Purushartha [Incessant Human efforts]

Written by Vasudeva Rao

Friday, 28 November 2008 12:56

Vedas instruct us to be always enterprising and be engaged in constant activity

Utrakaama mahate sowbhagaaya

Yajurveda 11.21

Hey Man! For attainment of prosperity and for varied richness be always enterprising, engage in constant activity, do the efforts, and be active.

Ichantidevaah sunvantam Na swapnaaya sprihayanti|

Yanti pramadamtandra|| Rigveda 8.12.18

The enlightened and the learned are always fond of those who are desirous of possessing the wealth and who are enterprising. They do not befriend the lazy. Only the enterprising men derive the best happiness. Hence, the Vedic devotee makes the following prayer.

Maa no nidra eshatha mothah jalpih||

Rigveda 8.48.14

Let not sleep- laziness and mindless chattering rule over us. Why because,

Na seshe yasya rambatheantaraa sakdya kaprith|

sedeeshe yasya romasham nishedusho

vrijanbatho vishwasmadeendra uttrah||

A person who sits with head hidden between his two legs will not become rich. A person who overcomes ignorance, darkness, and obstacles and whose radiance spreads brilliantly as does by the Sun, alone gets the wealth. Become rich, by intense activity. Because only the rich and wealthy is counted great among human beings.

Na seshe yasya romasham nishedusho vrijmbathe

Atharva20.126.17

A Person with knowledge but lazy however and who sits idle always yawning will never become wealthy. Veda orders the king to punish the lazy.

Asunvatam samam jahee dunaasham

Rigveda 1.176.4

Oh King! Give death penalty to those who are not enterprising and who are lazy.

Mahatma Vidhur makes a highly beautiful comment on this issue in Mahabharata as under.

Dyavambasi nivestavov gale badhvaa dridaam shilaam|

Dhanavantamadaataaram daridram chatapasvinam||

Mahabharata Udyog parva 33.60

Two types of people deserved to be drowned with stones firmly tied to their necks. 1. The rich who do not make charity and 2. The men who are not enterprising [i.e. who refrain from doing purushartha]. Vedas advise those who are not inclined to do purushartha as under.

Pibatam cha trinnutham chaa gachatam prajaa cha dhatham drvinancha cha dhatham|

jayatham cha prastutham cha pra chaavatam praja cha dhatham dravinam cha dhatham|

Hatham cha shatrunrithatham cha mitrinam prajaam cha dhatham dravinam cha dhatham|

sajoshasaa ushasaa suryena chorjanam no dhathamashvina||

Rigveda 8.35.10.

Oh chaste men and women! You both enjoy the wealth and are contended. Forward, improve yourselves, beget good progeny, and earn money.

Obtain victory. Pray god in correct manner. Protect the protectors. Increase the people and money manifold.

Destroy the enemies. Make efforts to get friends. Earn money and get more people. Be as friendly as the morning rising Sun and invoke strength and nourishment.

This is what Vedas say to do work and to do Purushartha. Let us keep this in mind.

Na ruthe sharanthasya sakhyaya devaa|

Rig-Veda 4.33.11

The enlightened and the learned become friends of those who are incessantly active. They do not befriend others who are not. Take inspiration from this. You are purusha and therefore get up and be purusharthi.

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