Encyclopedia of hinduism

DHARMA

dharma: translation

Dharma is a complex and multifaceted term in Hindu tradition. It can be translated as “religious law,” “right conduct,” “duty,” and “social order.” Its root, dhri, means “to hold up.”
The social concept of dharma emerges from the VEDIC notion of RITA or “cosmic order.” In this worldview, dharma (the social order) is main-tained by dharma (right conduct and the fulfill-ment of duty and religious law). Social activity was traditionally very much circumscribed by tradition; following dharma meant doing what was required.
Starting as early as the fourth century B.C.E., a voluminous literature in Sanskrit was created called DHARMASHASTRA (authoritative texts on dharma). These included the Dharmasutras (aphoristic texts). Dharma later became personified as a god in mythology and literature. His son was YUDHISHTHIRA, one of the five PANDAVAS in the MAHABHARATA story.
In the Jain tradition, dharma refers to the complex of duties required of a Jain. Jains recog-nize 10 forms of dharma that monks are to follow (see JAINISM). The word dharma can be used in association with any religion or faith, such as the Zoroastrian dharma.
Further reading:Wendy Doniger and Brian K. Smith, trans., The Laws of Manu (New York: Penguin Books, 1991); P. V. Kane, History of the Dharma Shastra, 5 vols. (Poona: Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, 1968); Wendy Doniger O’Flaherty, J. Duncan, and M. Derrett, The Concept of Duty in South Asia (New Delhi: Vikas Publishing House, 1978).

  1. dharma—dharma translationSynonyms and related wordsbodybuild brand cast character characteristic characteristics complexion composition constituents constitution crasis diathesi...Moby Thesaurus
  2. dharma—dharma translationSkt. carrying or holding In Buddhism the factors of existence. Originally not so much an ethical concept as one of cosmological theory dharmaem bears so...Philosophy dictionary
  3. dharma—n дхарма закон мораль учение...Англо-русский словарь Лингвистика-98
  4. dharma—санскр. сущ. рел. дхарма священный закон...Англо-русский словарь общей лексики
  5. dharma—n в индийской культуре дхарма закон учение мораль.strong в индийской культуре дхарма закон учение мораль....Англо-русский словарь по социологии
  6. dharma—n. дхарма учение мораль...Англо-русский словарь редакция bed
  7. dharma—сущ.emв индийской культуре дхарма закон учение мораль....Англо-русский социологический словарь
  8. dharma—сущ.рел. санскр. Дхарма бог справедливости персонифицирующий понятие дхармы закона морального правопорядка добродетелиethics justice...Англо-русский экономический словарь
  9. dharma—[dm] nдхарма закон учение мораль в индийской философии...Новый большой англо-русский словарь
  10. dharma—dharma [dm] ni дхарма закон учение мораль в индийской философииi...Новый большой англо-русский словарь II
  11. dharma—dm n дхарма закон учение мораль в индийской философииem...Новый большой англо-русский словарь под общим руководством акад. Ю.Д. Апресяна