Dharma: religion, justice. Bhagavad Gita
Vishnu incarnates as Krishna to restore the Dharma in the Bhagavad Gita
Courses: Bhagavad Gita - Karma Yoga
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- Yoga of Royal Knowledge we find “the essence of Dharma”, the true Knowledge:
Sri Krishna
to Arjuna:
«The Lord said: 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).
Darma Bhagavad Gita 
Darma Bagavadeguitá.
Dharma, Self-Knowledge and Bhagavad Gita
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 reincarnates (Bhagavad Gita 4 7-8). They believe not only in one or two, but in many, who have come from time to time, according to the needs of the world, for the preservation of Dharma and the destruction of 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 the Dharma:
«Dharmo rakshati rakshitah: if one protects the Dharma, the
Dharma protects him.
Only Dharma brings peace and prosperity to humanity.
Dharma is the life breath of the Lord. It is the beginning of human existence.
It is the sustaining power of the entire universe. Any deviation from the law
will immediately bring down the mighty structure of the universe. Therefore, the
Lord has to manifest himself to save the world from self-destruction 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 Imperishable worthy of being known; Thou are the final resting place of this universe; Thou are the immutable guardian of the Eternal Dharma; Thou art, I believe, the Eternal Being» Bhagavad Gita 4 XI-1.8
And Sri Krishna states at the end of this chapter:
«Those who follow this essence of Dharma, as I have told you, with faith, keeping Me as their goal, those devotees are extremely beloved by Me» Bhagavad Gita 4 XI-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 only available to students of the Gita Institute
Bhagavad Gita Book:
(c) Gita Institute
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