Artha is a rich and polysemic term in Sanskrit, indicating, variously, “purpose,” “goal,” “meaning,” “thing,” “object,” “wealth,” or “acquisition.” Relevant for the discussion here are last of these meanings, usually treated as a part of the much-celebrated Hindu “axiology” known as the “goals of man” (puruṣārtha; note the usage of artha here as “goal”): gain (artha), pleasure (kāma), righteous action (dharma), and spiritual liberation (mokṣa). This scheme is not found in the vedic texts, but is introduced in the early ritual and Smṛti literature. A notab…