Adharma

ye sabhāya vaiṣṇavera nindā-mātra haya

ye sabhāya vaiṣṇavera nindā-mātra haya |
sarva-dharma thākileo tabhu haya kṣaya ||
sannyāsi-sabhāya yadi haya nindā-karma |
madyapero sabhā haite se sabhā adharmya ||
madyapera niṣkṛti āchaye kono kāle |
para-carcakera gati nahe kabhu bhāle ||
śāstra paḍhiyāo kāro kāro buddhi-nāśa |
(Caitanya-bhāgavata: 2.13.41–44)

“Even if the totality of dharma is [otherwise] present, still an assembly in which defamation (nindā) of a Vaiṣṇava occurs is ruined. If an act of defamation occurs [even] in an assembly of sannyāsīs, then that assembly is adharmic more so than an assembly of drunkards. There is deliverance for a drunkard some day. A gossiper [however] never has progress on their forehead [i.e., never has a bright future]. Even after studying śāstra, the intelligence of many is ruined [by engaging in defamation].”

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prathamaṁ varjayed doṣān yugapat pṛthag eva vā

prathamaṁ varjayed doṣān yugapat pṛthag eva vā |
tathā dharmam avāpnoti doṣa-tyāgo hi duṣkaraḥ |
doṣa-sākalya-santyāgān munir bhavati mānavaḥ ||
duṣkṛta-tyāga-mātreṇa padam ūrdhvaṁ hi labhyate |
(Mahābhārata: 13.232.5, 8)

“First, one should give up faults, all at once or just one by one. Then, one achieves dharma. Giving up faults [however] is certainly difficult to do. [Yet] By completely giving up faults in totality, a human being becomes a sage. … Just by giving up misconduct, a higher standing is attained.”

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na hy asatyāt paro’dharma iti hovāca bhūr iyam

na hy asatyāt paro’dharma iti hovāca bhūr iyam |
sarvaṁ soḍhum alaṁ manye ṛte’līka-paraṁ naram ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 8.20.4)

[Bali Mahārāja to Śukrācārya:] “The earth said, ‘There is no greater adharma than untruthfulness.‘ I think I can verily tolerate everything except an untruthful person.”

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prāṇātyaye vivāhe ca vaktavyam anṛtaṁ bhavet

prāṇātyaye vivāhe ca vaktavyam anṛtaṁ bhavet |
anṛtaṁ ca bhavet satyaṁ satyaṁ caivānṛtaṁ bhavet ||
yad bhūta-hitam atyantaṁ tat satyam iti dhāraṇā |
viparyaya-kṛto’dharmaḥ paśya dharmasya sūkṣmatām ||
(Mahābhārata: 3.200.3–4)

“When one’s life is at stake and in regard to marriage, an untruth can be spoken. [In these cases,] Untruth becomes truth, and truth becomes untruth. That [action or speech] which is of the greater benefit to living beings is truth. This is the conclusion. Doing the opposite is adharma. See the subtlety of dharma.”

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jānāmi dharmaṁ na ca me pravṛttir

jānāmi dharmaṁ na ca me pravṛttir
jānāmy adharmaṁ na ca me nivṛttiḥ |
tvayā hṛṣīkeśa hṛdi sthitena 
yathā niyukto’smi tathā karomi ||
(Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 3.94)

“I understand dharma, but I do not have the propensity [to follow it]. I understand adharma, but I do not have the restraint [to abstain from it]. O Hṛṣīkeśa [i.e., O Master of the senses], as I am engaged by you, who are situated in my heart, so I act.”

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brahma-hatyā surāpānaṁ steyaṁ gurv-aṅganāgamaḥ

brahma-hatyā surāpānaṁ steyaṁ gurv-aṅganāgamaḥ |
mahānti pātakāny āhuḥ saṁsargaś cāpi taiḥ saha ||
(Manu Smṛti: 11.54)

“Killing a brāhmaṇa, drinking wine, stealing, and intercourse with the guru’s wife are called extreme sins (mahāpātakas), as is association with them [i.e., with persons who commit them].”

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śreyāṁsi bahu-vighnāni bhavanti mahatām api

śreyāṁsi bahu-vighnāni bhavanti mahatām api |
aśreyasi pravṛttānāṁ dūraṁ yānti vināyakāḥ ||
(Unknown source)

“There are many obstacles to good works, even for the great. Impediments go away, however, from those engaged in harmful work.”

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yad adharma-kṛtaḥ sthānaṁ sūcakasyāpi tad bhavet

yad adharma-kṛtaḥ sthānaṁ sūcakasyāpi tad bhavet |
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 1.17.22)

“A performer of adharma’s future destination [i.e., Naraka] shall become that of an informer as well [i.e., even one who only speaks about an act of adharma performed by another also gets the reaction for performing that act of adharma even though one has only spoken of it and not performed it oneself].”

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sa kartā sarva-dharmāṇāṁ bhakto yas tava keśava

sa kartā sarva-dharmāṇāṁ bhakto yas tava keśava |
sa kartā sarva-pāpānāṁ yo na bhaktas tavācyuta ||
dharmo bhavaty adharmo’pi kṛto bhaktais tavācyuta |
pāpaṁ bhavati dharmo’pi tavābhaktaiḥ kṛto hareḥ ||
(Skanda Purāṇa; cited in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 10.90)

“He who is your bhakta is a performer of all dharma, O Keśava, and he who is not your bhakta is a performer of all sins, O Acyuta. Even adharma performed by your bhaktas [e.g., some occasional excessive acceptance of donations at a tīrtha or similar place] becomes dharma [because it is for your sake, by virtue of the sincerity of your bhakta], O Acyuta, and even dharma performed by non-bhaktas [e.g., performance of yoga and so on] becomes sin [because of disregard for you], O Hari.”

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