Maharishi Nārada replied, “O Dharmaraja! The Self-originated Lord Brahma is the cause for all duties and principles of righteousness pertaining to the universe. I offer my obeisance to Him. I shall now teach you the ancient dharmic principles which I had learnt directly from Lord Nārāyaṇa.

The Supreme Lord Nārāyaṇa has, together with his partial incarnation Nara, incarnated on earth as the son of Murti, who was Daksha’s daughter and the wife of Dharma. For the well-being of the universe He is engaged in absolute meditation in the holy sacred place Badarikāśrama.

Dharma-mūlaṁ hi bhagavān sarva-vedamayo hariḥ Smṛtaṁ ca tad-vidāṁ rājan yena cātmā prasīdati

Lord Srihari who is the embodiment of all Vedic principles, Maharishis who are well-versed in Vedas and that action which showers bliss upon the mind –these 3 constitute the root for all righteous activities (dharma).

Proof (pramāṇa); truthfulness (satya); compassion (daya); penance (tapas); external and internal purity; patience; discriminatory knowledge of permanent and impermanent objects in the creation; mind-control; sense-control; non-violence; celibacy; charitable activities; studying of Vedas; honesty; being content with that which is righteously earned; serving Mahatmas who see the Lord as equally pervading every object; gradually discarding all actions associated with sensory pleasures; understanding the futility in worldly material activities; having firm belief that every action/ event is an outcome of divine will; practicing silence (mouna); Self-study; distributing food, drink and other essentials to all living entities based on their eligibility; perceiving every living entity especially humans as forms of the Self; hearing, singing and remembering the glories of Srihari who is the primary goal of all Mahatmas; serving and worshipping Him; offering obeisance to Him; offering services to Him considering Him as one’s master; treating Him as a friend; and unconditionally self-surrendering to Him – that which fulfils these 30 characteristics is dharma”.

Swamiji explains: there are so many definitions given for dharma. But the qualities of dharma mentioned above are the root for all dharmas. This is the meaning of dharma. “Mahatmas declare that these are the ultimate and most-supreme dharmas of mankind. They are the most important righteous rules (dharmas) one should abide by. By adhering to these dharmas the Supreme Lord Srihari, who is the Self within everyone, will be pleased.

Dwija or twice-born refers to the person who has undergone thread ceremony and other samskāra rituals as stipulated in the scriptures and who has been recognised by Brahma through the medium of Vedas.

Yagna, studying of Vedas and engaging in charitable activities (dāna) are the duties that Dwijas should follow. Dwijas who are purified by birth and by their actions should abide by the duties stipulated for them for the four stages of life viz., brahmacarya (celibate), grihasta (householder), vanaprastha and sanyasa (renunciate).

Performing Yagna, helping others perform Yagna, studying Vedas, teaching Vedas, accepting charities and giving charities are the 6 duties stipulated for Vedic Brahmin scholars. A kshatriya (warrior clan) has no right to accept charity. His duty is to protect citizens. He can accept services from all citizens barring Vedic Brahmin scholars. This is his occupational duty.

At all times Vysya (traders) should abide by the dictates of the Vedic Brahmin scholars. Trading, agriculture and rearing cows are occupational duties specified for the trader clan. Serving the Vedas or serving Vedic scholar is the characteristic of the people belonging to the remaining class. Here they are not calling any person as shudra. Definitions are based upon occupational duties.

A Brahmin can have four occupational duties. Serving the Lord is one of their main occupations. For this reason, in many temples they carry the Lord who is seated in the palanquin. They invoke and offer Him worship. If vysya (traders) would procure all the materials for the Lord’s worship, the Kshatriya (warrior) would offer protection needed to complete the worship. The fourth class were those Mahatmas who would offer other types of services to the Lord.

In addition to this duty of serving the Lord, a Brahmin could also engage in agriculture and related activities; accept that which comes on its own without begging (śālīnam); or could daily beg for rice and other food grains required for living (yāyavāram); or pick grains fallen in the paddy fields and which are left unpicked by the farmer (śiloñcana). Among them the succeeding occupation is more superior to its preceding one”.

Trivikramāya namah