Public Administration in Ancient India c22.2

c22.2

The Sanskrit word ‘dharma’ is usually rendered into English by ‘religion.’ But the two words are not exactly the same in meaning. The essence of religion is creed; of dharma, conduct. Thus ‘dharma’ is wider in its signification than religion. It includes the ideas of virtue, piety, duty, and law. Somadeva Sūri, in his Nītivākyāmrita, defines ‘dharma’ as that which promotes the greatest good of society.¹