14. Sanatana (Eternal) Dharma in the Gita
sadhaka
Varistho’khila dharmesu dharma eva sanatanah
Jayante sarva dharmaastu shaashvato' hi sanatanah
In the world, mainly four Dharmas are prevalent. They are Sanatana (Eternal), Muslim, Baudha and Christian. Millions of people follow each of them. There are also several sub-Dharmas out of them. Except the Sanatana Dharma, the origin of each of the other three religions was by a person. You will find that at the origin of the Muslim religion, was Mohammad Sahib, and at the origin of the Baudha religion was Gautama Budha and at the origin of the Christian religion was Jesus Christ. But you will find no individual person at the origin of Sanatana Dharma. The reason being that Sanatana Dharma is not run by any particular individual. It has existed from time immemorial. Just like God is eternal, so is Sanatana Dharma eternal. The Lord too has declared this Dharma as His Own Being (14/27). Whenever there is decay of this Dharma, God incarnated (embodies Himself) for its establishment (4/7-8) It means that He protects and establishes it rather than founds (originates) it. Arjuna also calls Lord Krishna the protector of this eternal Dharma ( 11/18).
Sanatana Dharma was not founded by any person. But it can be called a discovery made by several sages because it is beginningless, endless and eternal. Actually all the other sects and religions are also born of it. So the different means of God. realization mentioned in these religions for their followers are in fact the gifts of Sanatana Dharma. So if their ordinances are followed without expecting any reward they will also undoubtedly lead to salvation*
In Sanatana Dharma a deeper thought has been given for salvation than other religions. All the doctrines of Sanatana Dharma are totally scientific and they lead a person to salvation.
All the means and rules mentioned in the Sanatana Dharma are also eternal. They are in vogue from times immemorial as Lord Krishna declares the Discipline of Action immortal (4/1), the two paths of the world, the bright and the dark eternal (8/26). In the Gita the Lord Himself has been addressed as eternal (11/28). Moreover the soul has been declared eternal (15/7), Dharma has been called eternal (14/27), the Supreme Goal (of God-Realization) has been mentioned eternal (18/56). It means that in Sanatana Dharma everything is eternal, from times immemorial. All the Dharmas (religions) and their rules may be different outwardly but all of them lead to the same goal of God-Realization. So long as strivers are attached to the mundane, there are differences in opinions and there are arguments and debates. But when they attain the Supreme Goal, there are no differences.
Those who remain engaged in increasing the number of the followers of their own sect or religion are not the real seekers of the Supreme Goal and by increasing their followers their importance doesn’t necessarily increase. Such type of people want to win individual reverence and worship in the name of religion. But those who are sincere seekers of Truth, they do not engage in increasing the number of followers. They discover spiritual truths. The Gita does not give prominence to followership, but it gives distinction to the attainment of the Supreme Goal. According to the Gita a believer in any religion by performing his duty without expecting any reward can attain the Supreme Goal. The Gita holding the Sanatana Dharma in high esteem neither insists to follow a particular religion nor does it oppose any religion. Therefore the Gita is a universal book.
Narayan ! Narayan !! Narayan !!!
From book ‘Gita Darpan' by Shradhey Swamiji Shri Ramsukhdasji Maharaj
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