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The
Puranas are the magnifying glass of the Vedas. The principles and
rules of dharma that are briefly dealt with in the Vedas are
enlarged or elaborated upon in them in the form of stories. A
subject briefly touched upon may not make a deep impression on
the mind. If the same were told as an absorbing story it would at
once make an impact on the mind of the listener or reader.
The
Vedas urge us to speak the truth ("Satyam vada"). How
one becomes exalted by remaining truthful at all costs is
illustrated by the story of Hariscandra. "Dharmam cara"
(Follow dharma, live a life of dharma) is a Vedic injunction
consisting of just two words. The importance of the pursuit of
dharma is explained through the long story of Dharmaputra
[Yudhisthira] in the Mahabharata. "Matr-devo bhava" and
"Ptir-devo bhava" ("Be one to whom the mother is
god" - "Be one to whom the father is god"): these
two admonishments are enlarged on, as it were, through the
magnifying glass in the story of Sri Rama. Such dharmic virtues
as humility, patience, compassion, chastity, which are the
subject of Vedic ordinances, are illustrated through the noble
examples of men belonging to ancient times, women of hallowed
reputation. By reading their stories or listening to them we form
a deep attachment to the virtues and qualities exemplified by
them.
All
these men and women whose accounts are contained in the Puranas
had to undergo trials and tribulations. We keep commiting so many
wrongs. But consider these Puranic characters who had to suffer
more than we suffer. Indeed some of them had to go through
terrible ordeals. However, by reading their stories we do not
form the impression that adherence to dharma means suffering. On
the contrary, etched in our minds is the example of men and women
of great inner purity who in their practice of dharma stood like
a rock against all difficulties and challenges. At the same time,
we moved by their tales of woe and thereby our own inner
impurities are washed away. Finally, the glorious victory they
achieve in the end and fame they achieve help to create a sturdy
bond in us with dharma.
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"Hindu Dharma" is a book
which contains English translation of certain invaluable and
engrossing speeches of Sri Sri Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi MahaSwamiji (at
various times during the years 1884 to 1994).
For a general background, please see here
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