3. Concept of Dharma (Introduction)

Most of the systems Indian philosophy and religions treated Dharma differently. Here, we can concentrate on the concept of Dharma discussed in Hinduism. The word Dharma is etymologically derived from the Sanskrit verbal root “dhṛ-dharati”, meaning to hold, maintain, uphold, bear etc. In totality Dharma means that wchich maintains the universe in due order. In the present context, Dharma means to ethic, virtue, morality, truth, good conduct and so on (George V. C., 1995: 57).

Mahābhārata says

“Dharma is something which perpetuates the social order”^[1].

According to Kālidāsa,

“Dharma is the essence or the fruit of Trivargas”^[2].

Here some views of scholars about Dharma may be quoted.

“The term Dharma is most difficult to define and it has been incessantly vacillating its semantic boundaries. Dharma has got a wide and varied connotation in Indian thought. It is variously rendered as customary observance, duty, statute ordinance, law, obligation, ethical, social and spiritual self-initiated action, right, justice, good conduct, righteousness; virtue, morality, religion, quality, deities, abstract phenomena etc” (Padmadas K. L., 2016: 70)

“Dharma is by definition, Varṇāśramadharma, that is the Dharma of castes and life stages. The system of castes and life-stages, belonging to the system of Dharma, is the framework in which all the contents of Dharma are enmeshed” (Olivelle Patrick, 2004: 478).

“Dharma is one of the most central and ubiquitous concepts in the Brāhmaṇical tradition and the meaning of Dharma changed somewhat during the ages.” (Padmadas K. L., 2016: 70).

The Kāmasūtra begins with saluting the Trivargas, of the Dharma possess the first^[3]. Even the text aimed to make popularity to Kāma, Dharma is also discussed with importance and it can be seen that Vātsyāyana strictly follows the principles of Dharma throughout in Kāmasūtra. In the chapter Trivargapratipattiprakaraṇa, for making a general awareness about Trivargas, definitions for each of them is provided.

Dharma is defined and classified thus:

“Discernment concerns apparent as well as invisible things. Due to their supernatural and invisible results, the practice of yajña and other ritual ceremonies can only be known through the sacred texts^[4]. Since their nature is material and visible, actions such as abstaining from meat forbidden by the texts, are a matter of morality or Dharma^[5]. One must behave according to the instructions of those who know the scriptures”^[6].

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

dhāraṇāt dharmamityahurdharmo dhārayate prajāḥ | yat syāt dhāraṇasaṃyuktaṃ sa dharma iti niścayaḥ || (karṇaparvaḥ, 59. 58)

[2]:

anena dharmaḥ saviśeṣamadya me trivargasāraḥ pratibhāti bhāmini | tvayā manonirviṣayārtthakāmayā yadeka eva pratigṛhya sevyate || (kumārasaṃbhavam, 5. 37)

[3]:

dharmārthakāmebhyo namaḥ |

[4]:

Super visible Virtue

[5]:

Visible Virtue

[6]:

alaukikatvādadṛṣṭārthatvādpravṛttānāṃ yajñādīnāṃ śāstrātpravartanam | laukikatvāddṛṣṭārthatvācca pravṛttebhyaśca māṃsabhakṣaṇādibhyaḥ śāstrādeva nivāraṇaṃ dharmaḥ | taṃ śruterdharmajñasamavāyācca pratipadyeta || (kāmasūtra, 1. 2. 7-8)