Om Swastyastu. Om Awighnam Astu Namo Siddham. Om Anobadrah Kratavo Yantu Visvatah. May noble and clear thoughts come from all directions.

Let us offer our prayers and gratitude to Ida Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa, for through His divine grace we are blessed with health and strength to continue our activities. Today’s Dharma message carries the theme: “Catur Purusa Artha: A Foundation Toward the Pinnacle of Life’s Happiness.”

Every human being has different goals in life. These goals arise from within, guiding us toward our own sense of happiness — which may also influence others. However, not everyone will feel or understand the happiness we experience in pursuing our personal goals.

Imagine you are traveling to a beautiful place which make you happy. Yet, when you arrive, the place doesn’t meet your expectations. The identical thing when someone who enjoys pop music is forced to listen to rock. Sometimes our favorite thing is not for someone else. 

This analogy reminds us that happiness is something we create ourselves, not something determined by others. The first step is faith. As stated in the Yajur Veda:

“Śraddhaya satyam apnoti” — Through faith, one attains truth.

However, in today’s era — often referred to as the Kaliyuga era — many people convince themselves that their way of achieving goals is always right. In life, humans can indeed choose their path to reach their goals and happiness, yet they must choose between good and evil way.

For instance, a thief chooses to steal in order to get rich — his goal is wealth and happiness through the wrong path. Similarly, a corrupt person desires abundance but through dishonesty.

We do not condemn the desire to be wealthy. Yet, when the means are wrong, no justification can make them right. So how can we achieve our goals and find happiness through good and righteous means?

Hinduism provides us with a guiding philosophy known as Catur Purusa Artha — the four aims of human life: Dharma (righteousness), Artha (prosperity), Kama (desire), and Moksha (liberation or ultimate happiness). These four serves as stages toward the ultimate human purpose, expressed in the teaching:

“Moksartham Jagadhita ya ca iti Dharma” — To attain worldly prosperity and spiritual liberation through Dharma.

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The first and most essential stage is Dharma — our duty and righteousness. Dharma is the foundation upon which all our actions should stand. When we act based on truth and conviction, our goals will be fulfilled in harmony.

This is stated in the Sarasamuscaya Sloka 14:

“Dharma eva plavo nanyah svargam samabhivanchatam, sa ca na upanijastatam jaladheh param icchatah.”

Dharma is the only way that carries one to heaven, just as a boat carries a merchant across the sea.

If we hold faith in Dharma in every action, it will guide us toward true happiness.

Once we live by Dharma, we can then seek Artha, or material prosperity. Artha represents all resources that support life’s purposes. Yet, it must always be pursued based on Dharma. For instance, if we work to earn money, we must do so through honest and rightful means — never through immoral or unethical acts.

As stated in Sarasamuscaya Sloka 261:

“Dharmenarthah samaharyo dharmalabdham tridha dhanam, kartavyam dharma paranam manavena prayatnatah.”

One should earn wealth through Dharma and divide it into three parts — for fulfilling duty (Dharma), for personal needs (Kama), and for sustaining livelihood (Artha).

After obtaining Artha through Dharma, we can then fulfill Kama, our desires. When desires are fulfilled rightly, they bring joy — the essence of human happiness.

That ultimate happiness is what we call Moksha. In this context, Moksha refers not only to spiritual liberation beyond the physical world but also to inner peace and contentment while living — the profound joy that arises when one’s life is in harmony with Dharma.

The four stages of Catur Purusa Artha can be imagined as a climber ascending mountain peaks with a sturdy walking stick. The stick represents Dharma, the support needed to reach the three summits: Artha (wealth), Kama (desire), and Moksha (ultimate happiness).

When the climber reaches the highest peak, he experiences awe and serenity as he gazes upon the beauty below — this is the joy of spiritual elevation. Likewise, when humans reach the summit of happiness through Dharma, they see the beauty of life clearly and feel peace within.

This teaches us that in seeking happiness, we must always act upon Dharma — truth, duty, and goodness. Through Dharma, we will attain the truest and most enduring happiness, bringing positive transformation to our lives and to those around us.

Thank you.

Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti Om.

Gede Aditya Simpatiaji (college Student of STAHN Mpu Kuturan Singaraja)

Kontributor: Muhammad Mahmud Alhushori

Editor: Jaya Perdhana

​​​​​​​Ilustrator: Jaya Perdhana