The document discusses the four aims of life (purusarthas) in Hinduism - dharma, artha, kama, and moksha. It explains each aim and how they work together in a balanced system. Dharma represents moral duty and righteousness. Artha represents economic values and prosperity. Kama represents psychological values like love and pleasure. Moksha represents spiritual liberation and freedom from the cycle of rebirth. The purusarthas provide a framework for living an ethical and purposeful life by satisfying physical, emotional, and spiritual needs in conjunction with one another.

1. PURUSARTHA
(VEDIC TEXTS)-
THE FOUR
AIMS OF LIFE

2. For what are we living? What
is the purpose of life? How does one live
out life goals?

3. “
The Sanskrit word
“purusartha” is
composed of two parts:
“purusha” meaning person,
and “artha” meaning purpose.
Literally translated,
“purusartha” means personal
or human pursuit. In a broader
sense, the term refers to the
“goal of human existence, the
soul’s purpose, or the ultimate
quest of life”.
3

4. PURUSARTHA
ARTHA
DHARMA
KAMA
MOKSHA
Economic
Values
Moral
Values
Psychological
Values
Spiritual
Values

5. The concept of purusartha consists of 4 main parts that cooperate in fluidity with
each other.
The four ideal aims or purusarthas function as a kind of “checks and balances”
system to encourage optimal fulfillment. In other words, it provides “holistic
understanding of life”.
It represents a “comprehensive approach towards the satisfaction of a person’s
physical, emotional and spiritual well-being”.
The four ideal aims that outline purusartha are always working in conjunction
with each other .
INTRODUCTION:

6. Historically, there were three purusarthas accepted they were, dharma, kama and
artha. It was called tri-varga or the three categories of human pursuit.
The fourth purusartha- Moksha was added later.
According to Hinduism, the aim of the purusarthas is to ensure that people never
neglect their obligatory duties and hold themselves responsible for maintaining
the balance in the world.
HISTORY:

7. DHARMA: Why am I here?
An Indian tale recounts how a king asked his assistant to travel on an extended journey so
as to accumulate a document important to the kingdom’s survival.
The young man set forth on his journey, excited about the prospect of seeing new places and
meeting new people.
After two years he returned, anxious to inform the king about his myriad experiences and to
supply him all the rare things he found.
The king patiently listened to his long story and when the young man was finally finished,
asked him, "And where is that particular document you were asked to retrieve?“
Stunned by the question, the assistant realized that he had entirely forgotten the aim of his
journey.
This parable illustrates that no matter how many experiences we might have, if we don’t
follow and fulfill our life’s purpose, the journey will be empty no matter how seemingly full.

8. Dharma means what is right, steadfast, true, and virtuous in nature. Moral
Obligation and Righteousness.
Dharma is a central focus in spiritual teachings, as it signifies one’s thoughts,
perceptions, and experiences in this life—one’s righteous and moral purpose of
being.
Following dharma is different for each person, meaning that everyone has a
particular role that is right according to the eternal law of the universe, in this
world organized of chaos.
Dharma is the natural law that upholds the world and keeps
the universe in balance. Dharma is a series of conscious
choices for living beings, and also present in inanimate
objects.

9. ARTHA: What do I need?
Meaning “wealth” or “property,” Economic and Prosperity “artha” also translates
to “purpose,” “goal,” or “essence”.
Artha ensures dignity in one’s life balance, promoting
satisfaction and supporting one in accomplishing one’s
purpose in life.
Financial and material satisfactions allow one to
pursue moksha (spiritual enlightenment) and prevent
excessive struggle, anarchy and chaos preventing one from pursuing moksha.
Artha is kept in check by dharma, meaning that when prosperity is pursued in an
ethical, dharmic manner, seeking artha is not looked down upon.
Artha is a stepping stone rather than a cornerstone in becoming the Supreme
Self.

10. KAMA: What do I want?
Meaning “desire” or “pleasure experienced by the senses in harmony with the
mind and soul” in simple words it means, Love, Pleasure; Emotional Fulfilment .
Kama offers enjoyment of and love for life,
accounting for wishes, desires, and pleasures to the
senses in broad concept.
The concept of kama can be understood In two ways:
▪ within the broad sense the concept of kama
deals with mental pleasure and aesthetic
enjoyment, without any sexual connotation.

11. •In the narrow sense the concept of kama deals with sensuous pleasure, alone. It
deals with bodily or sexual gratification.
According to the scriptures, Kama in accordance with Dharma and Artha,
takes an individual on the journey towards the ultimate end, that's Moksha.

12. MOKSHA: Who am I?
Moksha is ultimate goal within the context of purusartha.
Moksha offers feelings of peace and oneness with Divine as a place of freedom
and bliss.
Moksha means liberation, emancipation, release or freedom for the cycle of
rebirth that deals with suffering and pain (samsara).
It is regarded as the most important objective because it is something which
leads one to the world of Brahman or closer to God.
Thus, moksha is regarded as both, a purusartha and the paramartha.
Paramartha means the ultimate , the last word end or the ultimate purpose.
The concept of moksha is also called Mukti or freedom from cessation of mind by
yoga and sakhya philosophy, Nirvana by Buddhist philosophy and Salvation by
Christian Philosophy.

13. Moksha is that the universal desire for healing, well-being, spiritual
understanding, and therefore the experience of our true nature.
It is the hidden knowing, the sudden whisper
we may hear when things have gone most wrong in our
lives or once we are truly receptive, reminding us of our divine.
It offers a place of freedom from the karmic cycle and the cycle of life and death as
it is limited by a worldly existence.
Some may practice jnana, bhakti, karma, or yoga to achieve moksha.
In short, one will play with the balance of artha, kama, dharma and moksha
purusarthas throughout the course of life according to where energies are focused.
Each action coincides with the purusarthas with one generally more prominent
than the others, but ideally kept in balance together.

14. REFERENCES:
▪ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2t8DsOYh_ 0
▪ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kz6SHEg43n8
▪ https://www.yogajournal.com/yoga-101/finding-your-souls-purpose-the-
four-purusharthas
▪ https://basmati.com/2018/05/08/purusartha-four-aims-life

15. Thanks!
Sub: Values and Ethics