What is Dharma?

One translation of Dharma is "appropriateness": Hinduism is really a map of dharma (appropriate behavior).

Other translations include religion, law, order, duty, or ethics. Dharma is what centers, upholds, and makes ALL activities meaningful, even outside of that which might be described as religion.

Analogy: The same sun is called different names in different countries but the actual sun remains the same no matter where we travel.

A person's dharma consists of duties that sustain him, according to his innate (spiritual and material) characteristics.

Sanatana dharma, in particular, is equal to the duties based on universal truths and values. (These duties take into account the person's spiritual identity as atman and are thus the same for everyone)

Information from World Religions by John Bowker, Brother Purse's "Hinduism", and hinduism.iskcon.org/concepts/108.htm