Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitah

Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitah (Sanskrit: धर्मो रक्षति रक्षितः; IAST: dharmo rakṣati rakṣitaḥ) is a popular Sanskrit phrase[1][2] mentioned in the Mahabharata[3][4][5] and Manusmriti verse 8.15. It can be loosely translated as "Dharma protects those who protect it".[6] The closest synonyms for Dharma in English are righteousness and ethics.[7]

The phrase is part of a Manusmriti verse that says:

dharma eva hato hanti dharmo rakṣati rakṣitaḥ tasmād dharmo na hantavyo mā no dharmo hato'vadhīt

— Manusmriti 8.15

धर्म एव हतो हन्ति धर्मो रक्षति रक्षितः तस्माद्धर्मो न हन्तव्यो मा नो धर्मो हतोऽवधीत्

The Manusmriti was first translated by Sir William Jones in 1776 for making legal provisions for Hindus in British India including other Sanskrit religious books.[8]

This phrase is also found in the Mahabharata.[9] It is mentioned three times.

In the Vana Parva (Araneya Parvadhyaya) Yudhishthira said to a yaksha -

धर्म एव हतो हन्ति धर्मो रक्षति रक्षितः ⁠। तस्माद् धर्मं न त्यजामि मा नो धर्मो हतोऽवधीत् ⁠।⁠। - Mahabharata 3.313.128 Gita Press Hindi Translation

He who sacrifices virtue is himself destroyed. And he that preserves it is himself preserved. I, therefore, do not sacrifice virtue, considering that if destroyed, it will destroy us.

This translation is from M. N. Dutt's Mahabharata.[10] In that book, this verse is found in 3.312.128.

A slightly different verse is mentioned in the Anushasana Parva.

धर्म एव हतो हन्ति धर्मो रक्षति रक्षितः ⁠। तस्माद् धर्मो न हन्तव्यः पार्थिवेन विशेषतः ⁠।⁠। - Mahabharata 13.145.2 Gita Press, Hindi Translation

It is also mentioned in Mahabharata 3.30.8 Gita Press, Hindi Translation.

It is the motto of the Research and Analysis Wing and National Law School of India University.[4]

  1. ^ Vidyāprakāśānandagirisvāmi. Gita Makaranda. India: Sri Suka Brahma Ashram, 1980.
  2. ^ Tripathy, Dr Preeti (2010). Indian Religions: Tradition, History and Culture. Axis Publications. ISBN 978-93-80376-17-2.
  3. ^ Shaji, U. S. (2008). Studies in Hindu Religion. Cyber Tech Publications. ISBN 978-81-7884-386-5. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Shloka Shock: A verse from religious text not always just religious". The Financial Express. 31 January 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  5. ^ Runzo, Joseph; Martin, Nancy M.; Sharma, Arvind (August 2003). Human Rights and Responsibilities in the World Religions. Oneworld Publications. ISBN 978-1-85168-309-3. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  6. ^ "Manusmriti Verse 8.15". wisdomlib.org. 9 December 2016. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  7. ^ Glener, Doug; Komaragiri, Sarat (12 November 2002). Wisdom's Blossoms: Tales of the Saints of India. Shambhala Publications. ISBN 978-0-8348-2938-1. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  8. ^ "भारत में क्यों कहा जाता है, 'धर्मो रक्षति रक्षितः'?". Nastik Bharat. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  9. ^ Srimat Maharshi Vedvyas pranit Mahabharat Sachitra Saral Hindi Anuvad; Gita Press, Gorakhpur.
  10. ^ A Prose English translation of the Mahabharata: translated literally from the original Sanskrit Text by Manmatha Nath Dutt; 1895.