Miscellaneous - Religion   

Code that liberates

CHENNAI: The quest for liberation involves two steps, identifying the right path and then opting to take that route. While the scriptures and the puranas serve as invaluable pointers or signposts, liberation cannot be sought by merely knowing this fact, said Sri B. Damodara Dikshitar in a discourse. The onus is on the individual to undertake the travel through the paths thus shown, however arduous it may be.

Of the Mahabharata it is claimed that there is no aspect of dharma that the epic has not dealt with. Nor has the value system thus endorsed undergone any change with the passage of time. The narratives of Nala, Harichandra, or the Pandavas, mirror the very essence of human life, its joys and misfortunes, and the heights and depths of human experiences. But the fundamental message is the need to uphold dharma at all costs and even in the most demanding circumstances. Not only have these great souls met the challenges with courage and went through the travails with tremendous patience, they also did not deviate from the path of dharma. They did not compromise their ideals or their integrity.

The emphasis on the code of dharma is reflected in the many episodes of the Mahabharata. One such episode has the eponymous Dharmaputra answering the sharp doubts on the concept of dharma, raised by King Nahusha in serpent form. It is not birth or status that characterises a person's worth, but only the moral code he upholds. Truth, magnanimity, patience, good conduct and a heart free from envy, are the prime indicators of a truly evolved soul.

Apart from the inspirational model of the moral code, there are lessons for imbibing spiritual strength to cope with the joys and sorrows that are bound to crisscross in one's lifetime. Once it is understood that human birth is the result of many births at different points of time, the real knowledge that joy and sorrow are mere states of mind and very transient, begins to dawn. One should learn to break away from the human tendency to seek temporary measures to alleviate the intensity of sorrow, and begin to accept life's challenges and look out for permanent peace. Upholding dharma and attaining Brahma Jnana alone can lead to liberation.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

CARTOONSCAPE
The Hindu Crossword 8499
Solution to Puzzle 8498
Code that liberates
dated January 13, 1956: Expansion of Madras AIR
dated January 13, 1956: Malaya-Singapore merger
dated January 13, 1956: University centenary
Weather

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu