Sanatana DharmaAn Eternal Way of Righteous Living When it comes to understanding the meaning of Sanatana-dharma, we have to be aware of its Sanskritdefinition. The root of the word dharma comes from dhri, which means to uphold or maintain. The Sanskrit says dharayati iti dharmaha, which translates as dharma is that which upholds. However, not only what is supported is dharma, but that which does the supporting is also dharma, dhriyate iti dharmaha. So dharma consists of both the force that sustains as well as what is sustained. It can also be said that there is the path of dharma