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Bhakti: The Fifth Purushartha - S Balakrishnan

Purusharthas

The Hindus believe for many centuries that the principal objects of human life (Purusharthas) are four in number viz., Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. Dharma denotes religious or moral merit, virtue or righteousness. Artha means wealth, riches, property, money. Kama, very much prevalent in the present highly materialistic times, stands for love or desire of sensual enjoyment. With Artha and Kama, Dharma forms a well-known triad. Moksha, the ultimate of the four ends of human existence, means final emancipation, i.e., deliverance of the soul from rebirth.

The Purusharthas are interrelated because Dharma controls all. The highest Dharma is not to have desire and the fruits thereof. To acquire money by foul means or for illegal gratification is to pollute Artha. Pursuit of Kama without Dharma as base is to pollute Kama. Unpolluted Dharma, unpolluted Artha and unpolluted Kama, lead one to the highest purity of mind. That purity, in turn, will lead one to Moksha.

 

© `The Vedanta Kesari’ (October, 2002) published by Sri Ramakrishna Math, Mylapore, Chennai 600 004. Website: www.sriramakrishnamath.org. Reprinted with permission.

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