tridharma

Tridharma is a Sanskrit compound meaning “three dharmas” or “three duties.” The term is not tied to a single doctrine; rather, it appears in various Indian religious and philosophical traditions to denote a framework consisting of three core elements or obligations. Because different authors, schools, and periods choose different triads, there is no universally fixed set of components associated with tridharma.

In Hindu contexts, tridharma is sometimes described as a threefold code of conduct guiding a practitioner—often presented as a triad of personal virtue, social duty, and spiritual aspiration. Some discussions frame dharma (duty/righteousness) as part of a larger triad that integrates ethical conduct, social responsibility, and religious devotion, though such triads are not standardized and can vary by tradition.

In Buddhist usage, some sources refer to a threefold training or path under the heading of tridharma, distinguishing sila (ethics), samadhi (meditation), and panna (wisdom). In other Buddhist contexts, the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha) fulfill a triadic refuge, but that trio is more commonly called the Triratna.

In Jainism, the term may appear in discussions of three guiding virtues or duties, but Jain literature typically uses other standard triads and terms.

In modern scholarship, tridharma is often invoked to compare or contrast threefold schemes across traditions, or as a general shorthand for a tripartite ethical or spiritual framework.

See also: Trimarga, Triratna, Threefold training, Purusharthas.