Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitah (; IAST: dharmo rakṣati rakṣitaḥ) is a popular Sanskrit phraseVidyāprakāśānandagirisvāmi. Gita Makaranda. India: Sri Suka Brahma Ashram, 1980. mentioned in the Mahabharata and Manusmriti verse 8.15. It can be loosely translated as "Dharma protects those who protect it". The closest synonyms for Dharma in English are righteousness and ethics. It is the motto of the Research and Analysis Wing, National Law School of India University and the Hindutva organisation Vishva Hindu Parishad. Scriptures The phrase is part of a Manusmriti verse that says:
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.
This phrase is also found in the Mahabharata.Srimat Maharshi Vedvyas pranit Mahabharat Sachitra Saral Hindi Anuvad; Gita Press, Gorakhpur. It is mentioned three times.
In the Vana Parva (Araneya Parvadhyaya) Yudhishthira said to a yaksha -
This translation is from M. N. Dutt's Mahabharata.A Prose English translation of the Mahabharata: translated literally from the original Sanskrit Text by Manmatha Nath Dutt; 1895. In that book, this verse is found in 3.312.128.
A slightly different verse is mentioned in the Anushasana Parva.
It is also mentioned in Mahabharata 3.30.8 Gita Press, Hindi Translation.
See also
Ahimsa Paramo Dharma Yato Dharmastato Jayah
References