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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>

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 1-13)</ref>

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><blockquote>trīṇi padā vi cakramē viṣṇurgōpā adābhyaḥ । atō dharmā̍ṇi dhārayan ॥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 । dharmaṇā mitrāvaruṇā vipaścitā vratā rakṣēthē asurasya māyayā । (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, recited during devatarchana, reminds us of Dharma as that primary set of activities involved in yajnas and are offered to 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><blockquote>yajñēna yajñamayajanta dēvāstāni dharmāṇi prathamānyāsan । tē ha nākaṁ mahimāna: sacanta yatra pūrvē sādhyāḥ santi dēvāḥ ॥5॥0</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.

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><blockquote>trīṇi padā vi cakramē viṣṇurgōpā adābhyaḥ । atō dharmā̍ṇi dhārayan ॥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 । dharmaṇā mitrāvaruṇā vipaścitā vratā rakṣēthē asurasya māyayā । (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, recited during devatarchana, reminds us of Dharma as that primary set of activities involved in yajnas and are offered to 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><blockquote>yajñēna yajñamayajanta dēvāstāni dharmāṇi prathamānyāsan । tē ha nākaṁ mahimāna: sacanta yatra pūrvē sādhyāḥ santi dēvāḥ ॥5॥0</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.

== धर्मशास्त्राणि ॥ Dharmashastras ==

== धर्मशास्त्राणि ॥ Dharmashastras ==

Dharmashastras (धर्मशास्त्राणि) are organized texts dealing with dharmas of holistic perspectives of life. They detail less of the Shrauta yajnas and dharmas pertaining to the Shruti and emphasize more on the socio-economic, political and moral and ethical dharmas. They started to play an important role in the activities of life as yugas and yugadharmas changed.  

[[Dharmashastras (धर्मशास्त्राणि)]] are organized texts dealing with dharmas pertaining to holistic aspects of life. They detail less with the Shrauta yajnas and dharmas pertaining to the injunctions given in the Brahmanas and emphasize more on the activities pertaining to individuals (grhya dharmas) socio-economic, political and moral and ethical dharmas. Dharmashastras started to play an important role in the activities of life as yugas and yugadharmas changed.  

Manu called a Dharmashastra as Smrti.<blockquote>श्रुतिस्तु वेदो विज्ञेयो धर्मशास्त्रं तु वै स्मृतिः । (Manu. Smrt. 2.10)</blockquote>Again, there are references where the term "Smrti" is applied to all non-vedic texts including the Vedangas (including the Dharmasutras), Smrti texts (Manusmrti, Yajnavalkya smrti etc) Puranas and Itihasas. In this article, the following terminologies apply.

Manu called a Dharmashastra as Smrti.<blockquote>श्रुतिस्तु वेदो विज्ञेयो धर्मशास्त्रं तु वै स्मृतिः । (Manu. Smrt. 2.10)<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>Again, there are references where the term "Smrti" is applied to all non-vedic texts including the Vedangas (including the Dharmasutras), Smrti texts (Manusmrti, Yajnavalkya smrti etc) Puranas and Itihasas. In this context, the following terminologies are used.

* Sutragranthas (include the Kalpa Vedanga Sutra rachana)

* Sutragranthas (include the Kalpa Vedanga Sutra rachana)

* Smrtigranthas (include Manusmrti, Harita Smrti and such Smrti texts)

* Smrtigranthas (include Manusmrti, Harita Smrti and such Smrti texts)

* Dharmashastras (include major Gautama, Vashista Dharmashastras and minor texts)

* Dharmashastras (include major Gautama, Vashista Dharmashastras and minor texts)

* Nibandhanas (Dharmasindhu by Pt. Hemadri)

* Nibandhanas (Dharmasindhu by Pt. Hemadri)

As the texts evolved over time the differences between these texts became more apparent.

As the texts evolved over time the differences between these texts became more apparent.<ref name=":3" />

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|+Difference between Dharmasutras and Smrtis

|+Difference between Dharmasutras and Smrtis