Cāturāśramya-dharma—Marks of the Four Āśramas (चातुराश्रम्यधर्मः)
अन्यथा वर्तमानस्य नासौ वृत्ति: प्रकल्प्यते । कर्मणा वर्धते धर्मो यथाधर्मस्तथैव सः:
anyathā vartamānasya nāsau vṛttiḥ prakalpyate | karmaṇā vardhate dharmo yathādharmas tathaiva saḥ ||
جو شخص مناسب طریقے کے خلاف چلتا ہے، اس کے لیے برہمن کے لائق ذریعۂ معاش (وِرتّی) مقرر نہیں کیا جاتا۔ دھرم اعمال ہی سے بڑھتا ہے؛ اور آدمی عملاً جس طرح کا دھرم یا اَدھرم اختیار کرتا ہے، وہ اسی مزاج و طبیعت میں ڈھل جاتا ہے۔
इन्द्र उवाच
Dharma is not merely a label or birth-based claim; it is strengthened by concrete action. A person becomes shaped by the kind of dharma (or adharma) he repeatedly practices, and improper conduct disqualifies one from being assigned a ‘proper’ or sanctioned mode of life.
Indra is instructing about ethical conduct and the principle that one’s status and rightful livelihood depend on behavior. He emphasizes that actions cultivate dharma, and habitual adherence to dharma or adharma transforms the person accordingly.