how is Sanatana Dharma different from other religions or what then is Sanatana dharma? I just mentioned that one of the guiding principles in sanatana dharma is do not do to others what you would not have them do to you. Now see a very simple example. People of other religions would not like it if their followers are converted—it pains them. Then why do you go converting others would it not bring pain to the followers of that religion? But you find a justification to obviate your disregard for other peoples’ pain.

In Sanatana dharma it is dishonest to overlook the pain of another to quench your unfettered desire to do good based on your belief. A doctor brings pain to a patient to cure him but medicine is proven and universally accepted religions are not!

Sanatana dharma is first and foremost saamaanya dharma plus the set of beliefs, principles and practices laid down in the Vedas and emulated by the ancient civilization of Bharat (and today elsewhere) that are totally in accord with saamaanya dharma.

The classic example of being protected by dharma and being forsaken by dharma is the story of  Arjuna and Duryodhana. Arjuna followed dharma and Duryodhana adharma. When it was time to choose between Krishna and his army Duryodhana ended up with the army while Arjuna got the Lord Himself—who is called in the eleventh chapter as shaashvata dharma goptaa, protector of the eternal dharma.

(Pujya Swami Prakashanandaji is a direct disciple of world renowned Swami Chinmayanandaji. He is the Head of Chinmaya Mission Trinidad & Tobago and Guyana with responsibility for the Chinmaya Mission’s works across the Caribbean and Latin America)