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* 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 people who declare Artha alone secures happiness. But the correct view is that Trivarga, the aggregate of Dharma, Artha and Kama secures welfare and happiness.

* 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 people who declare Artha alone secures happiness. But the correct view is that Trivarga, the aggregate of Dharma, Artha and Kama secures welfare and happiness.

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

* Wealth (artha) and desires (kama) which are contrary to Dharma (righteous code of conduct) should be rejected.

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 Kautiliya Arthashastra further states that in the inseparable unit of Dharma, Artha and Kama the one mentioned earlier is superior and reiterates that the Trivarga should be followed together.  <blockquote>समं वा त्रिवर्गं सेवेत । धर्मार्थकामानां युगपत्समवाये । पूर्वाः पूर्वा गरीयान् ॥<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>''samaṁ vā trivargaṁ seveta । dharmārthakāmānāṁ yugapatsamavāye । pūrvāḥ pūrvā garīyān ॥''</blockquote>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" />

== शासकशासितधर्मः ॥ Dharma of the Rulers and the Ruled ==

== शासकशासितधर्मः ॥ Dharma of the Rulers and the Ruled ==

Propounders of Dharma realised that fulfillment of desires of human beings was essential to secure happiness but were of the opinion that unless the desires were regulated by Dharma, they would bring about undesirable results.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />Therefore, the doctrine of Trivarga was evolved to secure happiness to all without discrimination and in an enduring manner. The Ramayana, Mahabharata, Manusmrti, Kautilya’s Arthashastra, Brhaspati Smrti, Somadeva’s Nitivakyamrta, Kamandaka's Nitisara all unanimously declare that the rule of Trivarga should be followed by both, the rulers and the ruled and that alone is a guarantee for peace and happiness of human beings. In fact, the doctrine of Trivarga is referred to as an enduring system of values that holds good in the social, political, domestic and international planes of human business. And thus, has been the guiding principle for both, the rulers and the ruled.<ref name=":0" />

Propounders of Dharma realised that fulfillment of desires of human beings was essential to secure happiness but were of the opinion that unless the desires were regulated by Dharma, they would bring about undesirable results.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />Therefore, the doctrine of Trivarga was evolved to secure happiness to all without discrimination and in an enduring manner. The Ramayana, Mahabharata, Manusmrti, Kautilya’s Arthashastra, Brhaspati Smrti, Somadeva’s Nitivakyamrta, Kamandaka's Nitisara all unanimously declare that the rule of Trivarga should be followed by both, the rulers and the ruled and that alone is a guarantee for peace and happiness of human beings. In fact, the doctrine of Trivarga is referred to as an enduring system of values that holds good in the social, political, domestic and international planes of human business. And thus, has been the guiding principle for both, the rulers and the ruled.<ref name=":0" />

== राजनीत्याः आधारः ॥ Basis for Rajaniti ==

=== राजनीत्याः आधारः ॥ Basis for Rajaniti ===

Therefore, all the propounders of Dharma were unanimous that for the existence of an orderly society and peace and to secure the basic human right of happiness to all, the desires (kama) for material enjoyment, and earning wealth (Artha) should always conform to Dharma (Code of Right Conduct) and be never inconsistent with it.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":0" /><blockquote>तस्माच्छास्त्रं प्रमाणं ते कार्याकार्यव्यवस्थितौ । ज्ञात्वा शास्त्रविधानोक्तं कर्म कर्तुमिहार्हसि ॥१६- २४॥<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%A6%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 16.]</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''tasmācchāstraṁ pramāṇaṁ tē kāryākāryavyavasthitau । jñātvā śāstravidhānōktaṁ karma kartumihārhasi ॥16- 24॥''</blockquote>Meaning: Let the shastras be your authority in deciding what you should do and what you should desist from doing.<ref name=":2" />

The view that Trivarga is the basic structure of our social and political system is unanimously expressed in all the important Bharatiya ancient works on polity incorporated as part of Raja Dharma in the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Manu Smriti, Kautilya's Arthashastra, Kamandaka's Nitisara and Nitivakyamrita etc. A careful study of these granthas shows that all of them lay down that the fundamental duty of the State is to ensure that both the rulers and the ruled acquire wealth (Artha) and fulfill their desires (Kama) without violating the rules of Dharma, which is the “Trivarga” doctrine. Thus, Trivarga with Dharma as the controlling factor is the most important element of the basic structure of Bharatiya Rajaniti from times immemorial. This is expressed in the Ramayana as follows: <blockquote>त्रिवर्ग फल भोक्ता च राजा धर्मेण युज्यते । ४-३८-२३<ref>Ramayana, Kishkindha Kanda, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A9%E0%A5%AE Sarga 38]</ref> ''trivarga phala bhoktā ca rājā dharmeṇa yujyate । 4-38-23''</blockquote>Meaning: The essence of Raja Dharma is the Ruler must conform to rule of Trivarga.

 

It is a pragmatic doctrine for the welfare of entire humanity.<ref name=":0" />

 

The unanimous view expressed in all the important works such as Ramayana, Mahabharata, Smritis, authoritative texts on Rajaneeti is, Trivarga is the basic structure of our social and political system, as set out below:-

 

In RAMAYANA<blockquote>त्रिवर्ग फल भोक्ता च राजा धर्मेण युज्यते ।४-३८-२३<ref>Ramayana, Kishkindha Kanda, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A9%E0%A5%AE Sarga 38]</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''trivarga phala bhoktā ca rājā dharmeṇa yujyate ।4-38-23''</blockquote>Meaning: The essence of Rajadharma is the Ruler must conform to rule of Trivarga [Ramayana 38-23]

 

In MAHABHARATA<blockquote>धर्मार्थकामाः सममेव सेव्या यो ह्येकभक्तः स नरो जघन्यः। </blockquote><blockquote>द्वयोस्तु दक्षं प्रवदन्ति मध्यं स उत्तमो योऽभिरतस्त्रिवर्गे ।।१२.१६५.४०<ref>Mahabharata, Shanti Parva, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D-12-%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5-165 Adhyaya 165]</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''dharmārthakāmāḥ samameva sevyā yo hyekabhaktaḥ sa naro jaghanyaḥ।'' </blockquote><blockquote>''dvayostu dakṣaṁ pravadanti madhyaṁ sa uttamo yo'bhiratastrivarge।।12.165.40''</blockquote>Meaning: TRIVARGA namely Dharma, Artha and Kama are inseparable. All the three should be enjoyed harmoniously, omitting one or two is to be deprecated. [Mahabharata Shantiparva 167-40]<blockquote>दण्डः संरक्षते धर्मं तथैवार्यं जनाधिप । कामं संरक्षते दण्डस्त्रिवर्गो दण्ड उच्यते ।।१२.१५.३<ref>Mahabharata, Shanti Parva, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D-12-%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5-015 Adhyaya 15]</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''daṇḍaḥ saṁrakṣate dharmaṁ tathaivāryaṁ janādhipa । kāmaṁ saṁrakṣate daṇḍastrivargo daṇḍa ucyate ।।12.15.3''</blockquote>Meaning: Punishment protects Dharma, Artha and Kama (the law, the lawful wealth and lawful desires of human beings) and hence it is called ‘Trivargarupa' (symbol of Dharma, Artha and Kama). [M.B.Shanti 15-3]

 

 

A careful study of all our ancient works on polity incorporated as part of Rajadharma (Constitutional Law) in Ramayana, Mahabharata, Manu Smriti, Kautilyas Arthasastra, Kamandaka Nitisara and Nitivakyamrita etc., shows that all of them unanimously lay down that the fundamental duty of the State is to ensure that both the rulers and the ruled shall acquire wealth (Artha) and fulfill their desires (Kama) without violating the rules of Dharma, which is the “TRIVARGA” doctrine. Thus, Trivarga with Dharma as the controlling factor is the most important element of basic structure of our Rajaneeti from times immemorial.

While the Mahabharata states that, <blockquote>दण्डः संरक्षते धर्मं तथैवार्यं जनाधिप । कामं संरक्षते दण्डस्त्रिवर्गो दण्ड उच्यते ।।१२.१५.३<ref>Mahabharata, Shanti Parva, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D-12-%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5-015 Adhyaya 15]</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''daṇḍaḥ saṁrakṣate dharmaṁ tathaivāryaṁ janādhipa । kāmaṁ saṁrakṣate daṇḍastrivargo daṇḍa ucyate ।।12.15.3''</blockquote>Meaning: Punishment protects Dharma, Artha and Kama (the law, the lawful wealth and lawful desires of human beings) and hence it is called ‘Trivargarupa' (symbol of Dharma, Artha and Kama).<ref name=":0" />

=== Ideal for the State and Individuals ===

=== Ideal for the State and Individuals ===