Page 55 - Hinduism

when the world is filled with vice, for the purpose of saving the virtuous and punishing the wicked. Punishment is only an act of kindness to redeem the wicked from their career of vice and every effort is made to reform them. This last principle is better illustrated by the other great Itihāsa the Mahābhārata. Several other principles of our religion are taught in this work through its episodes such as truthfulness, godliness, purity of women, mercy towards supplicants, forbearance, penance and so on. So many principles of our religion are illustrated in this work that it is termed a Dharmasāstra itself and is even called the fifth Veda. Whole chapters in it are devoted mainly to teach dharma incidentally in the course of the story for the time being. The Mokṣadharma, the Viduranīti, the Sanatsujātlya, and the Anugita are some such important sections. But the most important of these which has acquired universal reputation is the Bhagavadgita (the Lord's song or teaching) in eighteen chapters of about 700 stanzas. Although a chapter in the epic, it has acquired independent recognition by virtue of the highest teaching enshrined in it. At the commencement of the Great Battle, Arjuna feels doubt as to the course of conduct he should follow and seizing the occasion, a sermon on conduct has been taught to him and through him to the world. Karmayoga, Jñānayoga and Bhaktiyoga are taught in all their detail in the first, second and third sextants of the work. The
fundamental principles of our religion which are of 55