What Is Dharma?

What is Dharma?

Dharma is the very foundation of the universe. It protects and sustains existence just like a mighty bull (Vrishabha) standing on four strong legs.

1.  In Satya Yuga, Dharma stood firmly on all four legs.
2.  In Treta Yuga, it stood on three legs.
3. In Dvapara Yuga, it managed to remain on just two legs.
4. Now, in Kali Yuga, Dharma struggles to survive—standing precariously on just one leg.

These four legs of Dharma are:

• Satya (Truth)
• Daya (Kindness or Compassion)
• Shanti (Peace)
• Ahimsa (Nonviolence)

Sloka:
Satyam dayaa tathaa shanthirhimsaacheti keertitaah |
Dharmasya avayavaas tatha, chatvaarah poornatam gataah ||

I. Satya – Truth (12 Forms)

Amithyavachanam satyam sveekaara pratipaalanam|
Priyavakyam guroh sevaa drudham chaiva vratam kritam||
Aastikam sadhusangscha piturmaatuh priyamkarah|
Suchitvam dyividham chaiva hrirasamchaya eevacha||

Truth is not just about not lying; it is a multidimensional principle with twelve clear aspects:

1. Amithyavachanam – Not speaking lies
2. Sveekaara pratipaalanam – Being responsible and fulfilling one’s promises
3. Priyavakyam – Speaking pleasantly and lovingly
4. Guroh Sevaa – Serving one’s teacher with reverence
5. Dridham chaiva vratam kritam – Observing vows with unwavering firmness
6. Aastikyam – Having faith in God
7. Sadhu sangah – Keeping the company of the virtuous
8. Pitur Maatuh Priyamkarah – Pleasing one’s parents with good conduct
9. Bahya Suchi – Outer cleanliness
10. Antahkarana Shuddhi – Inner purity
11. Hrih – Modesty or natural sense of shame in wrongdoing
12. Asamchayah – Non-possessiveness or renunciation of greed

II. Daya – Kindness (6 Forms)

Paropakaro danam cha sarvadaa smitabhaashaNam|
ninayo nyunataabhavasveekarah samataa matih||

Compassion is the warm heart of Dharma. Its six expressions are:

1. Paropakara – Helping others selflessly
2. Daanam – Charity or giving
3. Smitabhashanam – Speaking with a gentle, smiling voice
4. Vinaya – Humility in conduct
5. Nyoonata bhava sveekara – Seeing oneself as lower than others (absence of ego)
6. Samataa Matih – Equanimity of mind, treating all equally
   

III. Shanti – Peace (30 Forms)

Anasooyaalpasansha indriyaaNam cha samyamah|
Asamgamoo maunamevam, deva pujavidhau matih||
Akutaschidbhayatvam cha, gaabheeryam sthirachittataa|
Arookshabhaavah sarvatra, nisspruhatvam drudhaa matih||
Vivarjanam vyakaaryaaNaam, samah poojaavamaanayooh|
Slaghaa paraguNee Sthaiyaam, brahama charyam dhritih kshamaa||
Atithyam cha japo homa, sthitardhasevaaryaseevanam|
Amatsaro bandhamokshajnanam sannasasabhavanaa||
sahishnutaa suduhkheeshu, akaarpaNyamamoorkhataa|

Shanti is the state of inner stillness and spiritual balance. It expresses itself through these thirty qualities:

1. Anasuyata – Not finding faults in others
2. Alpa Santosha – Being content with little
3. Indriya Samyamah – Control over one’s senses
4. Asangamo – Non-attachment
5. Maunam – Silence, both external and internal
6. Deva Pujavidhau Matih – Devotion to divine worship
7. Akutaschid Bhayatvam – Fearlessness from everything
8. Gabheeryam – Depth or gravity in character
9. Sthira Chittataa – Steadiness of mind
10. Aroosha Bhavah – Calmness, no violent tendencies
11. Nisspruhatvam – Desirelessness
12. Dridha Matih – Firmness in convictions
13. Vivarjanam Vyakaaryaanaam – Avoidance of sinful acts
14. Sama Pooja Avamaanayoh – Treating praise and insult alike
15. Slagha Paraguni – Praising the good qualities of others
16. Sthairyam – Stability
17. Brahmacharyam – Celibacy
18. Dhritih – Courage
19. Kshamaa – Forgiveness
20. Atithyam – Hospitality
21. Japah – Reciting sacred mantras
22. Homa – Offering oblations in fire rituals
23. Sthita Artha Sevana – Serving spiritual wealth
24. Arya Sevanam – Serving the noble and righteous
25. Amatsarah – Absence of jealousy
26. Bandha Moksha Jnanam – Knowledge of bondage and liberation
27. Sannyasa Bhavana – Renunciation or dispassion
28. Sahishnutaa – Enduring pain and hardships
29. Suduhkheshu Akarpanyam – Not being miserly even during suffering
30. Amomurkhataa – Absence of foolishness or ignorance

IV. Ahimsa – Nonviolence (7 Forms)

Ahimsa tyaasanajayah parapida vivarjanam|
Sraddhaa chaatidhya seevaacha, santirOpa pradarsanam||
Aatmiyataa cha sarvatra, aatma buddhih paramatmasu|

Ahimsa is not just physical nonviolence but also extends to thought and speech. Its seven aspects are:

1. Ahimsa – Avoiding injury in thought, word, and deed
2. Tyaaga – Renunciation of harmful acts
3. Sanjaya – Victory over inner passions
4. Para Peeda Vivarjanam – Abstaining from oppressing others
5. Shraddha – Sincere spiritual faith
6. Atithi Sevaa – Honoring guests and strangers
7. Santi Roopa Pradarshanam – Embodying and expressing peace in all actions
8. Aatmiyataa Sarvatra – Feeling closeness with all beings
9. Aatma Buddhi Paramatmasu – Recognizing the divine Self in all beings
   

The Power of Even a Little Dharma

This is Dharma.

Following even a small part of it grants great protection.
Neglecting it—even slightly—can lead to terrible consequences.

Sloka from Brihad Dharma Purana (Purva Khanda 1.47):
Yathaa swalpam adharmam hi janayet tu mahabhayam |
Swalpam apyasya dharmasya traayate mahato bhayaat ||

Translation:
“Even a little unrighteousness (Adharma) can give rise to great danger.
But even the smallest practice of Dharma protects one from great calamities.”