Editing Dharma (section)

===Dharma and poverty===
''Dharma'' being necessary for individual and society, is dependent on poverty and prosperity in a society, according to Hindu dharma scriptures. For example, according to Adam Bowles,<ref name=adambowles>Bowles, Adam (2007), "Chapter 3", ''Dharma, Disorder, and the Political in Ancient India'', Brill's Indological Library (Book 28), {{ISBN|978-90-04-15815-3}}.</ref> [[Shatapatha Brahmana]] 11.1.6.24 links social prosperity and ''dharma'' through water. Waters come from rains, it claims; when rains are abundant there is prosperity on the earth, and this prosperity enables people to follow ''Dharma'' – moral and lawful life. In times of distress, of drought, of poverty, everything suffers including relations between human beings and the human ability to live according to ''dharma''.<ref name=adambowles/>

In Rajadharmaparvan 91.34-8, the relationship between poverty and ''dharma'' reaches a full circle. A land with less moral and lawful life suffers distress, and as distress rises it causes more immoral and unlawful life, which further increases distress.<ref name=adambowles/><ref>Derrett, J. D. M. (1959), "Bhu-bharana, bhu-palana, bhu-bhojana: an Indian conundrum", Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, Vol. 22, pp. 108–123.</ref> Those in power must follow the raja dharma (that is, dharma of rulers), because this enables the society and the individual to follow dharma and achieve prosperity.<ref>[[Jan Gonda|Gonda, Jan]], "Ancient Indian Kingship from the Religious Point of View", ''Numen'', Vol. 3, Issue 1 (Jan., 1956), pp. 36–71.</ref>