Artha
(अर्थ)Literal Meaning
Meaning; wealth and prosperity
Etymology & Sanskrit Root
Sanskrit 'artha' (purpose, wealth); the second of the four purushartha, encompassing material prosperity, career, and resources needed to sustain family and society, considered a legitimate and necessary life goal when pursued within dharma.
Spiritual Insight & Context
The Arthashastra, a classical treatise on statecraft and economics, demonstrates that ancient Hindu thought treated wealth-building as a serious discipline worthy of systematic study, not a distraction from spirituality.