Discovering Dharma’s Definition

You've almost certainly heard the term Dharma. Every Indian, like you and me, must have heard the name. However, if you ask them to explain it, the majority of them will be unable to do so. In English, dharma is commonly translated as religion. However, the term religion is too limited to encompass everything that dharma entails. What do you mean by that? Continue reading to learn more about the distinction as well as the notion.

The meaningful shape of Dharma wheel; Source: Wikimedia

Let's take an example. Most people consider it a violation of a student's student-dharma if he duplicates another student's answers. Nonetheless, none of those speaking could point to a line in any religious sculpture that bans a student from reproducing it. Dharma encompasses both religious and non-religious parts of our lives.

Don't worry. You are not the only one who has faced difficulties explaining the word dharma. People have been looking for the meaning of dharma for a long time. Varna-ashrama, the Hindu system of social classification that divides society into separate classes, was used by some to characterize it. A Brahmin's dharma is to study and teach, a Kshatriya's dharma is to fight, a Vaishya's dharma is to trade, and a Sudra's dharma is to serve others varnas in this context. A householder's dharma differs from that of a forest owner. Dharma, on the other hand, is far too large and complicated to be categorized in such a limited way. It is clear that the notions of dharma and its polar opposite, adharma, apply universally, even in civilizations where there is no class barrier or Varna-ashrama.

Going back further, even Yudhishthira was confused with the concept of dharma. He said,

"Vidam chaivam na va vidme shakyam va veditum na va |

Aniyaan kshurdharaya gariyanapi parvatat ||

Gandharvanagarakarah prathamam sampradrishyate |

Anvikshyamanah kavibhih punargachatyadarshanam ||"

Dharma is finer than the finest sword edges and more substantial than the mountains, whether we know or don't know it, whether it is knowable or not. Dharma appears to be clear and substantial at first, like a town, but when you examine it closer, it evaporates.

Mahabharata continues ahead and gives the definition of dharma to Yudhishthira in a much more beautiful way.

"Manasam sarvabhutanam dharmamahurmanishinah |

Tasmat sarveshu bhuteshu Manasa shivamachareta ||

Dharma, according to those who have given it much thought, is what one does with one's heart and mind for all beings. As a result, let us do what makes all living things happy.

Na tat parasya sandhadyat pratikulum yadatmanah |

Esh sankshepato dharmah kamadanyah pravartate ||"

We should not inflict onto others what we would not want to be done to us. In a nutshell, this is dharma; all else is selfishness.

Dharma, we can infer, is the universal underpinning of life and relationships. The whole thing started as finding a definition of dharma, but it ended up giving a lesson for life. So let us all embrace dharma in all its vastness, to lead a life with peace and harmony for ourselves, and others as well.

The Dharma wheel; Source: WorldHistory