What is Dharma?
Dharma (from the root dhṛ — “to sustain, to hold”) is perhaps the most complex and untranslatable concept in Hindu thought. It has been rendered in English as “duty,” “righteousness,” “law,” “religion,” “virtue,” “order” — and none of these translations fully captures its depth.
At its most fundamental: Dharma is that which sustains the cosmos, society, and the individual in their truest nature.
Three Dimensions of Dharma
1. Ṛta — The Cosmic Order
At the cosmic level, dharma is the underlying order that makes the universe function: the laws of nature, the rhythms of seasons, the movement of stars. The Vedas call this ṛta — the cosmic truth, the order within which all existence moves.
2. Sādhāraṇa Dharma — Universal Ethics
Certain ethical principles are dharmic for all human beings, regardless of circumstance:
- Satya — truthfulness
- Ahimsa — non-violence
- Asteya — non-stealing
- Shaucha — purity
- Daya — compassion
These universal dharmic qualities sustain the social fabric and the individual soul.
3. Svadharma — Individual Duty
Each person has a svadharma — their own unique dharma — shaped by their nature (guna), their stage of life (ashrama), and their position in society. The Bhagavad Gita famously teaches that it is better to follow one’s own svadharma imperfectly than to follow another’s dharma perfectly.
“Better is one’s own dharma, though imperfectly performed, than the dharma of another well performed.” — BG 3:35
The Tension of Dharma
The Mahabharata and the Gita are fundamentally explorations of dharma-sankata — the conflict of duties. Arjuna’s dilemma on the battlefield is a dharmic crisis: his duty as a warrior conflicts with his duty as a kinsman.
There are no easy answers. Dharma requires wisdom (viveka) and discernment — the ability to perceive what action will truly sustain the cosmic order in any given moment, not just what appears superficially correct.
Dharma in Daily Life
Dharma is not only philosophical — it is intensely practical:
- A parent’s dharma: to nurture, protect, and educate
- A teacher’s dharma: to transmit knowledge with integrity
- A student’s dharma: to learn with dedication
- A leader’s dharma: to serve and protect the people
The constant question of Hindu ethics is: What does dharma require of me in this moment?