The Truth of Dharma and the Dharma of Truth: Reflections on Hinduism as a Dharmic Faith

Abstract

Abstract This article discusses what it might mean to characterize traditional Hinduism as a dharmic faith in relation to the concepts of truth (satyam) and its opposite (anṛtam), without however expatiating on supposed contrasts between Hinduism and the “Abrahamic” faiths. The argument is conducted by recognizing two senses toanṛtam, namely, “non-truth” and “falsehood,” in contrast tosatyam; and the method used is inductive in that a historically well-known episode of theMahābhārata—the story of Kauśika and the bandits—and its authoritative interpretation by the deity Kṛṣṇa in terms ofsatyamandanṛtam(in theKarṇaparvan, Book 8, of the text) are analyzed heuristically to indicate howdharmais viewed in the traditionquaethical concept. The conclusion is drawn that Hindudharmais understood as that whose objective is ultimately to bring about the welfare of the world (lokasaṅgraha). In relation to truth (and its opposite),materially,dharmais invariably contextual in connotation (in contrast to what might be a Kantian or absolutist reading of moral imperatives), whereasformally, at the hands of one commentator or other, not least in modern times,dharmais that which defines what it means to be Hindu. The material and formal connotations ofdharmathus analyzed and taken together set Hinduism apartquadharmic faith.

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