Is there a unique answer for the definition of dharma according to Sanatana

Dharma?

I have a unique answer but it will be a long one.

There are hundreds of passages giving the definition of both general Dharma and Sanātana
Dharma according to the Hindu texts. I shall just present a few to give the gentle readers a
concept of Dharma and to identify the KPI’s of a true Hindu. I will give both the Sanskrit and
translation so the inquisitive readers can do their own semantic research.

Firstly a statement about the importance of Dharma.

āhāra nidrā bhaya maithunaṃ ca Sāmānyam etat paśubhir narāṇām | Dharmo hi teṣān adhiko
viśeṣo Dharmeṇa hīnāḥ paśubhiḥ samānāḥ ||

Eating, sleep, fear and procreation are common to both animals and humans, Dharma alone is
specific to humans, without Dharma, they are equal to animals. (hitopadesha)

Now general statements about Dharma in principle.

prabhāvārthāya bhūtānāṁ dharma pravacanaṁ kṛtam | yat syād ahiṁsā saṁyuktaṁ sa

dharma iti niścayaḥ ||

Dharma was declared for the flourishing of all creatures. Therefore, that which leads to
flourishing is Dharma and involves non-violence is determined to be Dharma. (Shanti Parva
110:10)

dhāraṇād dharma ityāhur dharmeṇa vidhṛtāḥ prajāḥ | yat syād dhāraṇa saṁyuktaṁ sa
dharma iti niścayaḥ ||

Dharma is so called because it supports all creatures. In fact, all creatures are supported by
Dharma. Therefore, that is Dharma which is capable of supporting all creatures. (Shanti Parva
110:11)

These are the brief descriptions of Dharma by 3 well-known authorities which while slightly
different compliment each other.;-

Kaṇāda (Vaiśeṣika):– yatobhyudaya-niḥśreyasa-siddhiḥ sa dharmaḥ

Dharma is that strategy by which the material flourishing and the Supreme Good or Mokṣa
(cessation of duḥkha) is achieved.

Jaimini (Mīmāṁsa):– codaṇā-lakṣaṇaḥ arthaḥ dharmaḥ

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Dharma is distinguished by Vedic injunctions.

Rāmānujācārya:– dharma hi niḥśreyasa sadhanam

Dharma is the means to achieve the highest good.

DEFINING FEATURES OF SANĀTANA DHARMA

ahiṃsa satyam akrodho dānam etac caturvidham | ajātaśatro sevasva eṣa dharma
sanātanaḥ ||

O Ajatasatru!Sanatana Dharma consists of four moral virtues; non-injury to any sentient being,
truth, acceptance (absence of anger) and generosity — these should you practice.

adrohaḥ sarvabhūteṣu karmaṇā manasā girā | anugrahaśca dānaṃ ca stāṃ dharma

sanātanaḥ ||

The Eternal Duty (Sanātana Dharma) towards all creatures is the absence of malevolence
towards them in thought, deed or word, and to practice compassion and charity towards them.
(MB Vana Parva 297;35)

satyam damas tapaḥ śaucaṁ santoṣaśca kṣamārjavam | jñānaṁ śamo dayā dānaṁ eṣā
dharmaḥ sanātana ||

Sanatana Dharma consists of truth, discipline, austerity, purity, contentment, forgiveness and
honesty, knowledge, peacefulness, compassion and generosity. (Garuda Purana 1:213:24)

satyaṁ brūyāt priyaṁ brūyān na brūyāt satyam apriyam | priyaṁ ca na-anṛtaṁ brūyād
eṣa dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ ||

Let him say what is true, let him say what is pleasing, let him utter no disagreeable truth, and let
him utter no agreeable falsehood; that is the eternal law (Sanātana Dharma). (Manu 4:138.)

These are the general ideas which are included in the broader definition of Dharma and
represent the KPI’s we Hindus should constantly be striving to achieve.

anṛśam kṣamā śāntir ahimsa satyam ārjavam | adroho nābhimānaśca hrīs-titikṣa śamas
tathā | panthāno brahmaṇastvete |

The path to Brahman is sincerity, patience, peace, non-injury, truth, honesty, non-malice,
non-arrogance, modesty, tolerance and tranquillity (Kapila-go-samvada — Shanti Parva)

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Ijyādhyayana dānāni tapaḥ satyam kṣamā damaḥ | Alobha iti mārgo 'yam dharmasya aṣṭā
vidhaḥ smṛtaḥ

Worship, study, charity, austerity, truth, forgiveness and self-restraint, and renunciation of
attachment these are said to be the 8 cardinal duties constituting the path of Dharma. (Vana
parva 2;75)

ahiṃsā satya-vacanaṃ dayā bhūtesv anugrahaḥ | yasyaitāni sadā rāma tasya tuṣyati
keśavaḥ ||

O Rama! Krishna is pleased with one who is ever endowed with non-violence, truthfulness,
compassion and kindness to all creatures. (Viṣṇu-dharmottara 1:58)

adrohaḥ satya-vacanaṃ saṃvibhāgo dayā damaḥ | prajanaṃ sveṣu dāreṣu mārdavaṃ

hrīścāpalam | evaṃ dharma pradhāneṣṭhaṃ manuḥ svāmyabhuve'bravīt ||

Abstention from aggression, truthfulness, justice, compassion, self-restraint, procreation with

one's own spouse alone, amiability, modesty and patience, the practice of these virtues is the
best of all Dharmas, thus declared Manu Svayambhuva. (MB. Santi Parva.)

ahiṁsa satyam-akrodha anṛśaṁsyaṁ dāmās tatha | ārjavaṁ caiva rājendra niścitaṁ

dharma-lakṣaṇam ||

Non-violence, truth, freedom from anger, freedom from malice, self-control, straightforwardness,
O King are the definite characteristics of Dharma. (Anushasana patra pariksha 19.)

dhṛtiḥ kṣamā damo 'steyaṁ śaucam indriya-nigrahaḥ | dhīr vidyā satyam akrodho
daśakaṁ dharma-lakṣaṇam || 6:92 ||

Consistency, forgiveness, discipline, abstention from stealing, observing physical and mental
purity, control of the senses, cultivating intelligence, pursuit of education, honesty, and freedom
from anger – these are the 10 features of Dharma. (Manu 6:92)

There are thousands more verses similar to these scattered throughout the vast library of Hindu
literature. But since they are largely repetitive this sampling should satisfy the readers about
what Dharma actually is.

These verses all pertain to Dharma as an ethical system. But there are other forms of Dharma -
like personal Dharma, family Dharma, community Dharma, vocational Dharma, civic Dharma,
National Dharma, global Dharma etc. This subject is vast.

But what is most important is to address the question about the immutability of Dharma and
whether Dharma is eternally fixed or can it be changed by community consensus?

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Manu himself states that his laws are not final or eternal but can be changed as and when
required by the consensus of the community.

parityajed artha kāmau yau syātāṁ dharma-varjitau | dharmaṁ ca-apy asukha udarkaṁ
loka-saṅkruṣṭam eva ca ||

One should renounce artha and kama if they conflict with dharma and even dharma if it results
in future unhappiness or arouses people’s indignation and opposition. (Manu 4:176)

Yajnavalkya, confirms this,

asvargyaṃ loka-vidviṣṭaṃ dharmyam apy ācaren na tu || Yj_1.156 ||

“A (so-called) dharma which is unproductive of general happiness and is hated by the world
(loka-vidviṣṭa) must not be practised”.(1:156)

According to the Mahabharata, actions opposed by the people (loka-viruddha) are as sinful as
those condemned by the Veda (Veda-viruddha).

yadyapi śuddham-loka-viruddhaṃ na ācaraniyam. = even though an action may be

prescribed by the Veda - if the people object it should not be practiced.

So in short if you don’t like some activity prescribed by the Vedas or any other Hindu scripture
because you find it anachronistic, offensive and not in keeping with modern human values and
social justice - THEN GIVE IT UP! PERIOD! STOP WHINING AND COMPLAINING!

As the Blessed Lord said:–

iti te jñānam ākhyātā guhyād guhyatarā mayā | vimṛśyaitad aśeṣeṇa yathecchasi tathā
kuru || Gita 18:63 ||

Thus I have taught you that knowledge which is the greatest of all mysteries. Reflecting on it
thoroughly, do what you will.

This freedom of conscience, choice and action is what is unique to Sanātana Dharma and can
be found in no other religion.

And whats more the discerning and attentive reader would have noticed than none of this
Dharma practice requires the belief in a God. This belief while commendable is optional.

Sanātana Dharma ki Jai!