Word Of The Week

Purushartha:

Purushartha Etymologically: Purusha- Spirit Artha- For the sake of, aim, goal Literal Meaning: “That which is pursued for the sake of the spirit or the immortal soul. 3 Related meanings - Any human striving - Human striving directed towards overcoming Karma - Refers to anyone of four canonically recognized aims of life: o Dharma (ethics and relgion) o Artha (wealth and power) o Kama (pleasure) o Moksha (liberation from the Samsara, the cycle of birth, death and rebirth) The pursuit of Purushartha is what gives human activities their basic meaning and purpose. Indian philosophy can be divided into two groups. 1) Philosophies of time a. Artha- Arthashastra of Kautilya b. Dharma- Dharmasastra of Manu c. Kama- Kamasutra of Vatsayayana 2) Philosophies of eternity a. Moksha Nyaya, Vaisesika, Yoga, Samkhya, Mimamsa, Vedanta The Arthashastra advises the good ruler to devote himself equally to Dharma, Artha, and Kama because they are morally bound up with one another (ANYONYAANUBADDHAM). Anyone of the three when indulged in excess does harm to itself as well as to the rest. In the Dharmasastra Manu says, “To achieve welfare and happiness some declare Dharma and Artha are good. Other declare that Artha and Kama are better. Still others declare that Dharma is the best. There are also persons who declare Artha alone secures happiness. But the correct view is that the aggregate of Dharma, Artha, and Kama (Trivarga) secures welfare and happiness. However, the desire (kama) and material wealth (Artha) must be rejected if contrary to Dharma. MANU II 224 & IV 176 In chapter 167 of Santiparva in the Mahabharata, the five brothers of the Pandavas along with Vidura described the relative merits of the four Purusharthas. Vidura said that it is by Dharma that the gods have acquired their superior positions and that wealth depends upon virtue (Dharma). Arjuna said that without wealth (Artha) both Dharma and Kama cannot be acquired and that Dharma and Kama are the limbs of wealth (Artha). Nakula and Sahadeva said that a person without wealth cannot satisfy any desire. One should first practice virtue, then amass wealth without sacrificing virtue. Bhimasena said that without desire one cannot seek wealth and hence desire is the foremost of all three Purusharthas. He also said that virtue, profit, and desire should all be equally pursued. Yudhishthira said that unless one withdraws himself from the three-fold objects, one cannot acquire liberation (Moksha) which yields the highest good. Amongst all these permutations and combinations the most practical and logical seems to be the primacy of DHARMA as the Governor/controller of KAMA and ARTHA with MOKSHA as the supreme goal. ------------------------------------------------- References: 1) Hindu speaks on religious values, compiled by the editor. 2) Banaras, City of Light, Diana Eck. 3) Message of the Mahabharata, Justice P. Kodandaramayya. 4) Gandhi’s Philosophy and the quest for Harmony, Anthony J. Parel. 5) Our Religions edited by Arvind Sharma. Word of the Week article written by Dr. Kisore Sehgal ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ Many excellent books on the topics found on the "Word of the Week" page can be borrowed from the Mandir's Library. The Library is free and open to all.

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