𝗝𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗱𝗴𝘂𝗿𝘂 𝗦𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗱 𝗔𝗯𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘃𝗮 𝗩𝗶𝗱𝘆𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗮 𝗠𝗮𝗵𝗮𝘀𝘄𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻: 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗳𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘀

𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗲: With the passage of time, strict adherence to the scriptural injunctions is becoming difficult. Can the śāstras be slightly modified to put them in tune with the present-day trends?

𝗔𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝘆𝗮: We should never be shortsighted in our views. Just because accepting bribe has become a common affair, are we justified in enacting legislation to permit it? That would only help its intensification. We should, likewise, not seek to modify the śāstras. Consideration of changes in our ways of living is inherent in our śāstras. “Follow to the utmost extent possible” is what they command. We, in our present condition, should abide by them to the maximum extent possible.

Śrī Kṛṣṇa has said:

svalpamapyasya dharmasya trāyate mahato bhayāt । (BG, II.40)
(Even a little of this dharma saves one from great fear.)

In the light of this, how are we justified in attempting to modify the śāstras? Further, it can never be said that the performance of sandhyāvandana and the like are impossible in the present times. This apart, one who wishes to bring about a change in śāstras should be a knower of the past, present and future. Without even knowing the mechanism by which karmas yield fruit, how can we change the śāstras? We just cannot. This is because we are incapable of asserting with certainty, “Follow this. Even if it be difficult now, you shall derive benefit from it later.” We are unaware of what is in store for us in the future birth, nor are we aware of the happenings of the previous births. In short, we are not omniscient and so are incompetent to modify the śāstras.

- From 𝙀𝙭𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙀𝙡𝙪𝙘𝙞𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨

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