The Nature of Dharma and Adharma
Central to the teachings presented in the Fifth Canto is a clear understanding of the distinction between dharma (righteous conduct or law) and adharma (unrighteous conduct or lawlessness). These terms are often misunderstood as referring merely to conventional morality established by human societies, but they actually represent fundamental cosmic principles that govern the evolution or devolution of consciousness. Dharma represents conduct that facilitates consciousness development and that leads toward the Supreme, while adharma represents conduct that obstructs consciousness development and that leads away from the Supreme.
The most fundamental aspect of dharma is maintenance of one's genuine nature and engagement in the activities constitutionally appropriate to one's position in life. For a king, dharma consists in righteous governance and protection of his subjects. For a householder, dharma consists in maintaining family relationships, earning honest livelihood, and supporting spiritual culture. For a student, dharma consists in acquiring knowledge and developing character. For a renunciate, dharma consists in dedicating all energy to spiritual realization. Within each position in life, there exist principles of dharma that, if followed, lead to spiritual advancement and material harmony, while their violation leads to suffering and degradation.
Maitreya explained to Vidura that dharma transcends all particular cultural systems and social structures. While different societies may establish different specific laws and regulations based on their circumstances, the underlying principles of dharma—truthfulness, compassion, self-control, renunciation of exploitation, and dedication to higher principles—remain constant across all times and places. A being living in accordance with these eternal principles of dharma will naturally progress spiritually and will contribute to the harmony and well-being of all beings around them.
In contrast, adharma represents conduct that violates these fundamental principles and that obstructs consciousness development. Actions motivated by selfishness, exploitation of others, deception, and violence represent forms of adharma regardless of whether they are accepted by particular societies or cultures. Though adharma may appear to produce temporary benefits for the one who practices it, the inevitable reaction is spiritual degradation and the accumulation of sinful reactions that must be experienced through suffering. No being can ultimately benefit from adharma, for it leads inexorably away from the ultimate goal of life and toward increasing bondage and suffering.
The Fifth Canto teaches that the universe operates according to the law of karma, through which all actions automatically produce consequences proportional to their nature. Righteous actions (dharma) naturally produce positive consequences that support consciousness development, while unrighteous actions (adharma) naturally produce negative consequences that obstruct consciousness development. This is not punishment imposed by an external judge, but rather the natural working of universal law through which every action bears its inherent fruit. Understanding this principle, sincere beings naturally orient their conduct toward dharma, knowing that such conduct ultimately leads to all happiness and fulfillment.
However, Maitreya also explained that the highest level of understanding transcends even the distinction between dharma and adharma. While understanding and following dharma is essential for all beings seeking to progress spiritually, the ultimate goal consists in transcending all concern with the fruits of actions and engaging in sincere devotional service to the Supreme Lord. One who has achieved perfect devotion to the Supreme Lord naturally engages in dharma without concern for material consequences, and is not bound even by the reactions to one's actions, for all actions become offerings to the Lord.
This chapter teaches that the path of dharma is available to all beings and that sincere adherence to righteous conduct leads inevitably toward spiritual realization. By establishing dharma in one's life and society, beings create the conditions within which consciousness can develop and within which the pursuit of spiritual truth becomes possible. Those who commit to the path of dharma establish themselves on the foundation upon which all genuine spiritual advancement must be built, creating conditions both internally and externally for the flowering of consciousness and the ultimate achievement of liberation and eternal relationship with the Supreme Lord.