Stand by Dharma
Niti Chalisa
न जातु कामान्न भयान्न लोभाद धर्म त्यजेज्जीवितस्यापि हेतोः। नित्यो धर्मः सुखदुःखे त्वनित्ये जीवो नित्यो हेतुरस्य त्वनित्यः ।।
(महाभारत – स्वर्गारोहणपर्व ५.६३)
“कामनासे, भयसे, लोभसे अथवा प्राण बचानेके लिए भी धर्मका त्याग न करे। निष्कामभावसे अनुष्ठित यज्ञादिरूप और आत्मज्ञानरूप धर्मका फल मोक्ष नित्य होनेके कारण धर्म नित्य है और सुख दुःख अनित्य हैं। इसी प्रकार जीवात्मा नित्य है और उसके बन्धनके अविद्या-काम-कर्मरूप हेतु अनित्य है।।”
Essence
This verse from Swargarohana parva of Mahabharata motivates us to stand with dharma against all odds. It urges us not to forsake dharma out of desire, fear, greed or even to save one’s (our) life.
When our dharma is performed selflessly in the form of yajna and knowing the nature of “Self” it has its fruit in the form of moksha or ultimate liberation.
Dharma is eternal and feelings like happiness and sorrow are impermanent. Similarly, the soul is eternal. It is bound only due to ignorance, lust, action, etc, which are impermanent in nature.
