धर्म [ dharma ] [ dhárma ]1 m. ( rarely n. g. [ ardharcādi ] ; the older form of the Lit. RV. is [ dhárman ] q.v.) that which is established or firm , steadfast decree , statute , ordinance , law

  usage , practice , customary observance or prescribed conduct , duty

  right , justice (often as a synonym of punishment)

  virtue , morality , religion , religious merit , good works ( [ dhármeṇa ] ind. or [ °māt ] ind. according to right or rule , rightly , justly , according to the nature of anything ; cf. below ; [ °mesthita ] mfn. holding to the law , doing one's duty) Lit. AV.

  Law or Justice personified (as Indra Lit. ŚBr. ; as Yama Lit. MBh. ; as born from the right breast of Yama and father of Śama , Kāma and Harsha Lit. ib. ; as Vishṇu Lit. Hariv. ; as Prajā-pati and son-in-law of Daksha Lit. Hariv. Lit. Mn. ; as one of the attendants of the Sun Lit. L. ; as a Bull Lit. Mn. viii , 16 ; as a Dove Lit. Kathās. vii , 89 , )

  the law or doctrine of Buddhism (as distinguished from the [ saṅgha ] or monastic order Lit. MWB. 70)

  the ethical precepts of Buddhism (or the principal [ dharma ] called [ sūsra ] , as distinguished from the [ abhi-dharma ] or , " further dharma " and from the [ vinaya ] or " discipline " , these three constituting the canon of Southern Buddhism Lit. MWB. 61)

  the law of Northern Buddhism (in 9 canonical scriptures , viz. Prajñā-pāramitā , Gaṇḍa-vyūha , Daśa-bhūmîśvara , Samādhirāja , Laṅkâvatāra , Saddharma-puṇḍarīka , Tathā-gata-guhyaka , Lalita-vistara , Suvarṇa-prabhāsa , Lit. ib. 69)

  nature , character , peculiar condition or essential quality , property , mark , peculiarity (= [ sva-bhāva ] Lit. L. ; cf. [ daśa-dharma-gata ] Lit. ŚBr. ; [ upamānopameyayor dh ] , the tertium comparationis Lit. Pāṇ. 2-1 , 55 Sch.)

  a partic. ceremony Lit. MBh. xiv , 2623

  sacrifice Lit. L.

  the ninth mansion Lit. Var.

  an Upanishad Lit. L.

  associating with the virtuous Lit. L.

  religious abstraction , devotion Lit. L.

  = [ upamā ] Lit. L. ( cf. above )

  a bow Lit. Dharmaś.

  a thing, Lit. Sukh. i

  a Soma-drinker Lit. L.

  N. of the 15th Arhat of the present Ava-sarpiṇī Lit. L.

  of a son of Anu and father of Ghṛita Lit. Hariv.

  of a son of Gāndhāra and father of Dhṛita Lit. Pur.

  of a son of Haihaya and father of Netra Lit. BhP.

  of a son of Pṛithu-śravas and of Uśanas Lit. ib.

  of a son of Su-vrata Lit. VP. ( cf. [ dharma-sūtra ] )

  of a son of Dīrgha-tapas , Lit. VāyuP.

  of a king of Kaśmīra , Lit. Rāj. iv , 678

  of another man Lit. ib. vii , 85

  of a lexicographer ( also [ -paṇḍita ] , [ -bhaṭṭa ] and [ -śāstrin ] ) Lit. Cat. ( cf. Lat. (firmus) , Lith. (dermé) . )

  [ dharmeṇa ] ind. , see [ dharma ] , according to right or rule , rightly , justly , according to the nature of anything

  [ dharmāt ] ind. , see [ dharma ] , according to right or rule , rightly , justly , according to the nature of anything