Purusharthas in Indian tradition| PSIR Optional for UPSC

Introduction

It is a key concept in Hinduism, and refers to the four proper goals or aims of a human life.
The four puruṣarthas are Dharma (righteousness, moral values), Artha (prosperity, economic values), Kama (pleasure, love, psychological values) and Moksha (liberation, spiritual values, self-actualization).
Purusharthas means that for which a person strives for.
It implies our goals of life. It is extremely important that our goals of life should be very clear.

Puruṣhartha is a composite Sanskrit word from Purusha and Artha.
Purusha means "human being", "soul" as well as "universal principle and soul of the universe".
Artha is one context means "purpose", "object of desire" and "meaning".
Together, Purusartha literally means "purpose of human being" or "object of human pursuit".
Alf Hiltebeitel translates Purusartha as "Goals of Man".

It is a key concept with multiple meanings in Indian religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and others.
There is no single-word translation for dharma in western languages.
In Hinduism, dharma signifies behaviors that are considered to be in accord with Rta (the order that makes life and universe possible).
It includes duties, rights, laws, conduct, virtues and "right way of living".
In Buddhism, dharma means "cosmic law and order".
Dharma, according to Van Buitenen, is that which all existing beings must accept and respect to sustain harmony and order in the world.
It is the pursuit and execution of one's nature and true calling, thus playing one's role in cosmic concert.

The word artha literally translates as "meaning, sense, goal, purpose or essence" depending on the context.
Karl Potter explains it as an attitude and capability that enables one to make a living, to remain alive, to thrive as a free person.
It includes economic prosperity, security and health of oneself and those one feels responsible for.
Vatsyayana in Kama Sutra defines artha as the acquisition of arts, land, cattle, wealth, equipages and friends.

Kama means "desire, wish, longing" in Hindu and Buddhist literature.
Kama often connotes sexual desire and longing in contemporary literature, but the concept more broadly refers to any desire, wish, passion, longing the pleasure of the senses, desire for, longing to and after, the aesthetic enjoyment of life, affection, or love.
It is considered an essential and healthy goal of human life only when pursued without sacrificing the other three goals.
Vatsyayana, the author of the Kamasutra, describes kama as happiness that is a manasa vyapara (phenomenon of the mind).

Moksha, also called vimoksha, vimukti and mukti is a term in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism which refers to various forms of emancipation, enlightenment, liberation, and release.
Moksha also refers to freedom from ignorance, self-realization, self-actualization and self-knowledge