धर्म एव हतो हन्ती धर्मो रक्षति रक्षितः ।
तस्मद्धर्मो न हन्तव्यो मा नो धर्मो हतोऽवधीत् ॥
dharma eva hato hantī dharmo rakṣati rakṣitaḥ |
tasmad dharmo na hantavyo mā no dharmo hato’vadhīt ||
(Manu Smṛti: 8.15)
“Dharma is the destroyer of those who destroy it, and dharma protects those who protect it. Therefore, dharma should not be destroyed lest that destroyed dharma destroy us.”