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| # 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 to 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" />
| + | Undoubtedly, the ultimate goal or ideal enshrined in the hearts of all was Moksha i.e. freedom from the bondage of the cycle of birth and death and to secure union with the creator. And every individual was enjoined to strive for the same. However, the scriptures term the first three Purusharthas specifically, as Trivarga. For, Dharma, Artha and Kama are like the three legs of a stool. The absence of anyone of them would render life to be futile. While, the idea of moksha being philosophical in nature is not included in the concept of Trivarga. |
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| + | However, the legitimacy of both Artha and Kama depended on both conforming in entirety to Dharma. Every individual was asked to reject Artha (material wealth) and Kama (desires) if they were in conflict with Dharma. And when the Trivarga is balanced, it is known to enrich life, filling it with a sense of fulfillment.<ref name=":0" /> |
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| == त्रिवर्गसिद्धान्तः ॥ Trivarga Siddhanta == | | == त्रिवर्गसिद्धान्तः ॥ Trivarga Siddhanta == |
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| In fact, Mahabharata calls Danda that is representative of Raja's regulatory powers as ‘Trivarga Rupa' since it protects Trivarga ie. Dharma, Artha and Kama (the law, lawful wealth and lawful desires of human beings).<ref name=":0" /> <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> | | In fact, Mahabharata calls Danda that is representative of Raja's regulatory powers as ‘Trivarga Rupa' since it protects Trivarga ie. Dharma, Artha and Kama (the law, lawful wealth and lawful desires of human beings).<ref name=":0" /> <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> |
| === Ideal for the State and Individuals === | | === Ideal for the State and Individuals === |
− | The ideals placed before the individual, for purposes of welfare and happiness of himself and all others in this World, were Dharma, Artha and Kama [Trivarga or the three Purusharthas]. Every individual was asked to reject Artha and Kama [material wealth and desires] if they were in conflict with Dharma. The ultimate goal or ideal enshrined in the hearts of all undoubtedly was Moksha, which every individual was enjoined to strive for i.e., liberation from the bondage of the cycle of birth and death and to secure union with the creator or, in other words, to reach heaven, which idea is philosophical in nature and, therefore, not germane to this topic. The ideals of Raja Dharma placed before the State were to assist and support the achievement by individuals of the threefold ideals [Trivarga]. | + | The ideals placed before the individual, for purposes of welfare and happiness of himself and all others in this World, were Dharma, Artha and Kama [Trivarga or the three Purusharthas]. The ideals of Raja Dharma placed before the State were to assist and support the achievement by individuals of the threefold ideals [Trivarga]. |
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| In this regard, the Barhaspatya Sutra says,<blockquote>नीतेः फलं धर्मार्थकामावाप्तिः ॥ 2.43 ॥{{Citation needed}} ''nīteḥ phalaṁ dharmārthakāmāvāptiḥ ॥'' 2.43 ''॥''</blockquote>Meaning: The goal of polity (Rajaniti) is the fulfillment of Dharma, Artha and Kama. | | In this regard, the Barhaspatya Sutra says,<blockquote>नीतेः फलं धर्मार्थकामावाप्तिः ॥ 2.43 ॥{{Citation needed}} ''nīteḥ phalaṁ dharmārthakāmāvāptiḥ ॥'' 2.43 ''॥''</blockquote>Meaning: The goal of polity (Rajaniti) is the fulfillment of Dharma, Artha and Kama. |