Achara and Dharma

Importance of आचारः

चतुर्णामपि वर्णानामाचारश्चैव शाश्वतः।

For all four classes of men, “Achara” (Practice) is permanent.

आचारः परमो धर्मः श्रुत्युक्तः स्मार्त एव च।

तस्मादस्मिन् सदा युक्तो नित्यं स्यादात्मवान्।।

“Achara” explained by “Sruti” and “Smriti” is the greatest Dharma.  Therefore, one who always engages oneself in this Achara is indeed the one, indifferent from “Atman”.

आचाराद्विच्युतो विप्रो न वेदफलमश्नुते।

आचारेण तु संयुक्तः संपूर्णफलभाग्भवेत्।।

A “Vipra” does not get the fruit of “Studying Veda” if he is away from following “Achara”.  Only that person, who follows Achara will have the comprehensive benefit of studying the Veda.

एवमाचारतो दृष्ट्वा धर्मस्य मुनयो गतिम्।

सर्वस्य तपसो मूलमाचारं जगृहुः परम्।।

In this way, the sages understood that the path of Dharma starts from “Achara”.  Therefore, they considered that the strong root of their penance is “Achara”.

How आचारः should be followed?

श्रुतिस्मृत्युदितं सम्यङ्निबद्धं स्वेषु कर्मसु।

धर्ममूलं निषेवेत सदाचारमतन्द्रितः।।

“Sadachara” has the following characteristics – 1) It is originated from either Sruti or Smriti.  2) It is properly promoted in one’s own duties.  3) It is the root of Dharma.  Therefore, one should serve “Sadachara” without any laziness. 

The Benefits of following आचारः

आचाराल्लभते ह्यायुराचारादीप्सिताः प्रजाः।

आचाराद्धनमक्षय्यमाचारो हन्त्यलक्षणम्।।

By following Achara, one can attain “Long Life”.  He can attain “The Desired Progeny”.  Achara provides Plentiful Prosperity.  Achara destroys all the Imperfections.

सर्वलक्षणहीनोsपि यस्सदाचारवान्नरः।

श्रद्धधानोsनसूयुश्च शतं वर्षाणि जीवति।।

A person may have all the deficiencies in his life but if he is a sincere, careful and unprejudiced follower of Sadachara, he will live a good life for hundred years.

The Disadvantages of दुराचारः

दुराचारो हि पुरुषो लोके भवति निन्दितः।

दुःखभागी च सततं व्याधितोsल्पायुरेव च।।

A person who practices Durachara will become blameworthy.  He will be always sorrowful, suffers from illness and very short span of life.

Who is आचार्यः?

उपनीय तु यश्शिष्यं वेदमध्यापयेद्द्विजः।

सकल्पं सरहस्यं च तमाचार्यं प्रचक्षते।।

That “twice born” is indeed said to be an “Acharya” who performs “Upanayana” to his disciple and teaches Veda along with Kalpa and all the secrets.

The importance of धर्मः

नामुत्र हि सहायार्थं पिता माता च तिष्ठतः।

न पुत्रदारा न ज्ञातिर्धर्मस्तिष्ठति केवलः।।

Neither father nor mother stands to support a person in the next world.  Even sons, wife, relatives cannot support a person in the next world.  It is indeed Dharma that stands in support of a person there.

कामक्रोधौ तु संयम्य योऽर्थान् धर्मेण पश्यति।

प्रजास्तमनुवर्तन्ते समुद्रमिव सिन्धवः।।

The general public do reach the person who follows Dharma by avoiding Kama and Krodha, just as the streams reach the Ocean.

What is धर्मः?

धृतिः क्षमो दमोsस्तेयं शौचमिन्द्रियनिग्रहः।

धीर्विद्या सत्यमक्रोधो दशकं धर्मलक्षणम्।।

The following 10 are the limbs of Dharma. 

01	धृतिः	Contentment
02	क्षमा	Doing favour even to a person who does some harm
03	दमः	Self restraint
04	अस्तेयम्	Non-stealing
05	शौचम्	Cleanliness
06	इन्द्रियनिग्रहः	Control over senses
07	धीः	Knowledge of Sastras
08	विद्या	Knowledge of Self
09	सत्यम्	Speaking Truth
10	अक्रोधः	Being tranquil even in irritating situation

Who should follow Dharma?

चतुर्भिरपि चैवैतैर्नित्यमाश्रमिभिर्द्विजैः।

दशलक्षणको धर्मः सेवितव्यः प्रयत्नतः।।

All the ten Dharmas should be deliberately followed by the people of four Varnas and four Asramas as well.

What is the source of Dharma?

वेदोऽखिलो धर्ममूलं स्मृतिशीले च तद्विदाम्।

आचारश्चैव साधूनामात्मनस्तुष्टिरेव च।।

5 accepted sources of Dharma are there.  1) All the Vedas 2) Smritis 3) The Conduct of Vedic Scholars 4) The Practices of the Noble 5) Satisfaction of self

Standards of Dharma

वेदः स्मृतिः सदाचारः स्वस्य च प्रियमात्मनः।

एतच्चतुर्विधं प्राहुः साक्षाद्धर्मस्य लक्षणम्।।

There are four kinds of Dharma. 1) Veda 2) Smriti 3) Sadachara 4) Self-favourable

Who should study Dharma?

अर्थकामेष्वसक्तानां धर्मज्ञानं विधीयते।

धर्मं जिज्ञासमानानां प्रमाणं परमं श्रुतिः।।

Knowledge of Dharma is intended for those who are not desirous of Artha and Kama.  For those who wish to learn Dharma, the supreme source is nothing but Veda.

Benefits of following धर्मः

दशलक्षणानि धर्मस्य ये विप्रास्समधीयते।

अधीत्य चानुवर्तन्ते ते यान्ति परमां गतिम्।।

Those who learn and practice the 10 limbs of Dharma, will reach the premier destination.

श्रुतिस्मृत्युदितं धर्ममनुतिष्ठन् हि मानवः।

इह कीर्तिमवाप्नोति प्रेत्य चानुत्तमं सुखम्।।

A man who performs Dharma emerged from Srutis and Smritis will attain fame in the mortal world and the ultimate bliss later.

नामुत्र हि सहायार्थं पिता माता च तिष्ठतः।

न पुत्रदारा न ज्ञातिर्धर्मस्तिष्ठति केवलः।।

No father, no mother, no son, no wife, no relative stands in support of a person in the next world.  It is only Dharma that stands as your support.

मृतं शरीरमुत्सृज्य काष्ठलोष्ठसमं क्षितौ।

विमुखा बान्धवा यान्ति धर्मस्तमनुगच्छति।।

All the relatives return by leaving behind the dead body which is equal to a wood and mud, on the terrain.  Dharma alone follows a person even after death.

Practice of धर्मः

येनास्य पितरो याता येन याताः पितामहाः।

तेन यायात्सतां मार्गं तेन गच्छन्न रिष्यते।।

A person never gets diverted from Dharma if he follows that good path, which was followed earlier by his fathers and grandfathers. 

धर्मं शनैः सञ्चिनुयाद्वल्मीकमिव पुत्तिकाः।

परलोकसहायार्थं सर्वभूतान्यपीडयन्।।

Without causing any harm to any living creatures, for attaining support in the next world, one should gradually gather Dharma just as the ants develop an anthill.

Avoid अधर्मः

न सीदन्नपि धर्मेषु मनोऽधर्मे निवेशयेत्।

अधार्मिकाणां पापानामाशु पश्यन् विपर्ययम्।।

Even while suffering for following Dharma, one should not divert one’s mind from Dharma towards Adharma.  One should carefully observe that those who follow Adharma may enjoy temporarily but endure ultimate sufferings.

नाधर्मश्चरितो लोके सद्यः फलति गौरिव।

शनैरावर्तमानस्तु कर्तुर्मूलानि कृन्तति।।

We can’t expect that Adharma would give result immediately, just like a cow that gives milk soon after grazing.  Slowly but surely, Adharma will cut the roots of the doer.

Training to perform धर्मः

सत्यधर्मार्यवृत्तेषु शौचे चैवारमेत्सदा।

शिष्यांश्च शिष्याद्धर्मेण वाग्बाहूदरसंयुतः।।

By controlling one’s speech, hands and belly, one should enjoy oneself in the practice of Satya, Dharma, Saucha and following the path of the noble.  One should train his disciples and descendants the same.