What is meant by the statement 'Dharmo rakshati rakshitah'?

[A satsaṅga took place between Swami and several devotees who visited Him on January 16, 2021. Some of the questions of devotees answered by Swāmi are given below.]

[A question by Kum. Thrylokya]

Swāmi replied: Dharma or nyāya is not a person or a policeman to come to your rescue. The statement indirectly means that you will be helped by someone, if you follow justice. The deity of justice has taken a female form of a cow and has taken the refuge of Lord Dattātreya. Lord Kṛṣṇa said, “Dharma samsthāpanārthāya sambhavāmi yuge yuge”. He said that He would come again and again to uplift justice. The Lord is the protector of justice and you will be blessed by God, if you follow justice. But if God says that He will be pleased if you follow adharma, then you must follow adharma. Dharma is not greater than the God. Dharma cannot protect itself and that is why God comes repeatedly for its protection. Why did the Lord have to come as Rāmā to kill Rāvaṇa if dharma could have killed the demon on its own? The Veda says that there is nothing equal to God. Then how can anything be greater than God?

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