Artha means “Wealth” and the same word also implies “Meaning” and one should give value to both the interpretations. Artha is the second of the four Purusharthas (objects of human pursuit).
Artha is the pursuit of material wealth to have the security and enjoyment of material comfort we need to live in this world with ease and dignity. Artha does not encourage mad greed to run after money and accumulate wealth. Instead, Artha encourages finding a way so that the money runs behind you and enables you to attain such a point in life where there is a constant feeling of abundance, satisfaction and contentment.
Advaita Vedanta never says one should not earn. In fact, it encourages that one should earn as much as possible according to one’s ability. It becomes possible to earn by choosing a profession that is compatible with one’s nature and capabilities. Bhagavad-Gita calls it as “Swadharma” meaning one’s nature, one’s natural strength, one’s natural interest, one’s natural ability.
When one relies on Swadharma (natural strength), one can perform great feats and achieve great heights.
If the work done is not illegal, morally and ethically correct, then it is always helpful, beneficial and serves the society.
Dharma, honesty and righteousness should NOT be compromised at any cost while pursuing Artha (Wealth), otherwise, one’s life loses the real Artha (Meaning).
If Dharma is ignored while pursuing Artha and Kama, meaning profit and pleasure respectively, it leads to social chaos. The world’s abundant wealth gets accumulated in the hands of a very small percentage of people leaving behind the majority of the mankind suffering from hunger and poverty.
How true have these thoughts have proved to be in the modern world? A report on global inequality dated October 13, 2015, from “The Guardian” says that half of the world’s wealth is in the hands of 1% of the population.
Scientists, Thinkers, Statesmen, etc., have to wake up and quickly start emphasising the utmost importance of moral values and ethics right from the Primary School level so that the future generations can reverse the current situation.
Subramanya Bharathi, a fiery and revolutionary 20th century poet in the Tamil language, expresses his most heartfelt thought by saying “Illamai Illamal Pogavendum” meaning that we need to quickly ensure that for the entire humanity, “Scarcity becomes Scarce”.
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