Changes

# Kama that refers to satisfaction of legitimate desires   

# Kama that refers to satisfaction of legitimate desires   

# Moksha

# Moksha

Here, Dharma, Artha and Kama are like the three legs of a stool. The absence of anyone of them would render life to be futile. However, the legitimacy of both Artha and Kama depends on both conforming in entirety on Dharma. Therefore, the scriptures call the first three Purusharsthas as Trivarga. And when the Trivarga is balanced, it enriches life, filling it with a sense of fulfillment.<ref name=":0" />

Here, Dharma, Artha and Kama are like the three legs of a stool. The absence of anyone of them would render life to be futile. However, the legitimacy of both Artha and Kama depends on both conforming in entirety on Dharma. Therefore, the scriptures call the first three Purusharthas as Trivarga. And when the Trivarga is balanced, it enriches life, filling it with a sense of fulfillment.<ref name=":0" />

== त्रिवर्गसिद्धान्तः ॥ Trivarga Siddhanta ==

== त्रिवर्गसिद्धान्तः ॥ Trivarga Siddhanta ==

Indian philosophy considers ‘Kama’ and ‘Artha’ - the means to Kama, as valid human pursuits. But it considers ‘Lobha’ (greed) and ‘Moha’ (delusion) arising from unchecked desires as unethical because they incline to work against social interests. To restrain these two pursuits from becoming anti social, Indian Philosophy presents a third vital human pursuit namely 'Dharma'. It is Dharma that helps all people to have the opportunity of experiencing maximum sensual satisfaction by acquisition of wealth and other material objects through right actions. Even Sri Krishna, the human manifestation of the Divine Self in all beings, endorses this validity of Kama in the Bhagavad Gita.<ref name=":0">M.Rama Jois (2004), Trivarga, Mumbai: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.</ref> He says,<blockquote>धर्माविरुद्धो भूतेषु कामोऽस्मि भरतर्षभ ॥७- ११॥<ref>Bhagavad Gita, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE/%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9E%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9E%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83 Chapter 7].</ref> ''dharmāviruddho bhūteṣu kāmo'smi bharatarṣabha ॥7- 11॥''</blockquote>Meaning: I am that Kama (Sensual desire) in all beings, which is not opposed to Dharma.  

Bharatiya tattvajnana considers ‘Kama’ and ‘Artha’, the means to fulfilment of desires, as valid human pursuits. But it considers ‘Lobha’ (greed) and ‘Moha’ (delusion) arising from unchecked desires as unethical because they incline to work against social interests. To restrain these two pursuits from becoming anti-social, Bharatiya tattvajnana presents a third vital human pursuit namely, 'Dharma'. It is Dharma that helps all people to have the opportunity of experiencing maximum sensual satisfaction by acquisition of wealth and other material objects through right actions. Sri Krishna also, in the Bhagavad Gita, endorses the validity of only that Kama which is unopposed to Dharma.<ref name=":0">M.Rama Jois (2004), Trivarga, Mumbai: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.</ref> He says,<blockquote>धर्माविरुद्धो भूतेषु कामोऽस्मि भरतर्षभ ॥७.११॥<ref>Bhagavad Gita, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE/%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9E%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9E%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83 Chapter 7].</ref> ''dharmāviruddho bhūteṣu kāmo'smi bharatarṣabha ॥7.11॥''</blockquote>Meaning: I am that Kama (Sensual desire) in all beings, which is not opposed to Dharma.  

But this pursuit of satisfaction of desires and earning of money should be disciplined and regulated by an ethical sense, so that all persons in a society may get the opportunity to satisfy their urge for them.<ref name=":0" /><blockquote>धर्माथावुच्यते श्रेयः कामार्थो धर्म एव च । अर्थ एवेह वा श्रेयस्त्रिवर्ग इति तु स्थितिः ॥ २.२२४ ॥<ref>Manusmrti, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Chapter 2].</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''dharmāthāvucyate śreyaḥ kāmārtho dharma eva ca । artha eveha vā śreyastrivarga iti tu sthitiḥ ॥ 2.224 ॥''</blockquote>Meaning: To achieve welfare and happiness some declare Dharma and Artha are good. Others 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 Trivarga, the aggregate of Dharma, Artha and Kama secures welfare and happiness.''<ref name=":0" />''

Thus, the pursuit of satisfaction of desires and earning of money should be disciplined and regulated by an ethical sense, so that all persons in a society may get the opportunity to satisfy their urge for them.<ref name=":0" />

In this single verse (2.224 and 4.176), Manu Smriti has considered the merits of pure materialism (Artha and Kama) and of mere spiritualism (Dharma without Artha) and concluded that it is the combination of Dharma, Artha and Kama which secures welfare and happiness with an overriding principle that desire (kama) and material wealth (artha) should be rejected if they are inconsistent with Dharma and calls this doctrine Trivarga. There can be no better rule or philosophy than Trivarga, for the welfare of the individual and society. It strikes a harmonious balance between the interests of the individual and society.<ref name=":2" />  

In fact, Manusmrti discusses the merits of pure materialism (Artha and Kama) as also of mere spiritualism (Dharma without Artha) and concludes that it is the combination of Dharma, Artha and Kama which secures welfare and happiness with an overriding principle that desire (kama) and material wealth (artha) should be rejected if they are inconsistent with Dharma and calls this doctrine Trivarga.<ref name=":2" /> It says,  <blockquote>धर्माथावुच्यते श्रेयः कामार्थो धर्म एव च । अर्थ एवेह वा श्रेयस्त्रिवर्ग इति तु स्थितिः ॥ २.२२४ ॥<ref>Manusmrti, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Chapter 2].</ref></blockquote><blockquote>परित्यजेदर्थकामौ यौ स्यातां धर्मवर्जितौ । ४.१७६ ।<ref name=":1" /></blockquote><blockquote>''dharmāthāvucyate śreyaḥ kāmārtho dharma eva ca । artha eveha vā śreyastrivarga iti tu sthitiḥ ॥ 2.224 ॥''</blockquote><blockquote>''parityajedarthakāmau yau syātāṁ dharmavarjitau । 4.176 ।''</blockquote>Meaning:

The doctrine meant that Dharma must control the desire (kama) as well as the means of acquisition of wealth and deriving pleasure (Artha).<ref name=":2" /> Dharma therefore prescribed the rules of right conduct, observance of which was considered necessary for the welfare of the individual and society.<ref name=":2" />

* Wealth (artha) and desires (kama) which are contrary to Dharma (righteous code of conduct) should be rejected.<ref name=":0" />

Thus, the Trivarga doctrine strikes a harmonious balance between the interests of the individual and society. And is therefore, most beneficial for the welfare of the individual and society.<ref name=":2" />

== The Purpose of Trivarga ==

== The Purpose of Trivarga ==

Our ancient seers had evolved a doctrine called Trivarga comprising of three inseparable ideals namely Dharma (Righteous Code of Conduct), Artha (every type of wealth) and Kama (every type of desires of human beings) as a permanent and effective solution for all human problems. And put it in the form of an injunction to all human beings in one line,<ref name=":0" /><blockquote>परित्यजेदर्थकामौ यौ स्यातां धर्मवर्जितौ । ४.१७६ ।<ref name=":1">Manusmrti, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A5%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Chapter 4].</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''parityajedarthakāmau yau syātāṁ dharmavarjitau । 4.176 ।''</blockquote>Meaning: Reject wealth (artha) and desires (kama) which are contrary to Dharma (righteous code of conduct).

Our ancient seers had evolved a doctrine called Trivarga comprising of three inseparable ideals namely Dharma (Righteous Code of Conduct), Artha (every type of wealth) and Kama (every type of desires of human beings) as a permanent and effective solution for all human problems. And put it in the form of an injunction to all human beings in one line,<ref name=":0" /><blockquote>परित्यजेदर्थकामौ यौ स्यातां धर्मवर्जितौ । ४.१७६ ।<ref name=":1">Manusmrti, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A5%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Chapter 4].</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''parityajedarthakāmau yau syātāṁ dharmavarjitau । 4.176 ।''</blockquote>Meaning: Reject wealth (artha) and desires (kama) which are contrary to Dharma (righteous code of conduct).<ref name=":0" />

And by Dharma was meant Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truthfulness), Asteya (not acquiring illegitimate wealth), Shaucha (purity) and Indriyanigraha (control of senses) that are, in brief, the common dharma for all the varnas.<ref name=":0" />

And by Dharma was meant Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truthfulness), Asteya (not acquiring illegitimate wealth), Shaucha (purity) and Indriyanigraha (control of senses) that are, in brief, the common dharma for all the varnas.<ref name=":0" />