What is dharma? How to serve God? What are the principles of dharma and who sets them?
In Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna states:
paritranaya sadhunam
vinashaya ca duskritam
dharma-samsthapanarthaya
sambhavami yuge yuge
(Bhagavad-gita 4.8)
That is Krishna, himself advents in every millennium to establish the principles of dharma. These principles are very significant for the progress of human society. Dharma forms the foundation of the other three goals of common men. They are, artha (economic development), kama (sense gratification) and ultimately moksha(liberation) It is dharma which separates human beings from animalistic life. Without following dharma, the living entity spirals down to darkest corner of this material world in mode of ignorance. For this reason, the lord himself advents to establish these principles. In fact in Chapter 4th, Verse 2nd, He mentions that because this knowledge was lost due to effect of time, He is again giving it to Arjuna to start a new disciplic succession.
dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam. This means that Dharma is the direct speech of the Supreme Lord. Dharma is not a product of some one’s mental concoctions but authorized statements from the godhead recorded in the Vedic scriptures.
Bhagavad Gita is the crest jewel of all Vedic knowledge. It was delivered by the most perfect Supreme Personality of Godhead – Krishna to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra at a very critical time. The war was about to begin and Arjun had lost all vigor to fight. Most unfortunate situation. Krishna is known as sarvajna. With his expert wisdom, he cut off all the illusory doubts troubling Arjuna. These words are recorded in Bhagavad Gita. It is directly Dharma.
So, to understand Dharma in truth we should actually read Bhagavad Gita As It Is, as it was understood by Arjuna.
In Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna states:
paritranaya sadhunam
vinashaya ca duskritam
dharma-samsthapanarthaya
sambhavami yuge yuge
(Bhagavad-gita 4.8)
That is Krishna, himself advents in every millennium to establish the principles of dharma. These principles are very significant for the progress of human society. Dharma forms the foundation of the other three goals of common men. They are, artha (economic development), kama (sense gratification) and ultimately moksha(liberation) It is dharma which separates human beings from animalistic life. Without following dharma, the living entity spirals down to darkest corner of this material world in mode of ignorance. For this reason, the lord himself advents to establish these principles. In fact in Chapter 4th, Verse 2nd, He mentions that because this knowledge was lost due to effect of time, He is again giving it to Arjuna to start a new disciplic succession.
dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam. This means that Dharma is the direct speech of the Supreme Lord. Dharma is not a product of some one’s mental concoctions but authorized statements from the godhead recorded in the Vedic scriptures.
Bhagavad Gita is the crest jewel of all Vedic knowledge. It was delivered by the most perfect Supreme Personality of Godhead – Krishna to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra at a very critical time. The war was about to begin and Arjun had lost all vigor to fight. Most unfortunate situation. Krishna is known as sarvajna. With his expert wisdom, he cut off all the illusory doubts troubling Arjuna. These words are recorded in Bhagavad Gita. It is directly Dharma.
So, to understand Dharma in truth we should actually read Bhagavad Gita As It Is, as it was understood by Arjuna.
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