Paramapuruṣārtha
From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia
By Swami Harshananda
Paramapuruṣārtha literally means ‘the highest goal of life aspired after, by a human being’.
A puruṣa or a human being is expected to strive for four puruṣārthas or ends in life viz.:
- Dharma - righteousness
- Artha - wealth
- Kāma - desire for carnal pleasures
- Mokṣa - liberation from trans-migratory existence
Out of these, the last is considered as ‘parama’ or the highest and the best. Hence it is named as ‘paramapuruṣārtha’.
References[edit]
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore