In the vision articulated by Krishna, dharma is both the inner law of one’s being and the outer law that sustains the world. It is the principle that links an individual’s essential nature with the larger cosmic order, so that personal life and universal harmony are not two separate pursuits. Dharma thus functions as duty and righteousness, but not merely as a rigid moral code; it is the alignment of thought, word, and deed with the deeper structure of reality. When a person lives in accordance with this law, individual action becomes a conscious participation in the maintenance of universal balance.

A central aspect of this teaching is *svadharma*, one’s own particular duty, shaped by one’s nature, social role, and stage of life. Krishna emphasizes that it is better to perform one’s own dharma, even imperfectly, than to imitate another’s role flawlessly. This means that ethical action is not abstract or one-size-fits-all, but is always situated: what is righteous for a warrior, a teacher, or a renunciate may differ, yet each has a rightful place in the larger order. In this way, dharma becomes contextual righteousness, demanding discernment about one’s responsibilities in specific relationships and circumstances.

At the same time, Krishna insists that the inner disposition with which duty is performed is as important as the duty itself. Dharmic action is to be carried out without attachment to personal gain, in the spirit of *nishkama karma*—action without craving for its fruits. When the sense of “I am the doer” and “I must secure the outcome” is relinquished, duty is transformed into worship. Such selfless action, grounded in discipline, equanimity, and compassion, aligns the individual will with the divine will that upholds the cosmos.

Dharma, in this teaching, is therefore not only social obligation but also a path of spiritual ascent. By faithfully performing one’s own role, in harmony with one’s true nature and without clinging to results, the mind is gradually purified. This purified action supports the restoration and preservation of righteousness in the world, while simultaneously leading the individual toward liberation. When understood in this integrated way, dharma becomes the bridge between everyday responsibility and the highest spiritual realization.