In Srimad Bhagavatam, when the five Pandavas and Draupadi were exiled to the forest, they faced much suffering for thirteen years. During this time, Draupadi was incredibly frustrated with their situation, so she turned to Yudhishthira, revered as Dharmaraja for his commitment to following dharma (the path of righteousness), and asked why he followed dharma if it did not amount to anything. Despite his righteous ways, Yudhishthira was exiled to the forest and forced to undergo much humiliation and suffering along with his wife and brothers. Draupadi could not understand why he still followed his dharma when it seemed futile. Yudhishthira then pointed to the Himalayan mountains and exclaimed to Draupadi, “Just by looking at the mountains, I experience their grandeur and they give me peace. Similarly Draupadi, simply standing by dharma allows me to experience its grandeur and gives me peace.”
Dharma is often hard to follow because we typically expect results, instead of realizing that it is not merely a process to gain something, but the best and most honorable way to live this life. According to Hinduism, life’s goals are categorized into four: Dharma, Artha (wealth/prosperity), Kama (desires), and Moksha (liberation). We often perceive these as a linear path, where we follow dharma to attain artha, and then artha facilitates our kama, eventually leading us to moksha. This linear view leads to frustration when life does not unfold as expected. We get upset when, say, someone who does not follow dharma gets promoted or achieves something that we may desire.
However, Srimad Bhagavatam presents a different perspective—it is not a linear, but rather an interconnected cycle. Following dharma is not for gaining prosperity. The purpose of dharma is attaining moksha. The purpose of artha (wealth) is to follow dharma. Wealth needs to be accumulated in a dharmic way and it needs to enable us to lead a dharmic life. God has structured life so that our basic desires (kama) for food, water, etc. help preserve our bodies and keep body and soul connected, enabling us to better perform activities to gain prosperity (artha) and perform dharma. This cycle continues until, as one continues to follow dharma, it finally takes us on a path that leads to liberation.
What is critical here is to understand that ‘dharma’ is not a means to achieve personal desires or wealth, but a vital step in the cycle leading to liberation. If one remembers and strives to live a life according to dharma, they will eventually cultivate love for God without impediments, indicating they are on the right path of dharma.
By Chaitly Marapareddy, 14 years, Richmond VA
Based on Sri Poornimaji’s Kishora Bhagavatam sessions.
