Ashtavakra Samhita Chapter 10 Verse 1 - Giving up Dharma, Artha and Kama
Summary: Desire for worldly enjoyment is an enemy. Wealth is a source of misfortune and suffering. Obligatory duty (dharma) is the cause of both. Give up desire, wealth and duty and be indifferent to them everywhere. Householders have an obligation to pursue the four aims of human life namely obligatory duties (Dharma), wealth (artha), worldly enjoyment (kama) and liberation (moksha).
Verse 0N
vihaaya vairinaam kaamamartham chaanarthasankulam
dharmamapyetayorhetum sarvatraanadaram kuru
Translation
Desire for worldly enjoyment is an enemy. Wealth is a source of misfortune and suffering. Obligatory duty (dharma) is the cause of both. Give up desire, wealth and duty and be indifferent to them everywhere
Commentary
Giving up Dharma, Artha and Kama
Householders have an obligation to pursue the four aims of human life namely obligatory duties (Dharma), wealth (artha), worldly enjoyment (kama) and liberation (moksha). By performing their duties, fulfilling their obligations to gods, ancestors and others through sacrificial actions and abiding in Dharma they are expected to obtain either a better life in the next birth or liberation. For them Dharma serves as the foundation to pursue the other three aims. In other words, they have to seek wealth or pleasures or enjoyments through righteous means only by following the code of conduct as prescribed by the Dharma Shastras and leading a virtuous life. Thus, Dharma serves as the foundation and the shield which protect them from falling into sinful ways and suffering from the consequences. It may not bring them liberation, but ensure peace and happiness and the protection of gods.
However, what serves well in worldly life becomes an obstacle in spiritual life where one has to renounce desires and desire-ridden actions, material wealth and worldly enjoyments to pursue only liberation. A renunciant has to lead a pure and austere life. If he has been a householder in the past, he has to give up his old ways and habits, and all forms of seeking and striving. For him, dharma, artha and kama are obstacles only because they interfere with his aim of liberation and attaining purity and oneness.
Kama is an enemy because desire in any form produces sinful consequences and binds the beings to samsara. Wealth is a source of misfortune and suffering because it leads to pride, egoism, envy, greed, selfishness and other evils. Dharma is the source of both evils because sacrificial duties are meant to fulfill one’s desires and enjoy peace and happiness, and wealth is required to perform them. Therefore, as long as one pursues Dharma, one cannot avoid the pursuit of wealth and desire-ridden actions.
Thus, while Dharma, artha and kama are meant to help householders fulfill their obligations and serve the aims of creation, they cannot be pursued on the path of liberation. A renunciant has to avoid them and pursue only liberation. He has no duties or obligations. After taking the oath of renunciation he has to extinguish desires and attachments and cultivate detachment, sameness and equanimity. He has to practice celibacy and lead a simple life, giving up all material possessions and living on alms to keep himself alive. The word “sarvatra” suggests that renunciation of these should be unconditional and universal. For the renunciants there is no choice. They should not entertain even the thought of seeking them for any purpose.