Page:An Essay On Hinduism.pdf/56

 rashtra (the Maratha country), in two senses. It means first of all the duties of the Marathas, and secondly it means the duties of a great nation (i.e. the Marathas).

New writings are always rising and the dharma is still capable of further exploitation.

The words “Hindu dharma” are being used to-day. But the import of the words is not settled. It is in a state of confusion, which is by the way due to the fact that the English conception of the word "religion" is trying to displace the old meaning of the word "dharma" in order to appropriate that word for itself. It is not likely that the conception of religion will be ever poured into the word dharma successfully. All that it has achieved to-day is that it has created temporary confusion in ideas, which is bound to disappear before the march of science and scholarship. According to the orthodox usage, the words "Hindu dharma " and " Arya dharma" are synonymous. The words "Hindu dharma” were used in the vulgar or ordinary conversation, while the words "Arya dharma" were used in a dignified conversation. In the orthodox usage the word dharma kept its original meaning. Aryadharma simply means the conduct and usage that are proper for a gentleman (Arya). The word ārya-dharma refers neither to any gods of the Hindu pantheon nor to any of the philosophical tenets. It refers primarily to the question of conduct. “Arya-dharma" is contrasted with the dharma of non-Hindu communities, like Christian or Mohamedan, by the term "Mlechchha-dharma,” the dharma of the barbarian. They contrasted the dharmas thus by observing the facts regarding the conduct of themselves and those of Christian and Mohamedan. As the conduct of the Christians did not favourably im-