dharma

Dharma

 idaṁ ca tvāṁ sarva paraṁ bravīmi puṇyaṁ padaṁ tāta mahāviśiṣṭam | na jātu kāmān na bhayān na lobhād dharmaṁ tyajej jīvitasyāpi hetoḥ || 214 || 

O sire, I would impart another lesson productive of great benefit, and which is the highest of all teachings, viz., Dharma should never be forsaken from passion, fear, or greed, not even for the sake of life itself. 

ijyādhyayana dānāni tapaḥ satyaṃ kṣamā ghṛṇā | alobha iti margo'yaṃ dharmasyāṣṭa vidhaḥ smṛtaḥ || 215 ||

 The eigthfold path of Dharma is yajña, veda-study, charity, truth, forgiveness, compassion (ghṛṇā = warm feeling towards others) and generosity. 

tatra pūrva catur-vargo dambhārtham api sevyate | uttaraśca catur-vargo nāmahātmāsu tiṣṭhati || 216 || 

The first four can be practiced by anyone out of hyprocisy. But the latter four cannot be found in someone who is not a great being. nityo dharmaḥ sukha-duḥkhe tvanitye nityo jīvo dhātur asya tvanityaḥ | tyaktvānityaṁ pratitiṣṭhasva nitye santuṣya tvaṁ toṣaparo hi lābhaḥ || 217 || 

Dharma is everlasting; pleasure and pain are transitory; life is indeed everlasting but its particular phases are transitory. Forsaking that which is transitory, hold fast to that which is everlasting, and let contentment be yours, for contentment is the highest of all acquisitions. 

na sā sabhā yatra na santi vṛddhā na te vṛddhā ye na vadanti dharmam | nāsau dharmo yatra na satyamasti na tat satyaṁ yacchalenānuviddham || 218 || 

That is no assembly where there are no seniors, and they are not seniors who do not declare what Dharma is. That is not Dharma which is separated from truth, and that is not truth which is fraught with deceit. 

 pāpaṁ kurvan pāpa-kīrtiḥ pāpam evāśnute phalam | puṇyaṁ kurvan puṇya-kīrtiḥ puṇyam evāśnute phalam || 219 ||

 A notorious person, by committing wickedness, experiences negative consequences. A renowned person by practicing virtue, reaps great happiness.

 pāpaṁ prajñāṁ nāśayati kriyamāṇaṁ punaḥ punaḥ | naṣṭa prajñaḥ pāpam eva nityam ārabhate naraḥ || 220 || 

Iniquity repeatedly perpetrated, destroys one's intelligence; and the one who has lost intelligence, repeatedly commits transgressions. Therefore, one who is rigidly resolved, should abstain from all wrong doing. 

puṇyaṁ prajñāṁ vardhayati kriyamāṇaṁ punaḥ punaḥ | vṛddha prajñaḥ puṇyam eva nityam ārabhate naraḥ || 221 || 

Virtue, repeatedly practiced, enhances intelligence; and one whose intelligence has increased, repeatedly practices virtue. 

daśa dharmaṁ na jānanti dhṛtarāṣṭra nibodha tān | mattaḥ pramatta unmattaḥ śrāntaḥ kruddho bubhukṣitaḥ || 222 || 

tvaramāṇaśca bhīruśca lubdhaḥ kāmī ca te daśa | tasmād eteṣu bhāveṣu na prasajjeta paṇḍitaḥ || 223 || 

O Dhritarashtra, these ten persons do not know [or care] what Dharma is viz., the intoxicated, the inattentive, the mad, the fatigued, the angry, the starving, the hasty, the greedy, the frightened and the lustful. Therefore, a wise person should always avoid attachment to their company. 

satyena rakṣyate dharmo vidyā yogena rakṣyate | mṛjayā rakṣyate rūpaṁ kulaṁ vṛttena rakṣyate || 224 ||

 Dharma is protected by truth, knowledge by application, beauty by hygiene and the family by exemplary behavior. 

dharmārthau yaḥ parityajya syād indriyavaśānugaḥ | śrī prāṇa dhana dārebhya kṣipraṁ sa parihīyate || 225 || 

One who abandons Dharma and Artha and dedicates himself to unrestrained pleasure, quickly loses prosperity, health, wealth and spouse.