What is dharma?

dharma is what upholds — the right way of living that sustains oneself, family, society and the world.

Dharma comes from the root dhṛ, “to hold or support”. It is often translated as “religion”, but it is much wider: duty, righteousness, natural law and right conduct all fall within it. The texts say dharma is that which sustains — the order that keeps a person, a family and the world in balance.

There is a universal dharma (sāmānya dharma) shared by all: truthfulness, non-violence, self-control, cleanliness, compassion, not stealing. And there is svadharma, one's own duty according to one's role and stage of life — as a student, parent, worker, citizen. The Gītā says it is better to do one's own duty imperfectly than another's well. Dharma is one of the four aims of life, along with artha (prosperity), kāma (fulfilment) and mokṣa (liberation), and it is meant to guide the other two worldly aims.

In daily life, dharma often comes down to a simple question: what is the right and kind thing to do here?

Source: Bhagavad Gītā 3.35; Manusmṛti 6.92 · Root dhṛ: to hold, to support

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