Dharma | FidesDB

What it is: Dharma is one of the broadest concepts in Hinduism, able to mean duty, moral order, justice, teaching, the correct way of living, and the normative structure of the cosmos and society.

How the tradition understands it: In many currents, living in accordance with dharma is an important condition for personal, social, and spiritual life. The concept may vary by life stage, social role, philosophical school, and religious goal.

Textual basis and context: The theme appears in late Vedic texts, epics, Dharmashastras, and in the Bhagavad Gita. Its historical use has also been tied to social norms and debates about caste, gender, and authority.

Debates and variations: The meaning of dharma is not uniform; it can be ethical, ritual, cosmic, or juridical, and is reinterpreted in modern contexts.

Supportive

Bhagavad Gita 2.47

hinduism,gita,dharma,karma-yoga

A classic text on action, duty, and detachment.

Reference: Bhagavad Gita 2.47.
Content: The verse teaches one to act without attachment to the fruits of action.
Use in debate: It is central to interpretations of dharma and karma yoga.

Bhagavad Gita 3.19

hinduism,gita,dharma,action

Action carried out without attachment.

Reference: Bhagavad Gita 3.19.
Content: The text recommends carrying out necessary action without attachment.
Use in debate: It supports an ethic of duty and disciplined action.

Manusmriti 1.108-109

hinduism,dharmashastra,dharma,law

A representative passage of the normative use of the term dharma in legal literature.

Reference: Manusmriti 1.108-109 and the nearby context.
Content: The text associates the sources of dharma with Veda, tradition, and recognized conduct.
Use in debate: It is useful for showing the legal and social aspect of dharma, although it is contested by modern readings and by traditions that reject its centrality.