Dharma
Central concept in Indian-origin religions with multiple meanings.
Dharma is a key concept in various Indian-origin religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. The term does not have a single, clear translation and conveys a multifaceted idea, etymologically deriving from the Sanskrit root dhr-, meaning to hold or to support, thus referring to the law that sustains things from one's life to society and the universe at large.
- Etymology
- Sanskrit dhr-, 'to hold or support'
- Religions
- Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism
- Antonym
- Adharma
- Key Meaning
- Moral responsibilities or duties; righteous way of living
- Buddhist term
- Dhamma (Pali)
- Ashoka's translation
- Greek eusebeia, Aramaic qšyṭ'
Lore & Background
Dharma appears in the earliest Vedic texts, with its meaning and conceptual scope evolving over several millennia. In the Rigveda, the word appears as an n-stem, dhárman-, with meanings encompassing 'something established or firm' and figuratively 'sustainer' and 'supporter' of deities. In Classical Sanskrit and the Atharvaveda, the stem is thematic: dhárma-. In Prakrit and Pali, it is rendered dhamma. The Mauryan Emperor Ashoka translated dharma into Greek as eusebeia and into Aramaic as qšyṭ' in the 3rd century BCE.
Reader's Guide
Dharma is a concept of central importance in Indian philosophy and Indian religions, with multiple meanings in Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism. It is difficult to provide a single concise definition, as the word has a long and varied history and straddles a complex set of meanings and interpretations. There is no direct single-word synonym for dharma in western languages. In Hinduism, dharma denotes behaviours in accord with Ṛta—the order and custom that makes life and the universe possible—and includes duties, rights, laws, conduct, virtues, and ethics. In Buddhism, dharma refers to the teachings of the Buddha and to the true nature of reality. In Jainism, it refers to the teachings of Tirthankara and the body of doctrine pertaining to purification and moral transformation. In Sikhism, it indicates the path of righteousness and proper religious practices. The concept is believed to have a transtemporal validity and is one of the puruṣārthas.
Did You Know?
- The word dharma appears at least fifty-six times in the hymns of the Rigveda.
- Ashoka translated dharma into Greek as eusebeia and into Aramaic as qšyṭ'.
- In Buddhism, dharma (Pali: dhamma) refers to the teachings of the Buddha and to the true nature of reality.
- The antonym of dharma is adharma, meaning that which is 'not dharma'.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Dharma actually mean?
Dharma is a core concept in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism that broadly covers moral duties, the righteous way of living, and the cosmic law that holds reality in place. There is no single English word that captures every layer of the term, which is why fans often just leave it untranslated.
Where does the word Dharma come from?
It traces back to the Sanskrit root dhr-, meaning to hold or to support. That root idea of 'that which sustains' stretches from an individual's daily conduct all the way up to the underlying structure of the universe.
What is the Buddhist version of Dharma?
In Pali, the Buddhist tradition uses the spelling Dhamma, and it carries a closely related but slightly distinct emphasis on the Buddha's teachings and the natural law of existence. It functions both as the instruction handed down and as the order that governs all phenomena.
What is the opposite of Dharma?
The antonym is Adharma, which points to actions or states that violate moral order and duty. It essentially represents the breakdown of the very sustaining principles that Dharma upholds.
How did Ashoka render Dharma in other languages?
When Emperor Ashoka spread his edicts across his empire, he translated the concept as eusebeia in Greek and qšyṭ' in Aramaic. Those renderings show how the idea was understood as piety, righteousness, and proper governance in neighboring cultures.
More in Hindu And Buddhist Terms 1-18
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