No Dharma Equals Another's Welfare and No Sin Equals Another's Pain
Uttara Kanda, Chaupai 39
Doha 41 · Movement 1 of 2
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Rama gives the conclusion of Vedas and Puranas in two clear measures. No dharma equals working for another's welfare, and no degradation equals causing another pain. The vast field of ethics is gathered into relation.
Those who receive a human body and use it to wound others meet terrible fear within becoming. Deluded by self-interest, they destroy their own future. Rama stands before every being as Kala, giving the fruit of wholesome and harmful action.
The wise recognize samsara's sorrow, worship the Lord, and go beyond actions that bind through pleasant or painful result. Rama has described saint and wicked so the listener may hold their qualities in clear sight. Whoever truly understands the distinction does not fall helplessly into the current of becoming. Discernment becomes compassion's guardian, ensuring that non-harm is lived rather than merely admired.
Rama places the whole moral world upon one balance: another's welfare rises as dharma, another's pain falls as sin.
Read the passage from the Manas
पर हित सरिस धर्म नहिं भाई। पर पीड़ा सम नहिं अधमाई।। निर्नय सकल पुरान बेद कर। कहेउँ तात जानहिं कोबिद नर।। नर सरीर धरि जे पर पीरा। करहिं ते सहहिं महा भव भीरा।। करहिं मोह बस नर अघ नाना। स्वारथ रत परलोक नसाना।। कालरूप तिन्ह कहँ मैं भ्राता। सुभ अरु असुभ कर्म फल दाता।। अस बिचारि जे परम सयाने। भजहिं मोहि संसृत दुख जाने।। त्यागहिं कर्म सुभासुभ दायक। भजहिं मोहि सुर नर मुनि नायक।। संत असंतन्ह के गुन भाषे। ते न परहिं भव जिन्ह लखि राखे।।
There is no dharma equal to helping others, brother. There is no sin equal to causing pain to others. This is the conclusion of all Puranas and Vedas, dear one, as wise men know. Those who take human form and cause pain to others suffer great fear in the cycle of birth and death. Deluded by moha, humans commit various sins, devoted to self-interest and destroying their future beyond this life. I am Kala personified for such people, brother, the giver of fruits of good and bad karma. Considering this, those who are supremely wise worship Me, knowing the sorrows of samsara. They abandon both good and bad karma-producing actions and worship Me, the lord of gods, men and sages. I have spoken of the qualities of saints and the wicked. Those who understand and remember these do not fall into worldly existence.