View source for Time Cycle/Ṛta and Dharma as Temporal Principles

==== Emergence of Dharma ====
The concept of dharma gradually emerged as Indian society became more complex and differentiated. While ṛta primarily expresses cosmic order, dharma articulates moral, social, and ethical order within human life. Early references to dharma appear in later Vedic texts, Brahmanas, and Upanishads, where it begins to replace ṛta as the dominant normative concept.

Dharma does not signify a single rule or law. It refers to that which sustains and upholds society, individuals, and the cosmos over time. Its meaning varies according to context, including social role, stage of life, and historical conditions. This flexibility reflects its temporal orientation.