**Let Us Never Deviate from the Path of Benevolence**


 


🌷 **Let Us Never Deviate from the Path of Benevolence** 🌷



**Pārōpakāra (benevolence)** means doing good to others. It is the duty of a human being to work for the welfare of others. The true meaning of human life lies in being useful to others. If a person possesses the ability to help but still does not assist others, it becomes a blemish on human life. A person naturally lives for himself, but the true measure of life’s greatness lies in how much he has lived for others.


Maharshi Dayanand beautifully said:


**“Saṁsāra-duḥkha-dalanena subhūṣitā ye

Dhanyā narā vihita-karma-paropakārāḥ.”**


*Meaning:* Blessed are those men and women who adorn their lives by removing the sufferings of the world and by performing benevolent deeds prescribed in the Vedas.


Through benevolence, the dignity and glory of human life increase. A true benefactor remains cheerful and experiences joy in serving others. Such a person earns honor and respect in life. Great individuals desire honor rather than wealth, for those who receive help always respect their benefactors.


**“Adhamā dhanam icchanti dhanam mānaṁ ca madhyamāḥ

Uttamā mānam icchanti māno hi mahatāṁ dhanam.”**


*Meaning:* Inferior people desire wealth; those of a middling nature desire both wealth and honor; but the noble seek honor alone, for honor is the true wealth of great souls.


Acharya Chanakya also wrote:


**“Paropakaraṇaṁ yeṣāṁ jāgarti hṛdaye satām

Naśyanti vipadas teṣāṁ sampadaḥ syuḥ pade pade.”**

— *(Chanakya Nīti 17.14)*


*Meaning:* In the hearts of noble persons where the spirit of benevolence is awakened, their troubles disappear and prosperity meets them at every step.


A poet has rightly said:


**“Taruwar phal nahīṁ khāt hai, nadī na pīvai nīr

Paramārath ke kāraṇe, santan dharā śarīr.”**


*Meaning:* A tree does not eat its own fruit, and a river does not drink its own water. Similarly, noble souls have taken birth for the welfare of others.


He further says:


*A life devoid of benevolence is condemnable. Even animals are better than such a person, for at least their skin becomes useful to others.*


Benevolence is a **step toward the realization of Ishwar**. The more benevolent a person becomes, the closer he moves toward Ishwar.


Through benevolence, even enemies can become friends. To practice benevolence, one must abandon narrow-mindedness. Only when a person develops a broad and generous heart can he truly become benevolent.


The difference between a noble person and a wicked one is described as:


**“Yathā paropakāreṣu nityaṁ jāgarti sajjanaḥ

Tathā parāpakāreṣu jāgarti satataṁ khalaḥ.”**


*Meaning:* Just as a noble person is always ready to help others, a wicked person is always ready to harm others.


One who receives help should always appreciate the benefactor. Whenever the benefactor’s name is mentioned, he should be honored with words of praise. If a person cannot even praise the one who helped him, he is **ungrateful**, and an ungrateful person can never attain true welfare. Expressing gratitude frees one from the sin of ingratitude and makes one worthy of virtue.


If a benefactor falls into difficulty, the beneficiary should pray for his welfare and also provide active assistance. The **Mahabharata** states:


**“Etāvān puruṣas tāta kṛtaṁ yasmin na naśyati

Yāvac ca kuryād anyo’sya kuryād abhyadhikaṁ tataḥ.”**

— *(Mahabharata, Adi Parva 156.14)*


*Meaning:* A true person is one in whom a good deed is never wasted. Whatever someone does for you, you should do even more for them.


**“Kṛte ca pratikarttavyam eṣa dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ.”**

*Meaning:* Repaying kindness with kindness is the eternal dharma.


The degree of benevolence in a person reflects the degree of humanity within him. The less the spirit of benevolence, the farther one moves away from true humanity.


However, a person can become truly benevolent only when he does not perform good deeds with the expectation of reward. Rather, he should act solely for the welfare of others. Whether he receives anything in return or not, he should understand that acts of benevolence purify the inner self and accumulate noble impressions that lead to a higher destiny. In the divine system of justice established by Ishwar, the fruit of such deeds will surely be received.


Yogiraj **Shri Krishna** also declares:


**“Pārtha naiveha nāmutra vināśas tasya vidyate

Na hi kalyāṇa-kṛt kaścid durgatiṁ tāta gacchati.”**

— *(Bhagavad Gita 6.40)*


*Meaning:* O Arjuna! One who performs righteous deeds never meets destruction, neither in this world nor in the next. O dear one, a doer of good never comes to grief.


Keeping these sacred words of the **Gita** in mind, a person should always remain engaged in **acts of benevolence**. 🌼


- Dr. Vivek Arya

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