The Real Purpose of Life – Through the Lens of Vedic Wisdom

By Shri Kaushal Kumar

The true meaning of Purushartha (Purpose of Life) comes from the combination of two words: "Purusha" (which means being, creature, or human) and "Artha" (which means purpose or goal). Here, Purusha refers to humans.?

Pillars of Human Life

Therefore, Purushartha refers to the purpose or goal of human life. In Indian spiritual tradition, there are four types of Purusharthas—Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha.?

Unlike other creatures in this world who are born only to experience worldly pleasures, human beings possess the uniqueness of knowledge. Humans are born with the purpose of attaining freedom from all suffering through knowledge.?

The journey towards liberation (Moksha) begins with Dharma and ends in Moksha.?

Dharma means the true way of living life. When a person realizes their Swadharma (personal duty or righteousness), their journey naturally leads towards liberation or freedom.

Maharishi Kanad defines Dharma as, "Yato Abhyudayani: Shreyasa Siddhi: Sa Dharmah," meaning that which leads to worldly progress while also achieving liberation is Dharma. The material growth (Artha) that leads to complete freedom (Moksha) is beneficial, while all other forms of material growth bring suffering. Hence, our sages considered Dharma to be the first Purushartha.?

The Right Approach to Earning Wealth

The second and third Purusharthas are Artha and Kama. However, these should be pursued according to Dharma. Accumulating wealth (Artha) and indulging in desires (Kama) through unrighteous means leads a person toward an ocean of suffering.?

People often, out of ignorance, pursue Artha and Kama in violation of their Swadharma, which results in stress, anxiety, physical and mental illnesses, broken relationships, divorce, defamation, and criticism. On the other hand, following Dharma leads to the natural fulfilment of Artha and Kama without these problems.?

The Starting Point

In the Mahabharata, Ved Vyasa says:

"I raise my arms and shout, but no one listens to me. I declare that both wealth and pleasures come from Dharma, so why don't people practice Dharma?"

Similarly, in the Ramayana, Maharishi Valmiki says:

"From Dharma arises Artha (wealth). From Dharma comes happiness, and through Dharma, a person can attain everything. Dharma is the essence of this world."

The Torch

When a person appropriately follows their Swadharma, they naturally obtain the necessary Artha and Kama. However, people often fail to place complete faith in their Swadharma and lack the patience and determination to follow it wholeheartedly, leading to suffering upon suffering. The personal and social problems that plague humanity today arise from the lack of understanding and proper practice of Swadharma.?

Once a person truly understands and practices their Swadharma, they naturally achieve their highest purpose in life—Moksha (liberation).