The vedic texts on sustainable development in ancient south asia

The concept of sustainable development is crucial for the nature and nurture of human life. Human life is dependent on the nature despite of extensive developments in technology. Sustainable development urges for such progress that should not compromise the needs of future generations. The ancient texts of South Asia, like the Vedic text, provide a meaningful description of sustainable development. These are least explored and provided in different hymns of the Vedic texts. An attempt has been made here to explore these texts and understand the concept and paradigm of development with conservation and protection of nature. Ancient people considered nature as sacred boundaries and attempted to prefer nature conservation over development. This is the demand of the present day’s circumstances to protect nature without compromising development. Creating a balance between nature and development and preserving natural resources for the next generations is the ultimate goal for policymakers. The Vedic texts may provide a detailed roadmap for such developments. The Vedic people always considered nature as the mother of all living beings. They composed different hymns that provided the concept of divine nature and the sanctity of natural resources. This paper examines these hymns and explores the methods of sustainable development that prevailed at that time in South Asia. In addition to the Vedic texts, some other sacred texts are also examined to find a way for sustainable development.