The essentials
In the Rigveda, rta means the order that governs the universe — the regular movement of the sun, moon and seasons — and also moral order and truth in human life. The god Varuna is described as the guardian of rta. Acting against rta (anrta) is falsehood or disorder. Rta is closely linked with satya (truth).
In later thought, the idea of order was expressed as dharma, from the root dhṛ, "to hold or sustain". Dharma is what upholds the world and society: duty, righteousness, law and right conduct. Dharma has universal aspects (such as truthfulness, non-violence and self-control) and aspects that depend on one's stage of life and situation. The purusharthas place dharma as the guide for pursuing artha (wealth) and kama (desire).
Related ideas include karma (actions have consequences), the three rinas or debts (to the gods, to the sages and to the ancestors), and yajna (sacrifice, later understood more broadly as selfless offering). In the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali, the yamas — ahimsa (non-violence), satya (truthfulness), asteya (non-stealing), brahmacharya (self-restraint) and aparigraha (non-possessiveness) — form the first step of ethical discipline.
Key points
- Rta: cosmic and moral order (Rigveda); guardian Varuna.
- Dharma: from dhṛ, "to sustain".
- Three rinas: deva rina, rishi rina, pitri rina.
- Yamas: five ethical restraints in the Yoga Sutra.
Exam tips
- Remember the root meaning of dharma and the deity linked with rta.
Common mistakes
- Treating rta as only physical order; it is moral as well.
- Translating dharma simply as "religion"; its meaning is much wider.