dharmas

Dharma (plural dharmas) is a term from Sanskrit that denotes what upholds, sustains, or constitutes in a broad range of Indian philosophical and religious systems. The root dhár- carries senses of order, law, duty, virtue, and truth. In many traditions, dharma is both a universal principle and a set of specific duties, and the plural form dharmas often signals a distinction among different kinds or manifestations of this principle.

In Hinduism, dharma is central and multifaceted. It can mean cosmic law that orders the universe, as well as personal and social duties. People may speak of svadharma (one’s own duty), varnadharma (duty associated with caste), and ashramadharma (duty appropriate to a stage of life). Dharma guides ethical conduct, righteousness, and harmony within communities, while also interfacing with karma and the pursuit of moksha (liberation). Hindu scriptures discuss dharma in diverse contexts, from philosophical treatises to epic narratives, highlighting its complexity and situational character.

In Buddhism, dharma (Pali: dhamma) often refers to the teachings of the Buddha and the natural law or truth they reveal. The term can also denote the constituent elements of experience, known as dharmas, especially in Abhidharma literature. Here, dharma encompasses both doctrinal truths—such as the Four Noble Truths—and the analysis of phenomena as existing in dependence and impermanence. The use of dharma in Buddhism thus spans ethical guidance, cosmological description, and the analysis of mental processes.

Across traditions, dharma encompasses universal order, ethical conduct, and the path to liberation, while also taking context-specific meanings. In modern usage, it may symbolize right action or one’s proper duty within a cultural or personal framework.