:: COMPARE ::
The short answer
Often paired, rarely distinguished. Dharma is the order or the duty; karma is the mechanism by which action has consequence. One is the map, the other the physics — and confusing them turns an account of obligation into an account of cosmic bookkeeping.
Side by side
| Aspect | Dharma | Karma |
|---|---|---|
| Is | Order, duty, teaching | Action and its consequence |
| Answers | What should I do? | What follows from what I did? |
| Root sense | To uphold | To do |
| Across traditions | Diverges wildly | More stable |
What each one means
Dharma is a Sanskrit term for the order that upholds things — natural law and cosmic order across the Indian traditions, and then something more particular inside each: duty in Hinduism, the Buddha's teaching in Buddhism, right conduct in Jainism, where the same word also names the principle of motion.
Full definition of Dharma →The contrast above sets out how Karma differs from Dharma on the points that actually matter.