Introduction

• Dharmashastra occupies the central importance in Hindu political thought. It is a series of texts about the regulation of life in the entire sphere – political, economic, domestic, religious, legal and cultural.
• Dharmashastra refers to the “science of dharma”, which teach the eternal immutable dharma found in Vedas. Dharmashastra is considered as embodiment of complete knowledge given to Manu by Lord Brahma.
• Establishment of Dharma or cosmic order is the primary goal of the state. Power and Authority of king is secondary.

Thinkers’ Views

• As per Thomas Pantham, the crux of Indian Political Thought revolves around Dharma.
• Bhiku Pareek views that Indian Political Thought deals with material life as well as metaphysical life.
• According to Rig-veda, ‘Prithvim dharmam dhritam’.  i.e. Dharma is what that which holds life on earth. When dharma is not followed, it will lead to arajakata (anarchy), and ultimately to pralaya (catastrophe).
• Nowhere in the world, human mind has dealt with the various questions and dharmas of life in such a depth as in case of India. – Max Muller

Concept of Dharma

• Dharma refers to the cosmic law of the universe. It is not like religion in the traditional sense.
• In Hinduism, dharma signifies refers to the behaviors that are in accordance with Ṛita, the order that makes life and universe possible.
• It includes duties, rights, laws, conduct, virtues and “right way of living”.
• Dharma is a key concept with multiple meanings in Indian religions. There is no single-word translation for dharma in Western languages.
• Hindu political thinkers conceptualised political life in terms of two central concepts namely, dharma and danda.
• Indian Political thought is also known as Dandaniti. The term danda means discipline, force, restraint, constraint or punishment.
• Dharma is derived from the Sanskrit root ‘dhr’ meaning to hold. Society could be held together when each individual and group does their specific duties. This is achieved by following the Varna Ashrama Dharma.