Aims of Life

(purushartha) Four general goals that
Hindu society has accepted as legitimate
ends for all human beings: artha (wealth
and power), kama (desire, especially sexual desire), dharma (righteousness or
religious duty), and moksha (final liberation of the soul from the cycle of reincarnation). Hindus have affirmed that all of
these are worthy ends, but have generally
accepted that the last goal is qualitatively
different from the other three, which are
more strongly interrelated. There is nothing wrong with seeking money or pleasure, and Hindu culture affirms both of
these aims with the understanding that
their pursuit and enjoyment should
ultimately be regulated by a commitment
to dharma. Although there are paths to
moksha that allow one to remain in the
world, it is generally accepted that a person pursuing moksha will be less attentive to worldly desires because they are
incompatible with this ultimate goal.