Dharma: religion, justice. Bhagavad Gita
Vishnu incarnates as Krishna to restore Dharma in the Bhagavad Gita
Training: Bhagavad Gita Course - Karma Yoga Course - Master in Bhagavad Gita
We find Dharma several times in the Bhagavad Gita, it must be understood as Religion or also as justice, righteousness, duty, depending on the context. Let us remember that the term “Hinduism” is Western, Hindus speak of Sanatana Dharma (the eternal religion).
That which elevates a man and helps him achieve the goal of life and attain knowledge is Dharma.
It should be noted that the term Dharma does not have a clear equivalence in English.
Adharma would be equivalent to the denial of Dharma: injustice, darkness, war, violence.
In the first two verses of the Bhagavad Gita of Chapter 9- The Yoga of Royal Knowledge we find “the essence of Dharma”, the true Knowledge:
Sri Krishna
said to Arjuna:
“To you, free from malice and censure, I will declare this profound secret, knowledge (Jnana) and wisdom (Vijnana), having known it, you will be free from the miseries of material existence” Bhagavad Gita 9 1 (Yoga of Royal and Discriminatory Knowledge).
In the following verses of Chapter 4, Dharma, “reestablishing the path of principles”, should be understood as the restoration of religion (Yoga of Knowledge and Renunciation of Action).
In Chapter 9 (The Yoga of Royal and Discriminatory Knowledge) Sri Krishna explains to Arjuna:
For Swami Vivekananda (disciple of Sri Ramakrishna):
“Hindus believe that, according to the needs of the world, for the preservation of Dharma and the destruction of evil, He incarnates (Bhagavad Gita 4.7–8). They believe not just in one or two, but in many such incarnations, which occur from time to time for the same purpose — to uphold Dharma and to vanquish evil..”
In the comments on the Yoga of Knowledge and Renunciation of Action of the Bhagavad Gita, Swami Vidya Prakashananda offers us his vision of Dharma:
“Dharmo rakshati rakshitah: If one upholds Dharma, Dharma protects him. Only Dharma brings peace and prosperity to humanity. Dharma is the life breath of the Lord, the foundation of human existence, and the sustaining power of the entire universe. Any deviation from it can threaten the very structure of creation. Therefore, the Lord manifests Himself to save the world from self-destruction caused by the force of evil.” 5- Jnana Yoga (Path of Knowledge).
This comment was referring to the following wonderful and profound shloka from the Bhagavad Gita:
Brahman is the “immutable guardian of the Eternal Dharma":
Arjuna say: “Thou art the Supreme, the Imperishable, worthy of being known. Thou art the final resting place of this universe. Thou art the immutable guardian of the Eternal Dharma. Thou art, I believe, the Eternal Being” Bhagavad Gita 4.11-1.8
And Sri Krishna states at the end of this chapter:
“Sri Krishna: Those who follow this essence of Dharma, as I have explained to you, with faith and keeping Me as their ultimate goal, are exceedingly dear to Me.” Bhagavad Gita 4.11-20.
“What elevates a man and helps him achieve the goal of life and attain knowledge is Dharma (righteousness); What drags him to the mundane is injustice. What helps a man achieve liberation is Dharma; what makes it irreligious is Adharma or injustice.” Swami Sivananda.
The strategy of Indian company Hinduja Group is based on the application of Dharma in business (Karma Yoga) and Vedic principles of work.
The rest of this summary on “Dharma” is available exclusively to students of the Bhagavad Gita Institute
Darma Bhagavad Gita 
Darma Bhagavad-Gita.
Dharma, Self-Knowledge and the Bhagavad Gita
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