Dharma is interesting because it is not easily translated into English. As page 72 of the reading points out, “dharma” is often translated into English as “religion” but actually “refers to a broad complex of meanings encompassing duty, natural law, social welfare, ethics, health, wealth, power, fulfillment of desires, and transcendental realization” (72). That is a lot.
I understand dharma to mean one’s purpose in life, the fulfillment of which brings one closer to escaping the cycle of samsara. Fulfilling one’s dharma brings a person closer to the Divine and to their true self. This is important in Hinduism because without fulfilling your dharma, you cannot achieve moksha.
The Ramayana was created to teach Hindu principles, so its focus on dharma makes sense. Page 78 states that bhakti is “intense devotion to a personal manifestation of Brahman” (78). Devotion to gods and focusing on the spiritual is an important element to dharma because everyone’s dharma involves realizing one’s true self through connection with the Divine.