What does samsara signify in Hinduism and Buddhism?

Samsara in Hinduism and Buddhism signifies the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. This concept describes the continual process of birth, life, death, and reincarnation that all beings undergo until they achieve liberation or enlightenment. In Hinduism, samsara is closely linked to the concepts of karma, where one's actions in life affect the nature of their future rebirths. In Buddhism, it similarly refers to the cycle of existence characterized by suffering, from which followers seek to escape through the attainment of nirvana.

The other choices do not represent the essence of samsara. The belief in divine rights pertains to concepts of authority often associated with political or social structures rather than the metaphysical understanding of life's cycles. The belief in one God is more aligned with monotheistic religions and does not reflect the broader cosmological views present in Hinduism and Buddhism. A rigid social structure pertains to social stratification, which can exist within the context of these religions but does not encapsulate the meaning of samsara itself.