Svadharma

Svadharma · sva-dharma, “one’s own dharma”

Grammar: masculine noun; sva (one’s own) and dharma: “one’s own dharma”.

Meaning: the dharma that belongs to one by one’s varṇa and āśrama, the duties laid down for one’s own place; set against paradharma, the dharma of another.

In the scriptures: the ṛshis, teaching the rākshasa king Sukeśī in Pulastya Maharshi‘s account to Nārada, tell him the duties of the four varṇas. Brāhmaṇas, and kshatriyas with them, follow the rules of the brahmacarya, gārhasthya and vānaprastha āśramas; vaiśyas follow the gārhasthya and vānaprastha; for śūdras the gṛhastha āśrama is the best. The four varṇas must keep, without leaving them, the āśrama dharmas laid down for them. Those who abandon their own dharma fall under the anger of Sūrya, the visible deity (pratyaksha daivaṃ); when Sūrya is angered, men are struck by vyādhi (disease) and the family line is destroyed. “Therefore, O Rākshasa-rāja, a man who desires his own welfare and the welfare of his line must in no circumstance give up the practice of his own dharma. If he gives it up, he will be offered as an āhuti (oblation) into the fire of Bhāskara’s anger” (Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapter 15).

In the same teaching the ṛshis name the patita (the fallen one), from whose hand food is not eaten: he is one who, though no calamity has befallen him, leaves his svadharma and takes up the dharma of another (Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapter 15).

The Vāmana Purāṇa uses the word in these places as well:

  • Among the deeds that lead to the fourth naraka that Brahmā (Pitāmaha) names to Sanatkumāra is falling away from one’s svadharma (Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapter 35).
  • Prahlāda teaches Bali the dharma of a king: when the four varṇas practise their own dharmas well, dharma grows, and with it kings rise; so he must strive that all in his kingdom are devoted to svadharma (Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapter 48).
  • Under Bali’s rule the dvijas, devoted to svadharma, stood firm in the dharmas of their āśramas (Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapter 49).

Related terms: Dharma · Varṇa · Āśrama · Patita · Paradharma

Sources

  • Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapters 15, 35, 48, 49