Manu was a great sage and seer. He was considered as Progenitor of
Mankind. Historically, he belongs to the
second Millenium B.C. His monumental work
is Manu-smruthi. It is a voluminous Code
of Civil, Criminal and Religious Laws and Traditions pertaining to the people
of BharatVarsha or India. It is
respected as great and orginal Dharma-Saastram.
Some important points dealt in this great works are following:-
1. The force of desire
न जातु कामः कामान् उपभोगेन शाम्यति । हविषा कृष्णवर्त्मेव भूय एवाभिवर्धते ॥ (2-94)
Na Jaathu
Kaamah kaamaan Upabuogena saamyathi l
Havishaa krushna-varthmeva
Bhooya Evaabhivardhathe ll
Desire can
never be quenched by the enjoyment of desired objects. It grows more and more by enjoyment like fire
by the offerings of ghee.
Desire can be
quenched only by controlling senses, but not by enjoying sensual objects. Enjoyment leads to greed and distress.
2. The five respectable things in society
वित्तं बन्धुः वयः कर्म विद्या भवति पञ्चमी ।एतानि
मान्यस्थानानि गरीयो यद्यदुत्तरम् ॥ 2-136
Wealth, Relation, Age,
Profession, and learning-these five are respectable things - the latter one
being more respectable than the former in the sequence.
These factors (Wealth etc.)
command respect naturally. But when a clash
arises between them the latter one in the sequence must be accepted as more
respectable. So Knowledge or Learning is
the most respectable among all the factors.
3. The Nature of “Dharma”
धृतिः क्षमा दमः अस्तेयं शौचम् इन्द्रिय-निग्रहः।
धीर्विद्या सत्यम् अक्रोधः दशकं धर्मलक्षणम् ॥ 6-92
Dhruthih
kshamaa dhamah astheyam saucham indhriya-nigrahaha l
Dheer
vidhyaa sathyam akrodhaha Dasakam Dharma-lakshanam ll
Firmness, Tolerance, Self-restraint,
Non-stealing, Cleanliness, Control of senses, Good understanding, High
learning, Truth and Not havaing anger - these ten constitute Dharma
(Righteousness).
Dharma is not an abstract
idea. It is realised through the
observation of these virtues.
4. Contentment is the root cause of
Happiness.
सन्तोषं परमास्थाय सुखार्थी संयतो भवेत् । सन्तोषमूलं
हि सुखं दुःखमूलं विपर्ययः॥ 4-12
Santhosham param aasthaaya sukhaarthee samyatho bhaveth l
Santhoshamoolam hi sukham Dhuhkhamoolam
viparyayaha ll
One must possess contentment
along with Self-control, it he wishes to have real happiness, because
contentment produces happiness and disappointment leads to distress.
Happiness and distress
are nothing but contentment and discontentment respectively.
