Category: PhilosophyPart of speech: nounDifficulty: IntermediateRecommended for ★ UPSC
धर्म
/dharma/Roman
English meaning: Righteousness / Duty / Law
Definition
One of the four Purusharthas (goals of life). Dharma encompasses duty, righteousness, moral order, and the cosmic law that sustains the universe. It is foundational to Indian philosophy, governance, and the concept of natural law.
Example
“धर्मो रक्षति रक्षितः।”
In English: “Dharma protects those who protect it.”
Synonyms
- ऋत
- न्याय
Literary Heritage
“योगस्थः कुरु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा धनञ्जय।”
/Yogasthaḥ kuru karmāṇi saṅgaṃ tyaktvā Dhanañjaya./
“Perform actions fixed in yoga, abandoning attachment, O Arjuna.”
Images
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Language information
- Language
- संस्कृतम्
- Sanskrit
- Script
- Devanagari
- Family
- Indo-Aryan
- Speakers
- 5M