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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).<blockquote>त्रीणि पदा वि चक्रमे विष्णुर्गोपा अदाभ्यः । अतो धर्मा॑णि धारयन् ॥१८॥ (Rig. Veda. 1.22.18)</blockquote>According to Shri. P. V. Kane ji Dharma is also used as notation for fixed principles or rules of conduct than just "religious rites"  in mantras for example<blockquote>धर्मणा मित्रावरुणा विपश्चिता व्रता रक्षेथे असुरस्य मायया । (Rig. Veda. 5.63.7)</blockquote>Words such as prathama dharma (Rig. Veda. 3.17.1 and 10.56.3) and sanata dharmani (Rig. Veda. 3.3.1) have been associated with primeval and ancient ordinances respectively. The famous mantra associates Dharma with those primary set of activities involving yajnas to please the devatas.<blockquote>यज्ञेन यज्ञमयजन्त देवास्तानि धर्माणि प्रथमान्यासन् । ते ह नाकं महिमान: सचन्त यत्र पूर्वे साध्याः सन्ति देवाः ॥५॥० (Rig. Veda. 1.164.50)</blockquote>Aitareya Brahmana mentions a whole body of religious duties associated with Dharma (Aite. Brah. 7.17 and 8.13).

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).<blockquote>त्रीणि पदा वि चक्रमे विष्णुर्गोपा अदाभ्यः । अतो धर्मा॑णि धारयन् ॥१८॥ (Rig. Veda. 1.22.18)</blockquote>According to Shri. P. V. Kane, Dharma is also used as notation for fixed principles or rules of conduct than just "religious rites"  in mantras for example<blockquote>धर्मणा मित्रावरुणा विपश्चिता व्रता रक्षेथे असुरस्य मायया । (Rig. Veda. 5.63.7)</blockquote>Words such as prathama dharma (Rig. Veda. 3.17.1 and 10.56.3) and sanata dharmani (Rig. Veda. 3.3.1) have been associated with primeval and ancient ordinances respectively. The famous mantra explains Dharma as those primary set of activities involved in yajnas.<blockquote>यज्ञेन यज्ञमयजन्त देवास्तानि धर्माणि प्रथमान्यासन् । ते ह नाकं महिमान: सचन्त यत्र पूर्वे साध्याः सन्ति देवाः ॥५॥० (Rig. Veda. 1.164.50)</blockquote>Meaning: Through the (conduct) of yajnas, devatas worshipped the Yajnapurusha (sometimes referred to as Yajna or Vishnu), which are laid down as primary dharmas (in the sense that the primary dharmas are none other than the yajnas). Encouraged by the yajnas (and their merits) in the devaloka, the worldly beings began to perform them.

 

Aitareya Brahmana mentions a whole body of religious duties associated with Dharma (Aite. Brah. 7.17 and 8.13).

Shukla Yajurveda samhita also refers to the above usages of the word Dharman as seen in Rig Veda. The mantras of Rig Veda quoted above are also occurring in Atharvaveda and "dharma" seems to be used in the sense of 'merit acquired by the performance of religious rites."<ref name=":3" />

Shukla Yajurveda samhita also refers to the above usages of the word Dharman as seen in Rig Veda. The mantras of Rig Veda quoted above are also occurring in Atharvaveda and "dharma" seems to be used in the sense of 'merit acquired by the performance of religious rites."<ref name=":3" />

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

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

====महानारायणोपनिषद् ॥ Mahanarayanopanishad====

====महानारायणोपनिषद् ॥ Mahanarayanopanishad====

<blockquote>धर्मो विश्वस्य जगतः प्रतिष्ठा लोके धर्मिष्ठ प्रजा उपसर्पन्ति धर्मेण पापमपनुदति धर्मे सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितं तस्माद्धर्मं परमं वदन्ति ॥ ७॥ (Mahanarayana. Upan. 79.7)<ref>Mahanarayanopanishad ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D All Anuvakas])</ref></blockquote>Meaning : Dharma is the

<blockquote>धर्मो विश्वस्य जगतः प्रतिष्ठा लोके धर्मिष्ठ प्रजा उपसर्पन्ति धर्मेण पापमपनुदति धर्मे सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितं तस्माद्धर्मं परमं वदन्ति ॥ ७॥ (Mahanarayana. Upan. 79.7)<ref>Mahanarayanopanishad ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D All Anuvakas])</ref></blockquote>Meaning : Dharma is the support for the universe, it drives the dharmik people to progress towards their goals, by which they cleanse themselves off their papam (malefic results). All (beings) exist due to the intrinsic Dharmas they follow, hence Dharma is said to be supreme. 

==षड्-दर्शनानि ॥ Shad Darshanas==

==षड्-दर्शनानि ॥ Shad Darshanas==

[[Shad Darshanas (षड्दर्शनानि)|Shad Darshanas]], include Sankhya (साङ्ख्यः),  Yoga (योगः), Vaisheshika (वैशेषिकः), Nyaya (न्यायः), Purva Mimamsa (पूर्वमीमांसा), Uttara Mimamsa (उत्तरमीमांसा or वेदान्तः Vedanta). As they are deeply rooted in vedic principles, they are called Astika darshanas (आस्तिक-दर्शनानि) according to many scholars, although some believe that Sankhya is not an Astika Darshana. The dharmas mentioned in sramanic and nastika darsanas are beyond the scope of the present article.

[[Shad Darshanas (षड्दर्शनानि)|Shad Darshanas]], include Sankhya (साङ्ख्यः),  Yoga (योगः), Vaisheshika (वैशेषिकः), Nyaya (न्यायः), Purva Mimamsa (पूर्वमीमांसा), Uttara Mimamsa (उत्तरमीमांसा or वेदान्तः Vedanta). As they are deeply rooted in vedic principles, they are called Astika darshanas (आस्तिक-दर्शनानि) according to many scholars, although some believe that Sankhya is not an Astika Darshana. The dharmas mentioned in sramanic and nastika darsanas are beyond the scope of the present article.