Page 34 - Sri Canakya Niti

1.3 Śrī Cāṇakya-nīti

Sanātana-dharma is the essence of the soul and, like the soul, is
everlasting. Cāṇakya Paṇḍita directs us towards the all-harmonizing
“eternal religion” of spirit as distinguished from the material or
divisive “religions” created by man. Although our original dharma is
ever-present within our heart of hearts, our loving link to the Lord has
been covered due to māyā (illusory material energy) and temporary
“dharmas.” The eternal religion locked within the spiritual particle
or soul is nothing less than the dormant desire to actively engage in
loving devotional service unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead
Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Our eternal constitutional position is one of loving service
to God, yet our present infatuation with temporary sense enjoyment
or material dharmas has covered the natural function of the soul.
Cāṇakya Paṇḍita advises us to learn what is to be done and what
is not to be done, keeping in mind that the fruits of our deeds are
meant for the pleasure of the Supreme Lord alone. The enlightened
devotee’s material duties coincide with his eternal dharma. Simple
for the simple yet complex for the crooked, this plain advice is easy
to understand for the humble devotee, but impossible for the atheistic
materialist. Although such a person claims to be following doctrines
which he mistakes for dharma, he is actually an opportunist ready to
bend nature to his every whim.

ŚLOKA 1.3

ं
तदहं सम् व यािम लोकाना िहतकाम्यया ।
येन िवज्ञानमा ेण सवर्ज्ञत्वं पद्यते ॥३॥

tad ahaṁ sampravakṣyāmi
lokānāṁ hita-kāmyayā
yena vijñāna-mātreṇa
sarvajñatvaṁ prapadyate

Therefore, with an eye to the public good, I shall speak that which
when understood will lead to knowledge of all things in their
proper perspective.

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