Though the terms righteousness, virtue, integrity, code of conduct, etc, are used to describe dharma, it is something subtle and crucial and is intuitively felt and practiced by individuals in varying ways. When chronicling the lives of the scions of Surya Vamsa in the Raghuvamsa, Kalidasa shows how this irresistable current of dharma forms the bedrock of their material prosperity as well as spiritual attainment.
After a very fulfilling reign, Raghu wishes to retire to a hermitage to engage in meditation and hands over the kingdom to his son Aja.
The poet shows that jnana and karma are equally efficacious paths to moksha. Aja's commitment to dharma and kingship is likened to that of a karma yogi and Raghu's life of meditation and penance to that of a jnana yogi. Aja worked hard to win over enemies and tried to rule the country in accordance with dharma to attain peace and prosperity.
Raghu won over the senses and pursued his aim of attaining peace through atma jnana. Both of them focused on their respective goals in the spirit of a yogi who is a 'dheera'. One endowed with sterling qualities of mental calibre is known as a 'dheera'. The terms 'Stita Dhi', 'Stira Dhi' or ''Stitaprajna' used in texts such as the Gita, the Upanishads, the 'Niti Sataka', etc., describe these qualities. Such a person does not swerve from the path of justice or virtue at any point of time. He is impervious to praise or blame from even those well versed in the Niti sastras. He is unconcerned about possessions or wealth. He is not even afraid of death, which may come at any point of time. His only aim is towards his goal at all costs.
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