Trivarga, Tri-varga: 18 definitions
Introduction:
Trivarga means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Trivarga (त्रिवर्ग).—Three ends of human endeavour, Dharma, Artha and Kāma; was taught to Prahlāda by his tutors. This did not appeal to him. It should be a means to realise Hari, according to Prahlāda.1 Even the householder, it is said, should not exert himself too much for Trivarga. But it is generally observed by householders.2 A Bhikṣu is expected to discard it.3 To one devoid of Dharma, the other two, Kāma and Artha, are of one use.4
- 1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa VII. 5. 52-53; 6. 26.
- 2) Ib. VII. 14. 10; VIII. 16. 11. Viṣṇu-purāṇa III. 11. 6.
- 3) Bhāgavata-purāṇa VII. 15. 36; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 50. 52; 51. 15.
- 4) Matsya-purāṇa 29. 3; 53. 4, 45; 212. 3-9.
Trivarga (त्रिवर्ग) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. VI.10.59) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Trivarga) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.
The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Trivarga (त्रिवर्ग) refers to the “three aims of life” [viz., Dharma, Artha and Kāma], and is mentioned in verse 2.29 of the Aṣṭāṅgahṛdayasaṃhitā (Sūtrasthāna) by Vāgbhaṭa.—Accordingly, “One shall not strain one's senses, nor shall one pamper them too much. One shall not turn to an undertaking devoid of the three aims of life [viz., trivarga], not setting them at variance either”.
Note: Trivarga (Tibetan: thsoms gsum), prop, “the three sets”, refers to the three objectives of existence described in Hindu philosophy as virtue (dharma), profit (artha), and love (kāma).
Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.
Shyanika-shastra (the science of Hawking and Hunting)
Trivarga (त्रिवर्ग) refers to the “three great objects of life”, according to the Śyainika-śāstra: a Sanskrit treatise dealing with the divisions and benefits of Hunting and Hawking, written by Rājā Rudradeva (or Candradeva) in possibly the 13th century.—Accordingly, “[...] If hunting is to be altogether prohibited, how can meat, skin, horn and other articles prescribed for sacrifices be obtained? Similarly, by sleeping in the day time, the corporeal body, which is the means for attaining the three great objects of life (trivarga-sādhana), is preserved from such diseases as indigestion, and so on. [...]”.
Shyanika-shastra (श्यैनिकशास्त्र, śyainikaśāstra) deals with ancient Indian skill of hawking/falconry (one of the ways of hunting) which were laid down in a systematic manner in various Sanskrit treatises. It also explains the philosophy behind how the pleasures derived from sense-experience could lead the way to liberation.
Vedanta (school of philosophy)
Trivarga (त्रिवर्ग) refers to the “three goals of life” (which a true Yogī is not concerned with), according to the Aṣṭāvakragītā (5th century BC), an ancient text on spirituality dealing with Advaita-Vedānta topics.—Accordingly, [as Janaka says to Aṣṭavakra]: “Using the tweezers of the knowledge of the truth I have managed to extract the painful thorn of endless opinions from the recesses of my heart. [...] For me remaining in myself, there is no need for talk of the three goals of life (trivarga), of yoga or of knowledge [alaṃ trivargakathayā yogasya kathayā'pyalam]”.
Vedanta (वेदान्त, vedānta) refers to a school of orthodox Hindu philosophy (astika), drawing its subject-matter from the Upanishads. There are a number of sub-schools of Vedanta, however all of them expound on the basic teaching of the ultimate reality (brahman) and liberation (moksha) of the individual soul (atman).
Kama-shastra (the science of Love-making)
Trivarga (त्रिवर्ग) refers to “Dharma, Artha and Kāma”, according to chapter 1 of the Kāmasūtra: a Sanskrit text dealing with eroticism, sexuality and emotional fulfillment in life; being written by Mallanāga Vātsyāyana in the 2nd century A.D. it belongs to the Kāmaśāstra branch of literature which deals with the ancient Indian science of love-making.—Accordingly, “In the beginning, the Lord of Beings created men and women, and in the form of commandments in one hundred thousand chapters laid down rules for regulating their existence with regard to Dharma, Artha, and Kāma (trivarga). Some of these commandments, namely those which treated of Dharma, were separately written by Svāyaṃbhu Manu; those that related to Artha were compiled by Bṛhaspati; and those that referred to Kāma were expounded by Nandī, the follower of Mahādeva, in one thousand chapters”.
Kamashastra (कामशास्त्र, kāmaśāstra) deals with ancient Indian science of love-making, passion, emotions and other related topics dealing with the pleasures of the senses.
India history and geography
Tri-varga.—(SII 1), the three objects of human life. Note: tri-varga is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.
The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
trivarga (त्रिवर्ग).—m (S) Three classes or sets: three objects of human desire or pursuit, viz. money, woman or pleasure, virtue: three conditions of a king or state, viz. prosperity, evenness, decay; or loss, gain, equality: the three qualities of nature, viz. purity, blindness, depravity: the three myrobalans &c. 2 Three persons or individuals, as āmhī trivarga We three.
trivarga (त्रिवर्ग).—m Three classes. Three persons.
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Sanskrit dictionary
Trivarga (त्रिवर्ग).—
1) the three objects of wordly existence, i. e. धर्म, अर्थ (dharma, artha), and काम (kāma); अनेन धर्मः सविशेषमद्य मे त्रिवर्गसारः प्रतिभाति भाविनि (anena dharmaḥ saviśeṣamadya me trivargasāraḥ pratibhāti bhāvini) Kumārasambhava 5.38; अन्योन्यानुबन्धम् (anyonyānubandham) (trivargam) Kau. A.1.7; प्राप त्रिवर्गं बुबुधेऽत्रिवर्गम् (prāpa trivargaṃ bubudhe'trivargam) (mokṣam) Bu. Ch.2.41.
2) the three states of loss, stability, and increase; क्षयः स्थानं च वृद्धिश्च त्रिवर्गो नीतिवेदिनाम् (kṣayaḥ sthānaṃ ca vṛddhiśca trivargo nītivedinām) Ak.
3) the three qualities of nature, i. e. सत्त्व, रजस् (sattva, rajas), and तमस् (tamas).
4) the three higher castes.
5) the three myrobalans.
6) propriety, decorum.
Derivable forms: trivargaḥ (त्रिवर्गः).
Trivarga is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms tri and varga (वर्ग).
Trivarga (त्रिवर्ग).—m.
(-rgaḥ) 1. Three human objects or pursuits as love, duty, and wealth. 2. Three conditions of a king or state; prosperity, evenness, and decay; or loss, gain, equality, &c. 3. The three qualities of nature, purity, blindness, and depravity. 4. The three myrobalans. 5. The three spices: see trikaṭu. 6. propriety, good behavior. E. tri three, and varga a class; a class or aggregate of three.
Trivarga (त्रिवर्ग).—m. any assemblage of three things, e. g. wealth, pleasure, and virtue, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 2, 224; [Daśakumāracarita] in
Trivarga is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms tri and varga (वर्ग).
Trivarga (त्रिवर्ग).—[masculine] any group of three, [especially] the three aims (virtue, pleasure, & wealth, cf. caturvarga), the three qualities (cf. triguṇa), or the three higher castes.
Trivarga (त्रिवर्ग):—[=tri-varga] [from tri] m. the three things, [Kātyāyana-śrauta-sūtra; Lāṭyāyana] etc. (= -gaṇa, [Manu-smṛti; Yājñavalkya; Mahābhārata] etc.; = -guṇa, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]; the 3 conditions, ‘progress, stationariness, and decline’, [xii, 2664]; the 3 higher castes, xiii; = -madhura, [Suśruta vi, 41]; = -kaṭu, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]; = -phalā, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.])
Trivarga (त्रिवर्ग):—[tri-varga] (rgaḥ) 1. m. Three human objects of pursuit, virtue, love, wealth; three conditions; three qualities.
Trivarga (त्रिवर्ग):—(tri + varga) m. eine Zusammenstellung von drei Dingen, Stoffen u.s.w. [Kātyāyana’s Śrautasūtrāṇi 8, 6, 11.] [LĀṬY. 4, 12, 9.] dattvā trivargaṃ madhuraṃ ca kṛtsnam (s. madhuvarga) [Suśruta 2, 449, 8.] = triphalā und kaṭutrika (vgl. trikaṭu) [Medinīkoṣa g. 35.] = dharma, kāma und artha Tugend, Vergnügen und Nutzen (vgl. trigaṇa) [Amarakoṣa 2, 7, 57.] [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 1382.] [Medinīkoṣa] [Manu’s Gesetzbuch 2, 224. 7, 27.] [Yājñavalkya’s Gesetzbuch 1, 74.] [Mahābhārata 1, 6844. 13, 2028. fg.] [Harivaṃśa 4135. 11421.] [Rāmāyaṇa 1, 6, 5.] [Kumārasaṃbhava 5, 38.] [Kathāsaritsāgara 24, 151.] [Bhāgavatapurāṇa 2, 8, 21. 8, 16, 11.] [Mārkāṇḍeyapurāṇa 21, 71. 76. 34, 10.] = kṣaya, sthāna und vṛddhi Verlust, status quo und Gewinn [Amarakoṣa 2, 8, 1, 19.] [Medinīkoṣa] [Mahābhārata 12, 2664.] = sattva, rajas und tamas (s. triguṇa) [Medinīkoṣa] die drei oberen Kasten [Mahābhārata 13, 6464. 6605.] = sunīti gutes Benehmen [Śabdaratnāvalī im Śabdakalpadruma]
--- OR ---
Trivarga (त्रिवर्ग):—[Hemacandra] [Yogaśāstra 4, 12.]
Trivarga (त्रिवर्ग):—m. eine Zusammenstellung von drei Dingen. Insbes. dharma , kāma und artha Verdienst , Vergnügen und Nutzen ; kṣaya , sthāna und vṛddhi Verlust , status quo und Gewinn ; sattva , jajas und tamas und die drei oberen Kasten.
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
Nepali dictionary
Trivarga (त्रिवर्ग):—n. the three objects of worldly existence;
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches (+0): Vargas, Varga, Tri, TR.
Starts with (+0): Trivargacintana, Trivargakatha, Trivargaparina, Trivargapratipatti, Trivargasadhaka, Trivargasadhaka.
Full-text (+21): Traivargika, Trivargaparina, Traivargya, Trigana, Trivargacintana, Varga, Trivarg, Tirivarkkam, Pratastrivarga, Caturvarga, Pariposhana, Bhitti, Prastara, Anubaddha, Anyonyanubaddha, Trivargakatha, Artha, Lainga, Upapitha, Parina.
Relevant text
Search found 66 books and stories containing Trivarga, Tri-varga, Tri-vargas; (plurals include: Trivargas, vargas, vargases). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Kamashastra Discourse (Life in Ancient India) (by Nidheesh Kannan B.)
9. Kāma among Puruṣārthas < [Chapter 4 - Positioning Kāma among the Puruṣārthas]
3. Concept of Dharma (Introduction) < [Chapter 4 - Positioning Kāma among the Puruṣārthas]
Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)
Amarakoshodghatana of Kshirasvamin (study) (by A. Yamuna Devi)
Politics and Administration (2): Defence and Foreign Policy < [Chapter 3 - Social Aspects]
A Reinterpretation of Hindu Spirituality for Addressing Environmental Problems < [Volume 12, Issue 5 (2021)]
Bhagavad Gītā as a Dialogical Space in Philosophical Counseling < [Volume 16, Issue 3 (2025)]
Yajnavalkya-smriti with Mitakshara and Viramitrodaya (by J. R. Gharpure)
Verse 1.74 < [Chapter 3 - Marriage]
Brahma Sutras (Govinda Bhashya) (by Kusakratha das Brahmacari)
Adhikarana 4: Personality of Brahman Confirmed by the Vedic Scriptures < [Adhyaya 1, Pada 1]