What is the meaning of "धर्म एव हतो हन्ति"?

Dharma destroyed destroys in return; dharma protected protects in return. Therefore dharma must not be destroyed, lest dharma destroyed destroy us.

What are the key themes of this verse?

The key themes of this subhashitam are: dharma, protection, righteousness.

This subhashitam is from Manusmriti (8.15; also Mahabharata Vana Parva 3.313.128, Anushasana Parva 13.145.2).

Manusmriti8.15; also Mahabharata Vana Parva 3.313.128, Anushasana Parva 13.145.2

धर्म एव हतो हन्ति धर्मो रक्षति रक्षितः । तस्माद्धर्मो न हन्तव्यो मा नो धर्मो हतोऽवधीत् ॥

नष्ट किया हुआ धर्म नाश करता है; रक्षित धर्म रक्षा करता है। इसलिए धर्म को नष्ट नहीं करना चाहिए, अन्यथा नष्ट धर्म हमें नष्ट कर देगा।

dharmaprotectionrighteousness