Adharma (अधर्मः)

This article needs editing. Add and improvise the content from reliable sources.

This article needs appropriate citations and references. Improvise this article by introducing references to reliable sources.

According to the Bhagavata Purana (Skandha 7, Adhyaya 15),

12. A man versed in righteousness should steer clear of the 5 forms (branches) of adharma (impiety), viz. vidharma, paradharma, abhasa, upama, chala, regarding them all as adharma (impiety).

13. Vidharma is that which, though practised as a dharma, obstructs real dharma (eg. black-magic). Paradharma is the course of conduct ordained for another varna or ashrama (e.g. fighting in the case of brahmanas). Upadharma is the heresy opposing the Vedas or hypocrisy, while chala is the distortion of the text showing apparent conformity to the letter of the scriptures or quibbling.

14. The course of conduct different from the duties (prescribed by the Vedas for different varnas and ashramas) in life but adopted according to one's fancy (e.g. the avadhuta mode of life) is (dharma-) abhasa.