The word Purushārtha means human goals. In our spiritual texts, the word is also used in other senses — sometimes it refers to free will, and at other times to effort, endeavor, or deliberate choice. However, its primary meaning is the ultimate goals or destination of human life.
Kāma Purushārtha : Pursuit of pleasure, joy, beauty, and emotional fulfillment
The next goal of human beings is to fulfill desire, also known as, Kāma. Once Artha is taken care of, Kāma purushārtha begins. Kāma means all forms of comfort and enjoyment. Due to our superior instinctive intellect, we seek all kinds of comfort and enjoyment. Most human beings spend much of their life on Artha Purushārtha. Some cannot even reach Kāma Purushārtha.
The traditional view of Kāma is the pursuit of pleasure, joy, beauty, and emotional fulfillment. It is natural and legitimate when guided by Dharma. Human life includes desires, relationships, emotions, art, music, aesthetics, a need for affection, and celebration. These desires enrich life when pursued in moderation and purity.
Kāma is not indulgence; it is the refinement of desire. It includes noble enjoyments such as friendship, family love, devotion, creativity, inspiration, and appreciation of beauty. Uncontrolled desires lead to suffering, but regulated enjoyment leads to a balanced life. Shastra advises, “Master desire, but do not become a slave to them.” Kāma becomes harmful when it pulls the mind outward excessively, weakens willpower, or creates addiction. Running after desires can divert our path away from our goal of Moksha (freedom from the bondage of the material world).
Shri Krishna in Bhagavat Gita describes the shackles of Kāma:
While contemplating on the objects of the senses, one may develop attachment to them. Attachment leads to desire, and from desire arises anger.
Anger leads to cloudy judgment, which results in bewilderment of memory. When memory is bewildered, the intellect gets destroyed; and when the intellect is destroyed, one is ruined.
However, when guided by self-discipline, humility, and mindfulness, it helps develop emotional maturity. Harmonious family life, affectionate relationships, and aesthetic pursuit help cultivate empathy, tenderness, and gratitude- all essential for spiritual evolution. The highest form of Kāma or desire is the joy of devotion, love of Bhagwan, love of humanity, and love expressed through service. Through moderation, purity in relationships,
— Sanjay Mehta
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