Dharma
tad evaṁ bhagavad-arpita-dharmādi-sādhyatvāt tāṁ
tad evaṁ bhagavad-arpita-dharmādi-sādhyatvāt tāṁ vinānyeṣām akiñcitkaratvāt, tasyāḥ svata eva samarthatvāt, sva-leśena svābhāsādināpi paramārtha-paryanta-prāpakatvāt, sarveṣāṁ varṇānāṁ nityatvāc ca, sākṣād bhakti-rūpaṁ tat-sāmmukhyam evātrābhidheyaṁ vastv iti sthitam | iyam eva kevalatvād ananyatākhyā | … tasyāś ca mahādurbodhatvaṁ mahādurlabhatvaṁ coktam … | … tad evaṁ tasyāḥ śravaṇādi-rūpāyāḥ sākṣād-bhakteḥ sarva-vighna-nivāraṇa-pūrvaka-sākṣād-bhagavat-prema-phaladatve sthite parama-durlabhatve ca saty anya-kāmanayā ca nābhidheyatvam | … tan-mātra-kāmanāyāṁ ca bhakter evākiñcanatvam akāmatvaṁ ca saṁjñāpitam | … tatheyam evaikāntitety ucyate |
(Bhakti Sandarbha: 165)
“Thus, in this way, here [i.e., in this book], intentness (sāmmukhya) upon him [i.e., Bhagavān] in the form of direct bhakti [to him] has been established as the subject, the abhidheya [i.e., the principal directive of the śāstra, the means to the highest attainment], because of (1) [its] being the goal of [performing] dharma and so forth offered to Bhagavān, (2) all else [i.e., all other processes] being useless [i.e., ineffective] without it, (3) [its] being capable [i.e., effective] of its own accord [i.e., independently of all other processes], (4) [its] being with just a trace of itself, a semblance of itself, and so forth a cause of attaining even the supreme object, and (5) [its] being compulsory for all varṇas. Because of [its] being exclusive [i.e., not involving worship of any other devatās], it is called ananyatā [i.e., unalloyedness, lit., ‘having no other’]. … Its being most difficult to understand and most difficult to attain are also stated [in SB 6.3.19, SB 3.15.24, and elsewhere]. … Thus, in this way, with this direct bhakti in the form of hearing and so forth being established as first the remover of all obstacles and [then] the bestower of the goal of prema for Bhagavān himself, and [its also being established as] extremely difficult to attain, [its] not being the abhidheya when [performed] with another desire [i.e., any desire other than desire for itself] is [established] as well. … When one has desire only for that [i.e., for bhakti itself], bhakti’s akiñcanatva [i.e., unconditionality, lit. ‘being without anything’] and akāmatva [i.e., being without desire for anything else, lit., ‘desirelessness’] is made known. … It is thus [also] called ekāntitā [lit., ‘one-pointedness’].”
maryādāṁ ca kṛtāṁ tena yo bhinatti sa mānavaḥ
maryādāṁ ca kṛtāṁ tena yo bhinatti sa mānavaḥ |
na viṣṇu-bhakto vijñeyaḥ sādhu-dharmārcito hariḥ ||
(Viṣṇu-dharma Purāṇa; cited in Bhakti Sandarbha: 172, 173)
“A human being who transgresses the code of conduct established by him [i.e., by Bhagavān Viṣṇu] should not be recognized as a bhakta of Viṣṇu; Hari is worshipped by virtuous conduct [i.e., the dharma of the sādhus, and not by transgressions thereof].”
yathā hi puruṣasyeha viṣṇoḥ pādopasarpaṇam
yathā hi puruṣasyeha viṣṇoḥ pādopasarpaṇam |
yad eṣa sarva-bhūtānāṁ priya ātmeśvaraḥ suhṛt ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 7.6.2)
“[Prahlāda Mahārāja:] Here [i.e., in human life], a person’s approaching the feet of Viṣṇu is certainly appropriate, since he is the beloved, the Self, the Lord, and the well-wisher of all beings.”
pradīpaḥ sarva-vidyānām upāyaḥ sarva-karmaṇām
pradīpaḥ sarva-vidyānām upāyaḥ sarva-karmaṇām |
āśrayaḥ sarva-dharmānāṁ vidyoddeśe prakīrtitā ||
(Vātsyāyana’s Nyāya-bhāṣya on Gautama’s Nyāya-sūtra: 1.1.1)
“Ānvīkṣikī [i.e., logic (nyāya)] is stated in the enumeration of sciences [i.e., fields of knowledge] to be the lamp of all sciences (vidyās), the means for [accomplishing] all karmas, and the basis of all dharmas.”
ye’bhyarthitām api ca no nṛ-gatiṁ prapannā
ye’bhyarthitām api ca no nṛ-gatiṁ prapannā
jñānaṁ ca tattva-viṣayaṁ saha-dharma yatra |
nārādhanaṁ bhagavato vitaranty amuṣya
sammohitā vitatayā bata māyayā te ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 3.15.24; cited in Bhakti Sandarbha: 108)
[Brahmā to Maitreya:] “Bata! (Alas!) Even those who have attained a human state [i.e., life] wherein jñāna (awareness) relating to Tattva along with dharma are present, which is sought by us [i.e., by Brahmā and the other devas], but do not offer worship to Bhagavān [i.e., he who is source of all dharma and all jñāna] are thoroughly bewildered by his all-pervading māyā.”
āpannārti-praśamana-phalāḥ sampado hy uttamānām
āpannārti-praśamana-phalāḥ sampado hy uttamānām |
(Megha-dūta: 1.53)
“The effect of the wealth of the noble is alleviation of the afflicted’s distress.”
kevalaṁ śāstram āśritya na kartavyo vinirṇayaḥ
kevalaṁ śāstram āśritya na kartavyo vinirṇayaḥ |
yukti-hīna-vicāre tu dharma-hāniḥ prajāyate ||
(Bṛhaspati; quoted in the Smṛti-candrikā)
“Do not ascertain what is to be done on the basis of śāstra alone. Diminution of dharma certainly occurs as a result of deliberation devoid of reasoning.”
brāhmaṇena niṣkāraṇo dharmaḥ ṣaḍaṅgo vedo’dhyeyo jñeya iti
brāhmaṇena niṣkāraṇo dharmaḥ ṣaḍaṅgo vedo’dhyeyo jñeya iti |
pradhānaṁ ca ṣaṭsv aṅgeṣu vyākaraṇam |
pradhāne ca kṛto yatnaḥ phalavān bhavati |
(Mahābhāṣya)
“Dharma, the six aṅgas [of the Veda], and the Veda are to be received and learned by a brāhmaṇa without cause [i.e., without any selfish motive, and without questioning the reason why this should be done]. Among the six aṅgas, vyākaraṇa (grammar) is the foremost, and exertion done in regard to that which is foremost becomes fruitful.”
kiṁsvit satyaṁ kim anṛtaṁ kiṁsvid dharmyaṁ sanātanam
kiṁsvit satyaṁ kim anṛtaṁ kiṁsvid dharmyaṁ sanātanam |
kasmin kāle vadet satyaṁ kasmin kāle’nṛtaṁ vadet ||
satyasya vacanaṁ sādhu na satyād vidyate param |
yad bhūloke sudurjñātaṁ tat te vakṣyāmi bhārata ||
bhavet satyam avaktavyaṁ vaktavyam anṛtaṁ bhavet |
yatrānṛtaṁ bhavet satyaṁ satyaṁ vāpy anṛtaṁ bhavet ||
tādṛśe muhyate bālo yatra satyam aniṣṭhitam |
satyānṛte viniścitya tato bhavati dharmavit ||
(Mahābhārata: 12.110.3–6)
[Yudhiṣṭhira inquires:] “‘What is truth? What is untruth? What is always in accord with dharma? When should truth be spoken? When should untruth be spoken?’ [Bhīṣmadeva answers:] Truthful speech is best. There is nothing greater than truth. That which is very difficult to understand on the surface of earth [i.e., truth] I shall describe to you, O descendant of Bhārata. Truth can be improper to speak, and untruth can be proper to speak. An unwise person is bewildered by that wherein untruth can be truth or truth can also be untruth, and wherein truth is not fixed. After determining [what is] truth and [what is] untruth one then becomes a knower of dharma.”