The Beneficence of Great Souls- S Srinivasa Sharma*

Nothing is superior or equal to the grace of the Guru

Our scriptures have prescribed four objectives in life – dharma (discharge of duty), artha (acquisition of wealth necessary for worldly life, Kama (satisfaction of legitimate desires) and moksha (liberation). Of these, the last alone is permanent (nitya), indestructible and sublime.

The other purusharthas, though necessary for the conduct of life in this world, are evanescent because they have a beginning and an end. Whatever is born or made (i.e., has a beginning) is bound to have an end. As the Upanishad says:

(Just as in the phenomenal world everything arising out of karma has an end, so also in the supraterrestrial world things arising out of punya face extinction.)

So the supreme objective in life should be to attain liberation from the bondage of birth and death.

© "Tattvaloka" (April/May, 1988) published by Sri Abhinava Vidyatheertha Mahaswamigal Education Trust, Abhinav Centre, # 4 (Old # 19), Co-operative Colony, Chennai 600 018. Website: www.tattvaloka.com. Reprinted with permission.
* is a double Sironmani in Vedanta and Vyakarana, who has taught Sanskrit for decades.

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