Shreya dharam (the soul’s supreme duty) is the highest dharam (righteous duty). Bhagawat Mahapuran (sacred scripture) is full of all these teachings. I cannot tell you all in detail.
But I am just mentioning to you when Sutji Maharaj (sage and narrator of Bhagawatam) also talks about the Shreya dharam. Shreya dharam is the Atma (soul) dharam, the soul’s dharam. And that is Para (supreme) dharam.
So Gopis (cowherd maidens of Vrindavan) are here saying in 10th Kanto, 29 chapter, 32 verse.
यत्पत्यपत्यसुहृदामनुवृत्तिरङ्ग स्त्रीणां स्वधर्म इति धर्मविदा त्वयोक्तम् ।
अस्त्वेवमेतदुपदेशपदे त्वयीशे प्रेष्ठो भवांस्तनुभृतां किल बन्धुरात्मा ॥Yat paty-apatya-suhṛdām anuvṛttir aṅga strīṇāṁ sva-dharma iti dharma-vidā tvayoktam.
Astv evam etad upadeśa-pade tvayīśe preṣṭho bhavāṁs tanu-bhṛtāṁ kila bandhur ātmā- Bhagawatam 10.29.32
“If you are talking about Para dharam, then our husband, our children, our parents, our in-laws, our everything, our every duty is only towards you. Only towards you.”
सर्वेषामपि भूतानां हरिरात्मेश्वर: प्रिय: । …
sarveṣām api bhūtānāṁ harir ātmeśvaraḥ priyaḥ …- Bhagawatam 7.7.49
All the relationships of all the individual souls as Atma, Hari (Supreme Lord), the Supreme Brahma (Absolute Reality), Ishwara (God) and Presht (most beloved). Presht means Priyatam (dearest beloved).
The Supreme Brahma Shree Krishna is the Atma, is the Ishwara, and is the Presht, the beloved of all the souls. This is the declaration of Bhagawat Mahapuran.
Again, 9th chapter, 18 verse of Bhagavad Gita (sacred scripture):
गतिर्भर्ता प्रभु: साक्षी निवास: शरणं सुहृत् |
प्रभव: प्रलय: स्थानं निधानं बीजमव्ययम् ||Gatir bhartā prabhuḥ sākṣhī nivāsaḥ śharaṇaṁ suhṛit
Prabhavaḥ pralayaḥ sthānaṁ nidhānaṁ bījam avyayam- Gita 9.18
“Everything is Krishna, every relationship. You yourself say.
So, what are you now trying to tell us? Paradharam (supreme duty) is going and doing all our household duties and taking care of family and all? Who’s our family? You. Who’s our husband? You. Who’s our beloved? You. Who’s our children? You. Who’s our mother? You. Who’s our father? You. Who’s our friend? You. Who’s the brother and sister? You.
And we have come to you, rendering that duty.”
10th Kanto, 29 chapter, 32 verse. Nothing from my side, all from the Bhagawatam. Veda Vyasajis (ancient sage and author of Vedas) declaration.
Sometimes people come to me and they say, “Didiji, after all, you know, our household duties, you know.” As if they’re trying to teach. It’s all an excuse.
The highest duty is the duty of the Atma.
How much do you care about your own Atma? And to render the duty for your Atma. This body will be gone, and all the body relationships will be gone. What is the pride for all this?
The only thing which remains is this Atma. The Atma never dies. It was never born, never given birth.
And the soul’s one relationship is with the Supreme Almighty Lord Shree Krishna.
