99. Purusharthas or Objectives of Life

Apr 10
3 min read

Updated: May 25

Purushartha refers to the 4 objectives of life that we are supposed to follow when we are alive. In my opinion, this term is a bit sexist as it specifically implies that these are life-objectives of men. But the concepts implied by this term applies to all advanced species in human form covering both sexes.

Purusharthas are the four goals of human life in Hinduism: Dharma (duty/ethics), Artha (prosperity), Kama (pleasure), and Moksha (liberation).

Purushartha (Sanskrit: पुरुषार्थ, Puruṣārtha; literally means "object(ive) of men". It is a key concept in Hinduism and refers to the four proper goals or aims of a human life. The four Puruṣārthas are Dharma (righteousness, moral values), Artha (prosperity, economic values), Kama (pleasure, love, psychological values) and Moksha (liberation, spiritual values, self-realization).

Sage Thiruvalluvar has captured the first 3 purusharthas in his immortal work Thirukkural as Aram(virtue), Porul (wealth) and Inbam (Pleasure) and has segregated his chapters accordingly. The fourth is Veedu (Moksha), the natural follow-up to a life well lived.

Let us look at this a bit deep.

The 4 purusharthas are to be looked at from the perspective of Varnashramadharma (https://www.mayoan.com/post/17-varnashramadharma-in-my-point-of-view) too, as the different purusharthas are to be applied with different intensity over various phases of one’s life. Similarly, the 4 purusharthas may be followed in different intensities in different yugas. The species of different realms may also follow the different purusharthas with totally different interpretation and intensities.

A life without purusharthas is meaningless and is considered a total waste. Even for the sanyasi or the renounciate, some or all purusharthas apply with possibly different interpretation and intensity. A person who has received punishment from the law enforcement has to follow the purusharthas within the constraints imposed.

All the purusharthas are expected to be performed with totally free mind and with all the fundamental rights (freedom to will, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, right to equality/equity, right to privacy and personal data security, right to life, right to education, right to due process, right to property, right to cultural and educational rights, right to be free from exploitation, right to universality and non-discrimination, right to think, right to feel/emote, right to know the truths, right to be free from external conditioning like gas-lighting or subtle suggestions, right to be free from unwanted inputs to the Karmendriyas/Gnanendriyas, right to store memories/tanmatras/impressions only by one’s one natural tendencies, right to be free from interferences/hacks of fundamental/primordial/naturally-blessed capabilities, potential and tendencies of humans, right to be in-pursuit of happiness and excellence, right to be free from AI generated contents(!) etc.,) guaranteed.

All the above fundamental rights are to be considered for other forms of species’ too as applicable by its form and function.

1. Dharma:

It also means ways/right/means of living. You are supposed to follow the value systems (law and order rules are one such value system) that are currently in vogue in the society or the context in which you are living. The dharma for a lion may be different from a human.

2. Artha:

Everybody is after comfort, luxury, happiness and the current way of achieving it in the modern economy is to be employed or be in service or to be in one’s own business to earn wealth or Artha. Even a renunciate needs donations to live and conduct his functions.

3. Kama

Kama is the various acts of indulgence to gain pleasure.

4. Moksha

Moksha is the ultimate goal of all souls – to experience the great merge at possibly the end of life (https://www.mayoan.com/post/5-the-great-merge).

By this we are assuming that we have lived life well and are free from sins that has the potential to commit souls to the hell!

References:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puru%E1%B9%A3%C4%81rtha

2. https://www.yogapedia.com/definition/5586/purushartha

3. https://www.vedadhara.com/the-four-purusharthas-dharma-artha-kama-and-moksha