ESHA DHARMA SANAATANAH- ( एष धर्मः सनातनः )

SUBHASHITHANI:162

आतुरे नियमो नास्ति बाले वृद्धे तथैव च  |

पराचाररते  चैव  एष  धर्मः  सनातनः ||

aature niyamo naasti baale vruddhe tathaiva cha l

paraachaararate chaiva eSha dharmah sanaatanah ll

It is ordained in the ‘Sanaatan Dharma’, the Religion of Hindus, that sick or suffering people, children, aged persons as also  persons engaged in helping  the needy  persons, need  not (strictly) observe the established rules of good and righteous behaviour as prescribed in the Shastras (Scriptures).

सत्यस्य वचनं श्रेय: सत्यादपि हितंवदेत् ।

यद्भूतहितमत्यन्तं ऐतत् सत्यं मतं मम ॥

satyasya vachanam shreyah satyaadapi hitamvadet

yadbhootahitamatyantam aitat satyam matam mama

Telling truth is recommended, but more than that, tell those things which are in the interest of all. According to me (nArada here) thing which is beneficial to large community, is truth.

अकॄत्यं नैव कर्तव्य प्रााणत्यागेऽपि संस्थिते |

न च कॄत्यं परित्याज्यम् एष धर्म: सनातन: ||

Akrutyam naiva kartavyam praanaatyage api samsthite I

Na cha krutyam parityaajyam esha dharmah sanaatanah II 

The work which is not to be done (because it is bad) should not be done even if you have to loose your life. And the work which has to be done (because it is your duty) - should be continued to be done even if it costs your own life! This is the sanatana Dharma.

सत्यं ब्रूयात् प्रियं ब्रूयात् न ब्रूयात् सत्यमप्रियम् ।

प्रियं च नानृतं ब्रूयात्  एष धर्मः सनातनः ॥

satyaṃ brūyāt priyaṃ brūyāt na brūyāt satyamapriyam ।
priyañca nānṛtaṃ brūyāt eṣa dharmassanātanaḥ ॥  -manusmṛti

Speak the truth, and speak favorably. Do not tell the truth if it is not favorable. Also, do not tell an untruth (although) it is favorable.  This is the eternal dharma.

अपृष्टोऽपि हितं ब्रूयात् यस्य नेच्छेत् पराभवम् ।

एष एव सतां धर्मो विपरीत मतोऽन्यथा ॥

apRuShTo&pi hitaM brUyAt yasya nechChet parAbhavam |

eSha eva satAM dharmo viparIta mato&nyathA ||

If you don't want a known person to fail in his act, you should counsel him if he seeks it. If he happens to be your friend, you should voluntarily give him the counsel even if he does not seek it from you. This is the quality of the good man.

Remaining without giving him your counsel with the thought that you would counsel him when he seeks it or why should you volunteer it when it is not asked for, is the quality of the bad man.

सत्यं वद, धर्मम् चर, स्वाध्यायान्मा प्रमदः ।

आचार्याय प्रियं धनमाहृत्य प्रजातन्तुं मा व्यवच्छेत्सीः ॥

This subhAShita contains advice (from the Taittiriya Upanishad) to the bachelor student graduating from a Gurukula and before entering the stage of the householder (Grihasthashrama): speak truth, behave as dharma dictates, and do not miss self-study (svAdhyAya). After paying fees to the teacher (gurudakshina), do not interrupt family propagation.

शृयताम् धर्मसर्वस्वं शृत्वा चैवावधार्यताम् ।

आत्मनः प्रतिकूलानि परेषां न समाचरेत् ॥

Please listen to the essence of dharma and having listened to it, dwell on it in mind: Whatever is adverse (or unfavorable) to us, we should not adopt that in case of others. This is the Vedic equivalent of the Christian preaching: "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you." [Matthew 7:120]

SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH