Dharmaśāstra: Its Role in Regulating Social Order

Dh-dhtu man Pratya the dharma-abda is perfected.Dh dhtu means holding, nurturing, maintaining, supporting etc. Religion concept.That is, that which holds is religion.Religion is what holds the individual, society and the world or what the individual, society holds or observes.This form of religion is expressed in the Mahabharata -That is, the religion that holds, the religion holds all the people.That by which retention and sustenance is accomplished is religion.The dictionary meaning of the word dharma is precept, code of conduct, duty, virtue, justice, good deeds, ceremony, disposition, character trait, conduct, non-violence etc. Noteworthy, the meaning of religion has changed according to scriptures and context.In various mantras of the Vedas, words like ta, satya, vrata, kratu or yaja, punya, karma etc. are found as synonyms of religion or religion.In the Brahmaas-dharma-the word vidhi or niyama, i.e. yagagynadi-is used to mean a precept of action or duty-ygdireva dharma.'Dharma in the Upanishads refers to the realization of truth, or the search for truth.In rimad Bhagavadg (6.1.40)it is said that the Vedas are Dharma.And what is forbidden in the Vedas is adharma-