Artha

In Indian philosophy this is one of the
four purusharthas, or aims of life, with
the others being kama (desire), dharma
(religious duty), and moksha (final liberation of the soul). The word artha has different shades of meaning in various
contexts, but all of these meanings center
on the definitions “aim,” “goal,” or “end.”
The word can thus refer to any goal of
human life, but as one of these
purusharthas, artha refers to riches,
power, and worldly prosperity. These are
the material things that allow one to fulfill one’s temporal goals, and unless one
gains them in some measure, any sort of
worldly happiness becomes problematic.
Hindu culture has traditionally sanctioned wealth and power as a legitimate
human goal, although this endeavor
must be governed by a commitment to
dharma. When controlled by an overall
orientation to righteous action, the
quest for wealth is part of an integrated
life. Without this commitment the drive
for wealth becomes an all-consuming
desire that ultimately destroys a person.