धर्म-अधर्म विवेकः (Dharma Adharma Viveka - Understanding Righteousness and Unrighteousness)
Complete lyrics with original text, transliteration, and meaning, 6 sections
Dharma Adharma Understanding Right Wrong None philosophy
धर्मस्य मूललक्षणम् (The Definition of Dharma - Mahabharata, Karna Parva 69.58)
Original
धारणाद्धर्म इत्याहुर्धर्मो धारयते प्रजाः। यत् स्याद् धारणसंयुक्तं स धर्म इति निश्चयः॥
Transliteration
dhāraṇāddharma ityāhurdharmo dhārayate prajāḥ | yat syād dhāraṇasaṁyuktaṁ sa dharma iti niścayaḥ ||
Meaning / Translation
Dharma is so called because it sustains and upholds (dhāraṇa). Dharma holds together and sustains all beings and society. That which supports, protects, and sustains cosmic order and welfare is certainly Dharma.
दशलक्षणधर्मः (The Ten Attributes of Dharma - Manusmriti 6.92)
Original
धृतिः क्षमा दमोऽस्तेयं शौचमिन्द्रियनिग्रहः। धीर्विद्या सत्यमक्रोधो दशकं धर्मलक्षणम्॥
Transliteration
dhṛtiḥ kṣamā damo'steyaṁ śaucamindriyanigrahaḥ | dhīrvidyā satyamakrodho daśakaṁ dharmalakṣaṇam ||
Meaning / Translation
Patience (dhṛti), forgiveness (kṣamā), self-control (dama), non-stealing (asteya), purity of body and mind (śauca), control of senses (indriyanigraha), wisdom/discernment (dhī), true spiritual knowledge (vidyā), truthfulness (satya), and freedom from anger (akrodha)—these ten are the distinct characteristics of Dharma.
धर्मसर्वस्वम् (The Essence of Dharma - Mahabharata / Hitopadesha)
Original
श्रूयतां धर्मसर्वस्वं श्रुत्वा चैवावधार्यताम्। आत्मनः प्रतिकूलानि परेषां न समाचरेत्॥
Transliteration
śrūyatāṁ dharmasarvasvaṁ śrutvā caivāvadhāryatām | ātmanaḥ pratikūlāni pareṣāṁ na samācaret ||
Meaning / Translation
Listen to the supreme essence of Dharma, and having heard it, keep it firmly in your heart: Whatever is painful or disagreeable to oneself, do not inflict or practice upon others.
पुण्यपापविवेकः (The Core of Merit and Sin - Vyasa Subhashitam)
Original
अष्टादशपुराणेषु व्यासस्य वचनद्वयम्। परोपकारः पुण्याय पापाय परपीडनम्॥
Transliteration
aṣṭādaśapurāṇeṣu vyāsasya vacanadvayam | paropakāraḥ puṇyāya pāpāya parapīḍanam ||
Meaning / Translation
In all the eighteen Puranas, the sage Vyasa proclaims but two core truths: Benefiting and helping others leads to virtue (merit/Dharma), while causing harm or torment to others constitutes sin (Adharma).
अहिंसा लक्षणम् (Non-violence as Supreme Righteousness - Mahabharata, Anushasana Parva 115.25)
Original
अहिंसा परमो धर्मस्तथाहिंसा परं तपः। अहिंसा परमं सत्यं यतो धर्मः प्रवर्तते॥
Transliteration
ahiṁsā paramo dharmastathāhiṁsā paraṁ tapaḥ | ahiṁsā paramaṁ satyaṁ yato dharmaḥ pravartate ||
Meaning / Translation
Non-violence is the highest Dharma, non-violence is the highest penance, non-violence is the supreme truth, from which all universal righteousness proceeds.
सत्यमेव जयते (The Ultimate Victory of Truth and Righteousness - Mundaka Upanishad 3.1.6 & Mahabharata)
Original
सत्यमेव जयते नानृतं सत्येन पन्था विततो देवयानः। यतो धर्मस्ततो जयः॥
Transliteration
satyameva jayate nānṛtaṁ satyena panthā vitato devayānaḥ | yato dharmastato jayaḥ ||
Meaning / Translation
Truth alone triumphs, not untruth; through truth is paved the divine path of higher consciousness. Where there is righteousness (Dharma), there lies ultimate victory.