Dharma

bhaktir hi svataḥ prabalatvād anya-nirapekṣā

bhaktir hi svataḥ prabalatvād anya-nirapekṣā | na tu jñānādivat samyag vairāgyādi-sāpekṣā |
(Durgama-saṅgamanī-ṭīkā on Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu: 1.2.15)

“Bhakti, because of its own great power, is independent of others [i.e., is not dependent on the paths of jñāna or karma], and not, rather, dependent on complete vairāgya and so forth like jñāna and so forth [i.e., is not like jñāna and karma dependent, respectively, on vairāgya and eligibility for varṇāśrama-dharma].”

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man-nimittaṁ kṛtaṁ pāpam

man-nimittaṁ kṛtaṁ pāpam api dharmāya kalpate |
mām anādṛtya dharmo’pi pāpaṁ syān mat-prabhāvataḥ ||
(Padma Purāṇa; Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 1.110, 10.263)

[Bhagavān:] “By my power, even sin that is committed for me is considered dharma, and even dharma that disregards me can become sin.”

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arir mitraṁ viṣaṁ pathyam

arir mitraṁ viṣaṁ pathyam adharmo dharmatāṁ vrajet |
suprasanne hṛṣīkeśe viparīte viparyayaḥ ||
(Padma Purāṇa; Hari-bhakti-vilāsa: 1.109, 10.262)

“When Hṛṣīkeśa is highly pleased, then enemies become friends, poison becomes salutary, and adharma becomes dharma. When the opposite occurs [i.e., when Hṛṣīkeśa is displeased], the opposite ensues [i.e., friends become enemies, nutriments becomes poison, and dharma becomes adharma].”

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sukhasya mūlaṁ dharmaḥ

sukhasya mūlaṁ dharmaḥ |
dharmasya mūlam arthaḥ |
arthasya mūlaṁ rājyam |
rājyasya mūlam indriya-jayaḥ |
indriya-jayasya mūlaṁ vinayaḥ |
vinayasya mūlaṁ vṛddhopasevaḥ |
vṛddhopasevayā vijñānam |
vijñānena ātmānaṁ saṁpādayet |
saṁpāditātmā jitātmā bhavati |
jitātmā sarvārthaiḥ saṁyujyeta |
(Cāṇakya-sūtras: 1–10)

“The basis of happiness is dharma [i.e., right conduct, ethics]. The basis of dharma is artha [i.e., resources, wealth, economy]. The basis of artha is kingship [i.e., state, government]. The basis of kingship is control over the senses. The basis of control over the senses is discipline. The basis of discipline is subservience to elders. Through subservience to elders comes proficiency [i.e., discernment]. Equip yourself with proficiency. Those who have equipped themselves become self-controlled. Those who are self-controlled will become endowed with all attainments.”

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