Svadharma is a Sanskrit word that means "righteousness."
"One's own dharma" is a phrase that in the context of an individual may also mean "one's own chosen path."
Svadharma is an individual's unique religious
responsibility (dharma) depending on their social position, stage of life, and
gender in the dharma literature.
The underlying assumption is that each individual has a
social job to play, and that each of these tasks is vital for the upkeep of
society, no matter how lowly it may be.
The ultimate authority for each individual is his or her
svadharma, which overrides all other religious regulations.
For example, although violence is usually forbidden, it is
an unavoidable aspect of a ruler's svadharma—both to defend the kingdom from
foreign invaders and to punish offenders inside the country.
In both circumstances, the use of violence aids the king's
primary job of maintaining societal order.
Similarly, society relies on a slew of other individuals to
carry out their various social tasks.
Through the concept of the Path of Action, this sense of
social duty and interconnectedness is linked to religious fulfillment
(karmamarga).
Selflessly executing one's social responsibility for the
welfare of the world rather than for one's own selfish desires, according to
this theory, was also a way to ultimate spiritual satisfaction and soul freedom
(moksha).
Since every svadharma has the potential to lead to ultimate
liberation, each individual, according to this view, has a path that only he or
she can walk.
