Table of Contents<p>“दयूतं पानं स्त्रियश्चैव मृगया चापरे तथा । <p>परद्रव्यहरणं चैव परुषं चानसूया च ॥ <p>सप्तैते व्यसना घोरा राजानं यान्ति विघ्नताम् । <p>Mahābhārata, Śānti Parva, 122.8
Meaning:
Gambling, drinking, indulgence in sensual pleasures, hunting, taking others’ wealth, harsh speech, and envy—these seven dreadful vices destroy a ruler and prosperity.
Dyūta (द्यूत) – Gambling
Dyūta refers to gambling, which is described in Dharma Śāstra as a vice that destroys wealth, peace, and family harmony. The Mahābhārata illustrates how gambling led to the downfall of the Pāṇḍavas, demonstrating the grave consequences of addiction to chance and greed. Gambling fosters deceit, leads to disputes, and erodes mental stability. Even minor indulgence in gambling is warned against, as it can quickly become a compulsion, draining resources and creating karmic bondage that distracts one from Dharma.
Pāna (पान) – Intoxication
Pāna, or intoxication through alcohol and drugs, is condemned as a vice leading to loss of discrimination, health, wealth, and family respect. Hindu Dharma strongly discourages madyapāna (alcohol consumption) due to its capacity to dull the mind and increase susceptibility to other vices. The Manusmṛti explicitly prohibits intoxicants for householders seeking righteous living, as intoxication fuels anger, delusion, and a decline in moral conduct, hindering spiritual progress and harming social stability.
Strī (स्त्री) – Uncontrolled lust
Strī in this context refers to uncontrolled indulgence in sensual pleasures and lust, not the presence or companionship of women itself. It denotes lack of brahmacarya (self-restraint), which leads to mental agitation, loss of physical vitality, and misuse of wealth and time. Hindu scriptures emphasize that while gṛhasthāśrama (householder life) involves rightful conjugal relations, indulgence beyond Dharma leads to attachment, possessiveness, and decline in spiritual inclination, thus being classified as a vice when uncontrolled.
Mṛgayā (मृगया) – Hunting for pleasure
Mṛgayā indicates hunting for sport or pleasure, which is discouraged except in rare cases aligned with Kṣatriya dharma for training or protection. Hunting purely for entertainment cultivates cruelty, unnecessary violence, and distraction from one’s duties. The Manusmṛti warns that engaging in violent pastimes damages compassion and increases tamas (inertia and ignorance) within the mind, obstructing spiritual clarity and leading to karmic repercussions.
Apaharaṇa (अपहरण) – Stealing others’ wealth
Apaharaṇa means forcibly taking or stealing others’ wealth, violating dharma and creating social and karmic disturbances. It erodes trust, damages social bonds, and leads to fear, conflict, and punishment. Hindu Dharma teaches contentment (santoṣa) and rightful earning (ārjavam) as essential virtues, and apaharaṇa stands in direct opposition to these, making it a serious vice detrimental to personal and societal well-being.
Pāruṣya (पारुष्य) – Slander and harsh speech
Pāruṣya is the use of harsh, abusive, or slanderous speech towards others. Hindu scriptures emphasize ahiṃsā (non-violence) in thought, word, and deed, and pāruṣya violates this principle by causing mental distress to others and generating enmity. Harsh speech disrupts harmony within families and society, stains character, and hinders spiritual purity, making it a vice that must be consciously avoided.
Asūyā (असूया) – Envy
Asūyā denotes envy or jealousy towards others’ prosperity and virtues. It prevents one from experiencing gratitude and peace, corrodes relationships, and fosters negative karmic impressions (vāsanās). Scriptures like the Bhagavad Gītā describe envy as a trait of those bound by āsurī sampat (demonic qualities), and overcoming envy is essential for spiritual evolution, making it critical to identify and transcend this vice.
In summary, the Saptavyasana are profound reminders from Hindu Dharma Śāstra on the nature of human weaknesses that derail a person from Dharma and lead to suffering. Vigilantly avoiding these seven vices preserves one’s wealth, mental clarity, and spiritual focus, aligning one’s life toward righteous living and the ultimate goal of Mokṣa.