purushartha | पुरुषार्थ

purushartha (Devanagari: पुरुषार्थ ISO15919: puruṣārtha) is used in two main ways.

1. General meaning – making efforts toward a goal.
2. Philosophical meaning – the five goals of human life:
   • Arth – striving to acquire wealth.
   • Dharma – living according to the Vedic rules of Varnashram Dharma.
   • Kaam – pursuing sensual pleasures.
   • Moksha – seeking to escape from Maya (material bondage).
   • Prem – striving to attain God’s highest power: Divine Love.

The wise see it clearly: the first three are short-lived, and the fourth is the biggest con of all. That’s why they drop them and go all-in on Prem—the only real goal of life.

LEARN MORE

• Pancham Purushartha
• Understanding the Mind's Endless Craving
• Not this not that; Only this will even satisfy you