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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.  
 
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". 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">Kane, Pandurang Vaman. (1930) ''History of Dharmasastra (Ancient and Medieval Religious and Civil Law), Volume 1.'' Poona : Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute. (Pages 1-7)</ref><blockquote>पितुं नु स्तोषं महो धर्माणं तविषीम् । यस्य त्रितो व्योजसा वृत्रं विपर्वमर्दयत् ॥१ (Rig. Veda. 1.187.1)</blockquote>It is used in sense of religious ordinances or rites (Rig Veda. 1.22.18, 5.26.6, 8.43.24 and 9.64.1).
 
The word is clearly derived from dhatu धृञ् (in the meaning धारणे) meaning - "to uphold, to support, to nourish". 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">Kane, Pandurang Vaman. (1930) ''History of Dharmasastra (Ancient and Medieval Religious and Civil Law), Volume 1.'' Poona : Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute. (Pages 1-7)</ref><blockquote>पितुं नु स्तोषं महो धर्माणं तविषीम् । यस्य त्रितो व्योजसा वृत्रं विपर्वमर्दयत् ॥१ (Rig. Veda. 1.187.1)</blockquote>It is used in sense of religious ordinances or rites (Rig Veda. 1.22.18, 5.26.6, 8.43.24 and 9.64.1).
*It is also used as notation for fixed principles or rules of conduct
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It is also used as notation for fixed principles or rules of conduct
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Aitareya Brahmana mentions a whole body of religious duties associated with Dharma.
 
Aitareya Brahmana mentions a whole body of religious duties associated with Dharma.
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== Dharmasutras ==
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== धर्मसूत्राणि ॥ Dharmasutras ==
Dharmasutras based on Vedas have a more formal treatment on the topics of Dharma. They have explicitly mentioned the authority of Vedas as the source of dharma.<ref name=":3" />
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Dharmasutras based on Vedas have a more formal treatment on the topics of Dharma. They start with the explicit mention of the authority of Vedas as the source of dharma. They are the main treatises about the Dharma given by many rshis.<ref name=":3" />
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'''Baudhayana Dharmasutras''' says
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उपदिष्टो धर्मः प्रतिवेदम् । बो.ध.सू १.१.१
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स्मार्तो द्वितीयः । तृतीयश्शिष्टागमः । १, १,३-४
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Govindasvami's commentary on Baudhayana Sutras elaborates the above sutras as follows - "those volumes of granthas that propose the meaning  (jnana) that is beyond the understanding of sensual knowledge, in every shaka (of the Vedas) and which are eternal are the Vedas. They put forth the (Shrauta) Dharmas (प्रत्यक्षश्रुतिविहितः प्रथमो धर्मः). Each shaka is complete with Vedangas and the Kalpasutras in them discuss the shaka specific aspects.
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Smarta dharmas (प्रकीर्णमन्त्रार्थवादमूलो द्वितीयः धर्मः) for the second type. They are given by Smrtis, which are secondary explanations sourced from the Vedas. They are of five types namely, Varnadharma, Ashramadharma, Varnashramadharma, Gunadharma and Nimitta-dharmas. Again they are classified into general and specific dharmas.
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The third is dharmas arising from Shistas (तृतीयस्तु प्रलीनशाखामूलः घर्मः), who are people performing Shishtachara."<ref>Pt. Srinivasacharya, L. (1907) ''The Bodhayana Dharmasutra with the commentary of Govindasvamin''. Mysore: The Government Branch Press (Pages 1 - 2)</ref>
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Gautama Dharmasutra (1.1.1-2) says  
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'''Gautama Dharmasutra''' (1.1.1-2) says  
    
वेदो धर्ममूलम्। तद्विदां च स्मृतिशीले।<ref>Gautama Dharmasutras ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8C%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D Full Text])</ref>
 
वेदो धर्ममूलम्। तद्विदां च स्मृतिशीले।<ref>Gautama Dharmasutras ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8C%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D Full Text])</ref>
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Veda is the source of dharma and the tradition and practice of those that know it (the Veda).
 
Veda is the source of dharma and the tradition and practice of those that know it (the Veda).
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Vasishtadharma-sutras (1.4-6) says
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'''Vasishta Dharmasutras''' (1.4-6) says
    
श्रुतिस्मृतिविहितो धर्मः। तदलाभे शिष्टाचारः प्रमाऩम्। शिष्टः पुनरकामात्मा।
 
श्रुतिस्मृतिविहितो धर्मः। तदलाभे शिष्टाचारः प्रमाऩम्। शिष्टः पुनरकामात्मा।

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