Man, the period of whose life is one hundred years, should practise Dharma,
Artha and Kama at different times and in such a manner that they may
harmonize together and not clash in any way. He should acquire learning in his
childhood, in his youth and middle age he should attend to Artha and Kama,
and in his old age he should perform Dharma, and thus seek to gain Moksha,
i.e. release from further transmigration. Or, on account of the uncertainty of
life, he may practise them at times when they are enjoined to be practised. But
one thing is to be noted, he should lead the life of a religious student until he
finishes his education.
Dharma is obedience to the command of the Shastra or Holy Writ of the
Hindoos to do certain things, such as the performance of sacrifices, which are
not generally done, because they do not belong to this world, and produce no
visible effect; and not to do other things, such as eating meat, which is often
done because it belongs to this world, and has visible effects.
Dharma should be learnt from the Shruti (Holy Writ), and from those
conversant with it.
Artha is the acquisition of arts, land, gold, cattle, wealth, equipages and friends.
It is, further, the protection of what is acquired, and the increase of what is
protected.
Artha should be learnt from the king's officers, and from merchants who may
be versed in the ways of commerce.
Kama is the enjoyment of appropriate objects by the five senses of hearing,
feeling, seeing, tasting and smelling, assisted by the mind together with the
soul. The ingredient in this is a peculiar contact between the organ of sense and
its object, and the consciousness of pleasure which arises from that contact is
called Kama.
Kama is to be learnt from the Kama Sutra (aphorisms on love) and from the
practice of citizens.
When all the three, viz. Dharma, Artha and Kama, come together, the former is
better than the one which follows it, i.e. Dharma is better than Artha, and Artha
is better than Kama. But Artha should always be first practised by the king for
the livelihood of men is to be obtained from it only. Again, Kama being the
occupation of public women, they should prefer it to the other two, and these
are exceptions to the general rule.
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