Page 97 - Hinduism

sake of wealth is rightly condemned as an adharmavan and anti-social. The householder should be hospitable, helpful to the needy and do his duty to the devas and pitṛs as the whole world is one. There is really no difference between individual and secular or laukika duties and special or spiritual or vaidika duties as every duty is finally an offering to the Deity. Karmas are of three kinds, viz., nitya karmas or daily duties like sandhya, naimittika karmas or occasioned duties like ceremonies to pitṛs and kāmya karmas or optional works. While the first two are obligatory, the third is optional.
Kāma is the attainment of the pleasures of life and is the third purusārtha. When a man desires children, health or wealth, he does certain karmas or yajñas to please the devas and gets the desired boons. People pray to God for boons and He grants their prayers. Kāmya karmas are on the whole for enjoying the pleasures of life here and in Svarga. But they are trivial and transcient. Therefore a wise man should renounce these pleasures and seek eternal happiness which is only in mokṣa.
Kaiṅkarya or social and spiritual service to all Jīvas is work raised to the level of worship of God. The great devotees of God like the Ālvārs and the Ācāryas sought God in all beings and all beings in God and raised the idea of service to the level of kaiṅkarya. Self-surrender to God is the highest purusārtha or supreme end of conduct. God is the fulfilment of all the purusārthas, as He is sarvakāma 97