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Part 1 |
Answer
It is not right to say so. As the acquisition of every object presupposes at all events some exertion
on the part of man, the application of proper means may be said to be the cause of gaining all our
ends, and this application of proper means being thus necessary (even where a thing is destined to
happen), it follows that a person who does nothing will enjoy no happiness.
Objection 4
Those who are inclined to think that Artha is the chief object to be obtained argue thus. Pleasures
should not be sought for, because they are obstacles to the practice of Dharma and Artha, which are
both superior to them, and are also disliked by meritorious persons. Pleasures also bring a man into
distress, and into contact with low persons; they cause him to commit unrighteous deeds, and
produce impurity in him; they make him regardless of the future, and encourage carelessness and
levity. And lastly, they cause him to be disbelieved by all, received by none, and despised by
everybody, including himself. It is notorious, moreover, that many men who have given themselves
up to pleasure alone, have been ruined along with their families and relations. Thus, king Dandakya,
of the Bhoja dynasty, carried off a Brahman's daughter with evil intent, and was eventually ruined
and lost his kingdom. Indra, too, having violated the chastity of Ahalya, was made to suffer for it. In
a like manner the mighty Kichaka, who tried to seduce Draupadi, and Ravana, who attempted to
gain over Sita, were punished for their crimes. These and many others fell by reason of their
pleasures.4
Answer
This objection cannot be sustained, for pleasures, being as necessary for the existence and well
being of the body as food, are consequently equally required. They are, moreover, the results of
Dharma and Artha. Pleasures are, therefore, to be followed with moderation and caution. No one
refrains from cooking food because there are beggars to ask for it, or from sowing seed because
there are deer to destroy the corn when it is grown up.
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