Thanks to my Gurudev's indication, I came to know about the importance of Lokapalasabhakhyana parva. I will straightaway come to point of this article.
I am following the Gita Press translation. So the chapter numbers and shloka numbers as per this edition.
This is from the 5th chapter of Sabha Parva (SP), which is the 1st chapter of Lokapalasabhakhyana parva (LpSkP).
Narada asks Yudhistira in shloka 17
Do you have enough wealth (Artha) for your needs
Does your mind happily rest in Dharma
And hope your mind is having Sukha or happiness
The question here itself is a instruction of what is meaning of Artha and Dharma
Artha: One must dwell in matters of Artha i.e. worldly matters like investment, wealth, mundane things related to finances, material things to the extent of satisfying one's needs to survive and sustain in this planet. It is important, no doubt, but for a certain limited purpose.
Dharma: One's heart must happily be involved in matters of Dharma. Dharma is what one ought to do in every aspect of one's life. Be it profession, be it in various relationships, be it as a responsible person in this society, in every aspect.
And it should not be stressful for one to apply oneself to it. It must happen easily, naturally - as if its one's very own nature. As much away any being goes from it's natural state, that much stress it has to bear. As much stress, that much away one is from Dharma.
So what Narada muni is trying to say is Dharma is that which comes naturally. For some its natural to wake up in the morning and go to gym, while for some others its yoga, for some others its dhyana, for some its puja, for some its getting into work straightaway. Of course it must be something which is in good interest of you and others. If so, then whatever be that activity, do you feel happy doing that, does it come easily and naturally to you. If so, then it's Dharma.
Shloka 29
Hope you are not causing harm to:
Your Dharma due to greed of more Artha
And to Artha due to being too involved in Dharma
And to both Dharma and Artha due to being lazy, weak and indulging in sensual gratification
I need not elaborate much on this, as Narada's words are quite clear. He is advising a balance between Dharma and Artha as if they are the two sides of a scale. One needs both in life.
Without Dharma, there is no purpose or direction behind that Artha. Dharma gives the objective as well as path to follow. But spending just time on Dharma, without attention to Artha means that you dont have the resources to go on this path. Whats the point of knowing the path, if you cannot tread it. Narada is indicating very clearly that both have an important place in one's life.
And regarding Kama, it is just to relax, to give respite to the tired senses. Within control and in moderation, one can fulfill one's sensual needs. We are given a body and body has its needs. It likes some food, it likes to do certain activities, be it sports or entertainment or shopping or whatever. its fine, do it, but do in moderation. Let it not deplete your energy for the necessary Dharma and Karma. These sensual activities give momentary happiness, and that is fine. Its just like a marathon runner takes a drink break once in a while. That should be the utility of "kama" activities in our life.
Further Narada says that Yudhishtira knows the right time for Dharma Artha and Kama.
So there is a time for each of these activities. A wise man plans these things properly.
I am following the Gita Press translation. So the chapter numbers and shloka numbers as per this edition.
This is from the 5th chapter of Sabha Parva (SP), which is the 1st chapter of Lokapalasabhakhyana parva (LpSkP).
Narada asks Yudhistira in shloka 17
Do you have enough wealth (Artha) for your needs
Does your mind happily rest in Dharma
And hope your mind is having Sukha or happiness
The question here itself is a instruction of what is meaning of Artha and Dharma
Artha: One must dwell in matters of Artha i.e. worldly matters like investment, wealth, mundane things related to finances, material things to the extent of satisfying one's needs to survive and sustain in this planet. It is important, no doubt, but for a certain limited purpose.
Dharma: One's heart must happily be involved in matters of Dharma. Dharma is what one ought to do in every aspect of one's life. Be it profession, be it in various relationships, be it as a responsible person in this society, in every aspect.
And it should not be stressful for one to apply oneself to it. It must happen easily, naturally - as if its one's very own nature. As much away any being goes from it's natural state, that much stress it has to bear. As much stress, that much away one is from Dharma.
So what Narada muni is trying to say is Dharma is that which comes naturally. For some its natural to wake up in the morning and go to gym, while for some others its yoga, for some others its dhyana, for some its puja, for some its getting into work straightaway. Of course it must be something which is in good interest of you and others. If so, then whatever be that activity, do you feel happy doing that, does it come easily and naturally to you. If so, then it's Dharma.
Shloka 29
Hope you are not causing harm to:
Your Dharma due to greed of more Artha
And to Artha due to being too involved in Dharma
And to both Dharma and Artha due to being lazy, weak and indulging in sensual gratification
I need not elaborate much on this, as Narada's words are quite clear. He is advising a balance between Dharma and Artha as if they are the two sides of a scale. One needs both in life.
Without Dharma, there is no purpose or direction behind that Artha. Dharma gives the objective as well as path to follow. But spending just time on Dharma, without attention to Artha means that you dont have the resources to go on this path. Whats the point of knowing the path, if you cannot tread it. Narada is indicating very clearly that both have an important place in one's life.
And regarding Kama, it is just to relax, to give respite to the tired senses. Within control and in moderation, one can fulfill one's sensual needs. We are given a body and body has its needs. It likes some food, it likes to do certain activities, be it sports or entertainment or shopping or whatever. its fine, do it, but do in moderation. Let it not deplete your energy for the necessary Dharma and Karma. These sensual activities give momentary happiness, and that is fine. Its just like a marathon runner takes a drink break once in a while. That should be the utility of "kama" activities in our life.
Further Narada says that Yudhishtira knows the right time for Dharma Artha and Kama.
So there is a time for each of these activities. A wise man plans these things properly.
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