Dharma Adharma Shlokah
Complete lyrics with original text, transliteration, and meaning, 4 sections
Dharma Adharma
Verse 1: Dharma Rakshati Rakshitah (Manusmriti 8.15)
Original
धर्म एव हतो हन्ति धर्मो रक्षति रक्षितः । तस्माद्धर्मो न हन्तव्यो मा नो धर्मो हतोऽवधीत् ॥
Transliteration
dharma eva hato hanti dharmo rakṣati rakṣitaḥ । tasmāddharmo na hantavyo mā no dharmo hato'vadhīt ॥
Meaning / Translation
Dharma (righteousness), when destroyed, destroys; when protected, it protects. Therefore, dharma must never be violated, lest violated dharma destroy us.
Verse 2: The Transience of Adharma (Manusmriti 4.174)
Original
अधर्मेणैधते तावत्ततो भद्राणि पश्यति । ततः सपत्नाञ्जयति समूलस्तु विनश्यति ॥
Transliteration
adharmeṇaidhater tāvattato bhadrāṇi paśyati । tataḥ sapatnāñjayati samūlastu vinaśyati ॥
Meaning / Translation
Through unrighteousness (adharma) a person may prosper for a time; then they may see good fortunes and even conquer their enemies; but ultimately, they are destroyed down to the very root.
Verse 3: The Nature and Definition of Dharma (Mahabharata, Karna Parva 69.58)
Original
धारणाद्धर्ममित्याहुर्धर्मो धारयते प्रजाः । यत्स्याद्धारणसंयुक्तं स धर्म इति निश्चयः ॥
Transliteration
dhāraṇāddharmamityāhurdharmo dhārayate prajāḥ । yatsyāddhāraṇasaṁyuktaṁ sa dharma iti niścayaḥ ॥
Meaning / Translation
Dharma is so named because it sustains (from the root 'dhri', to uphold); dharma upholds all beings and society. Whatever possesses the quality of sustaining and uplifting order is certainly dharma.
Verse 4: Victory Follows Dharma (Mahabharata)
Original
यतो धर्मस्ततो कृष्णो यतः कृष्णस्ततो जयः । धर्मेण जयते सर्वं नाधर्मो जयति क्वचित् ॥
Transliteration
yato dharmastato kṛṣṇo yataḥ kṛṣṇastato jayaḥ । dharmeṇa jayate sarvaṁ nādharmo jayati kvacit ॥
Meaning / Translation
Where there is righteousness, there is Krishna; and where there is Krishna, there is victory. Through dharma all is conquered, while adharma never achieves true victory.