Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 83, Shloka 38
त्र्यशीतितमः सर्गः (Sarga 83)
Hanumān Reports Sītā’s ‘Slaying’; Rāma Collapses; Lakṣmaṇa’s Counter-Discourse on Dharma and Artha
यस्यार्थाःधर्मकामार्थास्तस्यसर्वंप्रदक्षिणम् ।अधनेनार्थकामेननार्थश्शक्योविचिन्वता ।।6.83.38।।
yasyārthā dharmakāmārthās tasya sarvaṃ pradakṣiṇam |
adhanena arthakāmena nārthaḥ śakyo vicinvatā ||6.83.38||
Für den, der Reichtum besitzt, verlaufen Dharma und Kāma glatt und wenden sich zum Guten. Doch für den Mittellosen, der nach Reichtum begehrt und sich in der Suche abmüht, ist Reichtum nicht leicht zu erlangen.
For one who has wealth all his actions of dharma would give pleasure and favourable. One who has no wealth and is worrying about it can't attain it.
FAQs
It asserts that dharma in practice often needs material stability; anxiety and deprivation can obstruct right living. The ethical takeaway is to secure means without abandoning righteousness.
Rāvaṇa argues from the framework of the puruṣārthas that wealth enables both duty and enjoyment.
Balance (samatva): holding dharma primary while recognizing the supportive role of artha.