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== परिचयः ॥ Introduction ==

== परिचयः ॥ Introduction ==

धर्मः ॥ Dharma is a samskrit expression of the widest import. There is no corresponding word for Dharma in any other world language as it is a unique and ancient concept promulgated by rishis since times immemorial. Any single definition of Dharma would be an insufficient attempt to define the word. It can only be explained and has a wide variety of meanings. The extensive vedic literature has shown the irrevocable link between Dharma and Vedas, a few instances are presented here.

धर्मः ॥ Dharma is a samskrit expression of the widest import. There is no corresponding word for Dharma in any other world language as it is a unique and ancient concept promulgated by rshis since times immemorial. Any single definition of Dharma would be an insufficient attempt to define the word. It can only be explained and has a wide variety of meanings. The extensive vedic literature has shown the irrevocable link between Dharma and Vedas, a few instances are presented here.

== व्युत्पत्तिः ॥ Etymology ==

== व्युत्पत्तिः ॥ Etymology ==

The samskrit word veda (वेदः | knowledge, wisdom) is derived from the धातुः (root) विद् (vid) - ज्ञाने (वेत्ति) in the meaning "to know" (Dhatupatha 1064)<ref name=":122" />. Apart from this, Veda is derived from विद् (vid) धातुः with the addition of Bhavarthaka (भावर्थकः), Karmarthaka (कर्मार्थकः ) and Karanarthaka (करणार्थकः) "धम" Dhama pratyaya (प्रत्ययः | suffix) to form the meanings "knowledge, pertaining to knowledge and instrument of knowledge" respectively (See Page 2 footnote 1 for further reference).<ref name=":2">Singh, Ahilya. (2010) PhD Thesis Title: [http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/180070/3/03_chapter%201.pdf Pracheen bharat mein aarthik jeevan prarambh se vaidik kaal tak.] V. B. S. Purvanchal University.</ref><blockquote>वेद्यन्ते ज्ञाप्यन्ते धर्मादिपुरुशार्थचतुष्ठयोपाया येन स वेदः। vedyante jñāpyante dharmādipuruśārthacatuṣṭhayopāyā yena sa vedaḥ।</blockquote>Meaning: That which is the means for obtaining the knowledge of Dharma and other (अर्थः ॥ Artha, कामः ॥ Kama and मोक्षः ॥ Moksha) purusharthas is called Veda.<ref name=":2" /> Thus, the inseparable link between Dharma and Vedas is well established by scholars in many instances.

The samskrit word veda (वेदः | knowledge, wisdom) is derived from the धातुः (root) विद् (vid) - ज्ञाने (वेत्ति) in the meaning "to know" (Dhatupatha 1064)<ref name=":122" />. Apart from this, Veda is derived from विद् (vid) धातुः with the addition of Bhavarthaka (भावर्थकः), Karmarthaka (कर्मार्थकः ) and Karanarthaka (करणार्थकः) "धम" Dhama pratyaya (प्रत्ययः | suffix) to form the meanings "knowledge, pertaining to knowledge and instrument of knowledge" respectively (See Page 2 footnote 1 for further reference).<ref name=":2">Singh, Ahilya. (2010) PhD Thesis Title: [http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/180070/3/03_chapter%201.pdf Pracheen bharat mein aarthik jeevan prarambh se vaidik kaal tak.] V. B. S. Purvanchal University.</ref><blockquote>वेद्यन्ते ज्ञाप्यन्ते धर्मादिपुरुशार्थचतुष्ठयोपाया येन स वेदः। vedyante jñāpyante dharmādipuruśārthacatuṣṭhayopāyā yena sa vedaḥ।</blockquote>Meaning: That which is the means for obtaining the knowledge of Dharma and other (अर्थः ॥ Artha, कामः ॥ Kama and मोक्षः ॥ Moksha) purusharthas is called Veda.<ref name=":2" /> Thus, the inseparable link between Dharma and Vedas is well established by scholars in many instances.

== Rigveda ==

== Rigveda ==

A word whose exact meaning cannot be given in English or any other language, Dharma appears to be used in Rigveda as an adjective or noun in the form of dharman (धर्मन्) in neuter gender. The word is clearly derived from dhatu धृञ् (in the meaning धारणे) meaning - "to uphold, to support, to nourish".<ref name=":3">Kane, Pandurang Vaman. (1930) ''History of Dharmasastra (Ancient and Medieval Religious and Civil Law), Volume 1.'' Poona : Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute</ref>

A word whose exact meaning cannot be given in English or any other language, Dharma appears to be used in Rigveda as an adjective or noun in the form of dharman (धर्मन्) in neuter gender. The word is clearly derived from dhatu धृञ् (in the meaning धारणे) meaning - "to uphold, to support, to nourish".<ref name=":3">Kane, Pandurang Vaman. (1930) ''History of Dharmasastra (Ancient and Medieval Religious and Civil Law), Volume 1.'' Poona : Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute</ref>

* Dharma is used in the sense of - 'upholder or supporter or sustainer' as in Rigveda (1.187.1 and 10.92.2 and 10.21.3)<ref name=":3" />  

* Dharma is used in the sense of - 'upholder or supporter or sustainer' as in Rigveda (1.187.1 and 10.92.2 and 10.21.3)<ref name=":3" />  

* It is used religious ordinances or rites  

* It is used in sense of religious ordinances or rites  

fixed principles or rules of conduct

* It is also used as notation for fixed principles or rules of conduct  

 

Aitareya Brahmana mentions a whole body of religious duties associated with Dharma.

Aitareya Brahmana - whole body of religious duties  

 

 

Same meaning is seen in Taittriya Upanishad (1.2) Bhagavadgita, and Manusmrti.

== स्मृतिः॥ Smritis ==

== स्मृतिः॥ Smritis ==

== उपनिषदः ॥ Upanishads ==

== उपनिषदः ॥ Upanishads ==

=== मुण्डक-उपनिषद् ॥ Mundaka Upanishad ===

=== मुण्डक-उपनिषद् ॥ Mundaka Upanishad ===

The Upanishad texts base their spiritual philosophy on Vedas and describe the origin of vedas to be from the परब्रह्मन् ॥ Parabrahma (Infinite Consciousness).<ref name=":03" /><ref>Swami Sharvananda (1920) ''Mundaka and Mandukya Upanishads'', Madras:Sri Ramakrishna Math</ref><blockquote>तस्मादृच: साम यजूंषि दीक्षा || (Mund. Upan. 2.1.6)<ref>The Works of Sri Sankaracharya (1910) [https://archive.org/stream/CompleteWorksOfSriSankaracharyaIn20Volumes1910Edition/WorksOfSriSankaracharya05-MundakaMandukyaAitareyaUpanishads1#page/n57/mode/2up ''The Upanishad Bhashya - Munda, Mandukya, & Aitereya. Vol 5''] Srirangam: Sri Vani Vilas Press</ref></blockquote><blockquote>tasmādṛca: sāma yajūṃṣi dīkṣā || (Mund. Upan. 2.1.6)</blockquote>Meaning: From Him (the परब्रह्मन् ॥ Parabrahma) arise the the mantras of ऋक् ॥ Rig, यजुस् ॥ Yajus and साम ॥ Sama vedas.<ref name=":03" />

The Upanishad texts base their spiritual philosophy on Vedas and describe the origin of vedas to be from the परब्रह्मन् ॥ Parabrahma (Infinite Consciousness).<ref name=":03" /><ref>Swami Sharvananda (1920) ''Mundaka and Mandukya Upanishads'', Madras:Sri Ramakrishna Math</ref><blockquote>तस्मादृच: साम यजूंषि दीक्षा || tasmādṛca: sāma yajūṃṣi dīkṣā || (Mund. Upan. 2.1.6)<ref>The Works of Sri Sankaracharya (1910) [https://archive.org/stream/CompleteWorksOfSriSankaracharyaIn20Volumes1910Edition/WorksOfSriSankaracharya05-MundakaMandukyaAitareyaUpanishads1#page/n57/mode/2up ''The Upanishad Bhashya - Munda, Mandukya, & Aitereya. Vol 5''] Srirangam: Sri Vani Vilas Press</ref></blockquote>Meaning: From Him (the परब्रह्मन् ॥ Parabrahma) arise the the mantras of ऋक् ॥ Rig, यजुस् ॥ Yajus and साम ॥ Sama vedas.<ref name=":03" />

=== बृहदारण्यक-उपनिषद् ॥ Brhdaranyaka Upanishad ===

=== बृहदारण्यक-उपनिषद् ॥ Brhdaranyaka Upanishad ===

<blockquote>....एतस्य वा महतो भूतस्य नि:श्वसितमेतद् यद् ऋग्वेदो यजुर्वेद: सामवेदोऽथर्वाङ्गिरस .... || (Brih. Upan. 4.5.11)<ref>Brhdaranyaka Upanishad ([https://archive.org/stream/Brihadaranyaka.Upanishad.Shankara.Bhashya.by.Swami.Madhavananda#page/n805/mode/2up Adhyaya 4])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>....etasya vā mahato bhūtasya ni:śvasitametad yad ṛgvedo yajurveda: sāmavedo'tharvāṅgirasa .... || (Brih. Upan. 4.5.11)</blockquote>Meaning:  From the breath (exhalation) of this Supreme Being have arisen the ऋग्वेदः ॥ [[Rigveda]], यजुर्वेदः ॥ [[Yajurveda]], सामवेदः ॥ [[Samaveda (सामवेद)|Samaveda]] and अथर्वणवेदः ॥ [[Atharvaveda|Atharvanaveda]].<ref name=":03" />

<blockquote>....एतस्य वा महतो भूतस्य नि:श्वसितमेतद् यद् ऋग्वेदो यजुर्वेद: सामवेदोऽथर्वाङ्गिरस .... || (Brih. Upan. 4.5.11)<ref>Brhdaranyaka Upanishad ([https://archive.org/stream/Brihadaranyaka.Upanishad.Shankara.Bhashya.by.Swami.Madhavananda#page/n805/mode/2up Adhyaya 4])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>....etasya vā mahato bhūtasya ni:śvasitametad yad ṛgvedo yajurveda: sāmavedo'tharvāṅgirasa .... || (Brih. Upan. 4.5.11)</blockquote>Meaning:  From the breath (exhalation) of this Supreme Being have arisen the ऋग्वेदः ॥ [[Rigveda]], यजुर्वेदः ॥ [[Yajurveda]], सामवेदः ॥ [[Samaveda (सामवेद)|Samaveda]] and अथर्वणवेदः ॥ [[Atharvaveda|Atharvanaveda]].<ref name=":03" />

== महाभारतम् ॥ Mahabharata ==

== महाभारतम् ॥ Mahabharata ==

== षड्-दर्शनानि ॥ Shad Darshanas ==

== षड्-दर्शनानि ॥ Shad Darshanas ==

षड्-दर्शन-s || [[Shad Darshanas (षड्दर्शनानि)|Shad Darshanas]], include साङ्ख्यः ॥ Sankhya, वैशेषिकः ॥ Vaisheshika, न्यायः ॥ Nyaya, पूर्वमीमांसा ॥ Purva Mimamsa, उत्तरमीमांसा ॥ Uttara Mimamsa (वेदान्तः ॥ Vedanta) and योगः ॥ Yoga. As they are deeply rooted in vedic principles, they are called आस्तिक-दर्शनानि ॥ Astika darshanas according to many scholars. Although some believe that Sankhya is not an Astika Darshana.   

[[Shad Darshanas (षड्दर्शनानि)|Shad Darshanas]], include साङ्ख्यः ॥ Sankhya, वैशेषिकः ॥ Vaisheshika, न्यायः ॥ Nyaya, पूर्वमीमांसा ॥ Purva Mimamsa, उत्तरमीमांसा ॥ Uttara Mimamsa (वेदान्तः ॥ Vedanta) and योगः ॥ Yoga. As they are deeply rooted in vedic principles, they are called आस्तिक-दर्शनानि ॥ Astika darshanas according to many scholars. Although some believe that Sankhya is not an Astika Darshana.   

=== न्याय-दर्शनम् ॥ Nyaya Darshana ===

=== न्याय-दर्शनम् ॥ Nyaya Darshana ===