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Man's obligatory duties

CHENNAI SEPT.9. The obligatory duties prescribed in the scriptures must be followed by one and all without expectation of result but unfortunately in modern times it has become common to perform any act only with some intention. These prescriptions, which are basic to the practice of Dharma in daily life, have been designed for the welfare of the entire world and hence there should not be any personal motive in discharging these duties. They can be likened to breathing, which is essential for sustaining life. Hence these prescriptions are termed as Svadharma because they are expression of one's essential nature. But these mandatory practices differ according to one's station in life.

The Yaksha Prasna of the Mahabharata touches upon this topic in the questions posed to Yudhishthira by the Yaksha. The life of the priestly community revolves round the study of the Vedas. They devote their entire life to their study and nurture them by teaching the next generation. As there is no room for indulgence in materialistic pursuits, asceticism and piety mark their lifestyle and so they are considered divine though their mortality sets them apart from divine beings. In the case of rulers their divinity is in wielding arms and performance of sacrifices makes them pious. It is the liability to fear in the battlefield, which makes a warrior less divine. A warrior must provide succour to anyone who takes refuge in him for protection, as it is his Dharma.

In his discourse, Sri B.Sundar Kumar said every individual had to discharge certain debts in his daily life. Their importance can be gauged from the fact that in the Yaksha Prasna it is stated that a man though he breathes is considered not alive if he does not repay these debts. These are in the form of offerings to God, manes, guests and servants. Debt to the different deities who are manifestations of the Supreme Being can be discharged by performing daily worship and also through sacrifices, meditation and other religious practices. Certain rites are prescribed in the Dharmasastra texts for expressing one's indebtedness to ancestors, which according to scriptures are considered more important than even worship of God because a person owes his birth to his lineage. Similarly taking care of guests and those engaged for work in one's household is an essential duty of a householder. Besides, every individual is duty bound to make effort to progress spiritually as this is the very purpose of human life.

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