Moral Law of the World

Hinduism describes dharma as the natural universal law whose observance enables humans to be contented and happy, and to save him from degradation and suffering. 

Dharma is the moral law combined with spiritual discipline that guides one's life.

Hindu considers dharma the very foundation of life.

It means "that which holds" the people of this world and the whole creation. Dharma is the "law of being" without which things cannot exist.

According to the Scriptures – 

Dharma refers to the religious ethics as propounded by Hindu gurus in ancient Indian scriptures. 

Tulsidas, author of Ramcharitmanas, has defined the root of dharma as compassion. 

This principle was used before Tulsidas by Lord Buddha in his immortal book of great wisdom, Dhammapada. 

The Atharva Veda describes dharma symbolically: Prithivim dharmana dhritam, that is, "this world is upheld by dharma".

In the epic poem Mahabharata, the Pandavas represent dharma in life and the Kauravas represent Adharma. 

Good Dharma = Good Karma.

Hinduism accepts the concept of reincarnation, and what determines the state of an individual in the next existence is karma which refers to the actions undertaken by the body and the mind.

 In order to achieve good karma it is important to live life according to dharma means what is right. 

This involves doing what is right for the individual, the family, the class or caste and also for the universe itself.

 Dharma is like a cosmic norm and if one goes against the norm it can result in bad karma. So, dharma affects the future according to the karma accumulated. 

Therefore one's dharmic path in the next life is the one necessary to bring to fruition all the results of past karma.