| The merchant
instructs Jabali on right conduct, In sloka 9 he says: " He who by his action, mind
and speech is continually engrossed in the welfare of others and who is always a friend of
others knows Dharma." This Sloka explains the basic test of Dharma and declares that
the essence of Dharma is love and service to others. Again, in Sloka 16-it is said that
he, who does no harm to others by act, m1nd and speech, attains the Supreme Being. In
other words, love to all is the realisation of Godhead. ‘Love and God ' as the great
Tamil classic Thirumanthirum says." In
fact, the Mahabharatha envisages the perfect Age or Krita Yuga as it is called consisting
of Ekanthins i.e. men with single-minded devotion to God and who are completely
non-violent and interested in doing good to all beings and devoid of selfish action."
In many places the Mahabharatha in the Vana Parva, Shanti Parva and the Anusasana
Parva eulogiscs the merits acquired by a person in performing philanthropic acts of public
utility such as digging of wells, construct- ion of tanks, establishment of parks etc.,
The story of Indradyumna in the Vana Parva very impressively illustrates the great merit
acquired by the construction of a tank.
King Indradyumna was a denizen of the Heavens for a long time.
He was sent down to earth after his punya was exhausted. He was curious to know
whether any body remembered him on earth. H approached Markandeya as a long-lived person
and asked him whether he remembered King Indradyumna. Markandeya replied in the negative. |
