Lord Brahma, while shedding light on various aspects of religion told sage Vyasa that a man should look at his sorrows (shoka) with a sense of aloofness and detachment, considering it as a passing phase. He also revealed to Vyasa that the ‘fire of sorrow’ consumed everything that came into its fold and nothing remained untouched by it. A sorrowful man becomes bereft of all his possessions-knowledge, religion, physical strength, patience, happiness and all such qualities.
Lord Brahma also told him that virtuous deeds never went without being rewarded, as all good things enjoyed by a man in his life are nothing but the result of his virtuous past ‘Karmas’. On the contrary sinful deeds committed by a man makes his present as well as his future births miserable. Further, glorifying the virtues of some other good deeds, Lord Brahma said-‘ Protecting the life of a person, whose life is endangered and who has sought one’s refuge is the greatest virtue and no other deed can be compared with it. One who sheds his life to protect his religion attains to heaven.
A contented man enjoys even his adversities and remains unperturbed by them. A man should never miss a chance to get benefited by the company of enlightened souls because it gives him an opportunity to understand religion in a better way. Donating food begets incomparable virtues and no other virtuous deed stands anywhere near it.’
Lord Brahma concluded by describing Sanatan Dharma in a nutshell and said-‘ Anybody observing the following austerities should be considered an ardent follower of ‘Sanatan Dharma’- truth, penance, self-control, purity, forgiveness, compassion, knowledge and donation.