dharma (n.) Look up dharma at Dictionary.com
1796, in secular sense, "caste custom, right behavior;" in Buddhism and Hinduism, "moral law," from Sanskrit, "law, right, justice," related to dharayati "holds," and cognate with Latin firmus "strong; stable," figuratively "constant, trusty;" all from PIE root *dher- (2) "to hold firmly, support" (see firm (adj.)).