‘Panch Rin’ (Fivefold Debts) - Road Map from Vedas to SDGs

Ancient India propounded great knowledge and wisdom which may be taken as roadmap to the modern world wherein there is a need of development through sustainability. The study tries to describe the connection of ancient wisdom and new age development goals. The Sanskrit word ‘’ encapsulates the idea of indebtedness or obligations. It is said that each person is born with debts and must repay them in order to live a fulfilled and complete life. These debts are not a burden, but recognition and expression of gratitude for many gifts that we receive from a world often taken for granted. In the Indian knowledge system, the concept of ‘Pancha Rin’ (Fivefold Debts) refers to five obligations that every human being is born into and must fulfil to attain spiritual fulfilment and liberation. These debts represent gratitude towards various elements that contribute to an individual’s well-being and growth. Learning from ancient scriptures, Vedas, the 17 SDGs may be said to have taken a road map from Vedas as these were well talked in India since ages through wisdom of ‘Panch Rin’ as ways for sustainable development.