The Four Goals of Life and The Teaching of the Three Debts .
Every human being is not born into this world as a blank slate, but entrusted with two sacred inheritances: the Four Goals of Life (Purusarthas) and the Three Debts (Tririṇa). The Purusarthas — Dharma (righteous duty), Artha (prosperity), Kama (rightful enjoyment of desires), and Mokṣa (liberation) — form the framework of a purposeful and balanced life. To fulfill these aims, God has bestowed upon human beings intelligence, mind, senses and sense-organs, along with vitality. Alongside these goals, each person carries the threefold obligation of repaying the debts owed to the gods (Deva-rna), to the sages (Ṛṣi-ṛṇa), and to the ancestors (Pitṛ-rna). Together, these sacred ideals shape human destiny, ensuring that life is not merely lived, but lived meaningfully — harmonizing duty, desire, prosperity, and spiritual freedom, while honoring gratitude to the divine, to wisdom, and to one’s lineage.
निष्काम कर्म – संसार धर्म।
निष्कामं कर्म सदा सर्वदा मनः-निवेशेन कुरुत।
निष्कामं धर्मं सदा सर्वदा महा-आनन्देन पालय।
ईश्वरे पूर्णं विश्वासं कुरुत, स्वयं तस्य दासं मनसि धारय।
सर्वेषु जीवेषु दयां कुरुत, दीन-दुःखितेभ्यः दानं कुरुत।
नित्यं सर्वेषां सेवा कुरुत, संसार-धर्मं पूर्ण-रूपेण पालय।
सर्वाणि कर्माणि ईश्वराय अर्पय, सदा सर्वदा तं मनसि धारय॥
★
भागवतधर्मः
सदा पवित्रे स्थाने वासः शुद्धभोजनसेवनम्।
सर्वकर्माणि संकल्प्य तानि ईश्वराय समर्पितम्॥
भक्त्या श्रद्धया सहितं भगवतः पूजनं सदा।
भक्त्या श्रद्धया सहितं सर्वदैव उत्सवपालनम्॥
निष्कामकर्मसंपादनं भगवतः नित्यस्मरणम्।
निष्कामधर्मपालनं भगवतः नित्यमननम्॥
गूढं भागवततत्त्वं तु सर्वदुःखविनाशनम्।
यः सर्वेषु जीवेष्वेव ईश्वरं पश्यति सत्वरम्॥
एतदेव श्रेष्ठं धर्मं ईश्वरवर्णितं परमपवित्रम्।
गूढं भागवततत्त्वं तद् सर्वदुःखविनाशनम्॥
Purusharthas – The Four Goals of Life.
The Purusharthas represent the four essential aims that guide human life:
Dharma – Righteousness, duty, and moral values that direct ethical living and ensure harmony in society.
Artha – Wealth, prosperity, and material well-being, to sustain a stable and responsible life while remaining aligned with Dharma.
Kama – Desire, love, and emotional fulfillment, pursued in balance with virtue and responsibility.
Moksha – Liberation and self-realization, leading to spiritual freedom from the cycle of birth and death.
Gṛihastha Ashrama is the best platform for pursuing the four goals of life.
Within this stage, a person rightly strives to fulfill the four puruṣarthas (Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha).
Grihastha ashrama Begins After Marriage.
In Hindu philosophy, human life is divided into four stages (Ashramas): Brahmacharya (student life), Grihastha (householder life), Vanaprastha (retired life), and Sannyasa (renounced life). Among these, Grihastha ashrama holds the most fundamental and central position.
The Foundation of Dharma
The householder sustains all other three ashramas. Brahmacharins, vanaprasthis, and sannyasins depend upon the food and resources provided by the Grihastha for their livelihood.
Fulfilment of the Four Aims of Life
Within Grihastha ashrama, a person rightly pursues the four puruṣarthas (goals of life): Dharma (righteousness), Artha (wealth), Kama (desires), and Moksha (liberation).
A Life of Responsibility
This stage emphasizes dutiful responsibility towards family, society, and the nation, cultivating ethical and social values.
The Path to Liberation
One who faithfully follows the householder’s duties becomes qualified for and ultimately attains Moksha.
Thus, Grihastha ashrama transcends mere family life; it is the very pillar of society and the foundation of Dharma.
The householder (Grihastha), by discharging his debts, should fulfil all duties of dharma. For dharma indeed is the means to the attainment of mokṣa. (Taittiriya Upaniṣad I.11.1).
तैत्तिरीय उपनिषद् के अनुसार, गृहस्थ जीवन में धर्म का पालन मोक्ष मार्ग का सहायक है।
"ऋणान्यनवृत्त्य गृहस्थः, धर्मान्सर्वान्संपादयेत्। धर्मस्य तु मोक्ष प्राप्ति हेतुता। तैत्तिरीय उपनिषद् (I.11.1)
अभिप्राय: गृहस्थ को अपने सभी कर्तव्य धर्मपूर्वक निभाने चाहिए, जिससे मोक्ष का मार्ग प्रशस्त होता है।
गृहस्थाश्रम-स्तवनम्।
मङ्गलाचरणम्
नारायणाय शान्ताय सत्यधर्मप्रवर्तिने।
गृहस्थाश्रममाहात्म्यं यो ददातु स मे गुरुः॥
१
गृहस्थाश्रमो धर्मफलेषु श्रेष्ठोऽर्थकामदः।
सिद्धिं तस्य विधत्त्येव देवो युगे युगेऽव्ययः॥
२
गृहस्थधर्ममासाद्य निष्ठया यः समाचरेत्।
ततः संन्यासमार्गेण प्रवेशं कर्तुमर्हति॥
३
संन्यासादपि श्रेष्ठोऽयं गृहस्थो धर्मसङ्ग्रहः।
तमाश्रित्यैव भगवान् युगे युगेऽव्ययोऽस्थितः॥
४
धर्मार्थकामसमृद्धये गृहस्थाश्रम एव हि।
मोक्षपदमपि ददाति धर्मोऽयं स्मृत्यनन्यया॥
५
शुभाशुभविवर्जितो गृहस्थधर्म उदाहृतः।
सर्वपुण्यफलैः पूर्णो यत्र तिष्ठति मानवः॥
फलश्रुतिः
गृहस्थाश्रमस्तवनमिदं यः पठेत् श्रद्धयान्वितः।
सौख्यं ज्ञानं च लभते धर्मार्थकाममोक्षदम्॥
समापनम्
नमस्ते गृहस्थाश्रमाय धर्ममार्गप्रवर्तिने।
सर्वेषां श्रेयसे नित्यं मङ्गलं दिशतु प्रभुः॥
मिथ्या जीवने मृत्युः श्रेष्ठः, असत्यकर्मफलदुःखम्।
सत्यधर्मचरिणः मोक्षः, सदा मुक्तः सुखदायकः॥
Dharma – Dharma is that which leads to both worldly progress and spiritual well-being. It guides individuals toward righteousness, virtue, and moral values.
Artha – After Dharma, Artha holds significance. The world cannot function without wealth, but it must be earned ethically and in accordance with Dharma. A person who disregards Dharma in the pursuit of wealth exploits natural resources irresponsibly, disrupts environmental balance, and brings numerous diseases and sufferings to society for temporary gains.
Kama – The fulfillment of desires helps cleanse the mind and brings balance to life. However, it should be pursued within the boundaries of Dharma and Artha to ensure harmony and well-being.
Moksha – Kama is inferior to Artha, Artha is inferior to Dharma, and the ultimate goal of Dharma is Moksha. All other beings exist merely for sensory pleasures, whereas human life is meant for action (Karma Yoni), providing a path to liberation (Moksha).
त्रिरिणोपदेशः
(तीन प्रकार के ऋणों का उपदेश)
श्लोकः (अनुष्टुप् छन्दे):
प्रत्येकः जन्मनि लोके धारयत्यसौ त्रयः ऋणम्।
प्रथमं देवॠणं ज्ञेयं द्वितीयं ऋषिणां स्मृतम्॥
देवॠणं यज्ञकृत्या स्यात् ऋषेः अध्ययनैः क्षयः।
पितृऋणं तु तर्पैश्च पुत्रोत्पत्त्या च शुद्ध्यति॥
पुत्रऋणं सत्कृत्यैव सत्यधर्मेण तिष्ठति।
एवमेव त्रयो ऋणाः जीवनं धारयन्ति हि॥
प्रत्येकः जन्मनि लोके धारयत्यसौ त्रयः ऋणम्।
प्रथमं देवॠणं ज्ञेयं द्वितीयं ऋषिणां स्मृतम्॥
देवॠणं यज्ञकृत्या स्यात् ऋषेः अध्ययनैः क्षयः।
पितृऋणं तु तर्पैश्च पुत्रोत्पत्त्या च शुद्ध्यति॥
पुत्रऋणं सत्कृत्यैव सत्यधर्मेण तिष्ठति।
एवमेव त्रयो ऋणाः जीवनं धारयन्ति हि॥
★
धर्मपूर्वकं प्रजननम्।
The Teaching of the Three Debts (Tririṇa-Upadesa).
Every human being is said to be born into this world carrying three inherent debts (tririṇa).
Debt to the gods (deva-ṛṇa): This is discharged through sacrifices, rituals, and acts of devotion that maintain harmony with the divine powers sustaining the universe.
Debt to the sages (ṛṣi-ṛṇa): This is fulfilled through study of the scriptures, acquisition of knowledge, and dissemination of wisdom.
Debt to the ancestors (pitṛ-ṛṇa): This is purified through offerings, śrāddha rituals, and, traditionally, by raising progeny to continue the lineage.
In some traditions, a fourth responsibility is acknowledged toward one’s descendants, honored by truthfulness, virtuous conduct, and the faithful practice of dharma, thereby setting an example for future generations.
Thus, the doctrine of the three debts guides the life of a wise person, ensuring balance, virtue, and spiritual fulfillment.
Life’s Guiding Principles.
Wed the young at rightful time,
Teach them virtue, truth sublime.
Guide them well, let family stand,
In dharmic ways, by sacred hand.
Revere the rites and lore of old,
Preserve the values, strong and bold.
Reveal life’s purest, highest accord—
Union eternal with the Supreme Lord.
Train the mind, its passions tame,
Quench desire, greed, anger, flame.
Let craving’s fire be quenched away,
Let self-restraint shine bright each day.
Parents live with noble aim, with grace,
Self-reliant, steadfast in dharmic place.
May Dharma reign, may wisdom glow,
In truth and peace let pure love flow.
Each being bears the duty to create,
To bring new life forth, to shape their fate.
Yet pause awhile, and deeply see—
Am I prepared to love, to tend, to be?
With careful thought and mindful choice,
Let wisdom guide your heart’s true voice.
