artha

Artha is a concept in Hindu philosophy referring to wealth, prosperity, and the meaningful accumulation and use of material resources necessary for living and fulfilling social duties. It is one of the four purusharthas, the aims of human life, alongside dharma (duty and righteousness), kama (pleasure and desire), and moksha (liberation). The term derives from Sanskrit artha meaning meaning, purpose, wealth, or value. In this framework artha denotes not mere greed but prudent, ethical acquisition of resources through lawful means to support oneself, one's family, and the larger community, and to enable the pursuit of dharma and moksha.

Artha encompasses economic activity, production, trade, governance, and the wealth-creating institutions and practices that sustain society. It includes personal wealth, social status, and political power, provided they are pursued within the bounds of dharma and without harming others. The concept emphasizes balance: wealth is a means to an end, not the end itself; unchecked pursuit can undermine dharma and hinder moksha.

Historically, artha is elaborated in Hindu literature from the Arthashastra, a treatise on statecraft, economics, and policy attributed to Chanakya (Kautilya), to older gnomic and epic passages. In traditional Hindu life, the pursuit of artha is most closely associated with the grihastha (householder) stage, where material provision is a duty that enables the performance of duties, rituals, and social responsibilities.

Artha remains a foundational concept in Indian thought, shaping discussions of economics, governance, and public life, while always to be tempered by dharma.