PURUSARTHAS
Among the four values of life called Purusarthas,
those that have worldly value are called Trivagra. They do not include Moksha.
Rama exhorts to Sugriva that the three values have to be pursued with Dharma
judiciously. It is pointed out by Vyasa that one should harness Artha and Kama
by means of Dharma.
If
a person does not have control over Artha and Kama, he is sure to fall.
Nevertheless a king has to enjoy the three values engaging himself in
destroying his enemies and allying with friends. Rama’s words have great
significance because he wants the king of monkeys to be cautious about getting
lost in Artha and Kama as he aspired to acquire them by vanquishing Vali. Time
should be properly divided for the purpose of Dharma, Kama and Artha. The
implication is that the time of a householder has to be conducted in such a way
that he has time for the purpose of rituals, for earning wealth and for the
delights of his senses. The mornings are said to be for religious performance
and the rest of the day for earning wealth and the first quarter of the night
for sensual pleasures as per the Smrti texts.
Rama’s
adherence to Dharma has few parallels in the epic. His resolve to follow Dharma
is legendary. Having promised to Kaikeyi that he will go to the forest he has
no hankering for wealth, compromising Dharma for its sake. For him the Dharma
of keeping his promise is supreme.
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