Even from the time of the Ramayana during the Treta Yuga, Dhana--money was considered to be very important! Lakshmana tells Sri Rama, “ Dhana marjaya KaKutsa Dhana moolam idam jagat--antaram nabhijanami nirdhanasya mrutasyacha”--you must earn money,oh KaKutsa! Money is the root cause of the world! I don't find any difference between the dead and the poor! Our ancestors knew the significance of money in the life of every individual. That is why among the four purusharthas money or 'artha’ is given the second place next to Dharma which occupied the first eminent position. Without 'artha’ no Dharma can be performed! Kama or desire fails miserably and can never be fulfilled without money or ‘ artha’. Without Dharma and non fulfilment of desires 'moksha or salvation can only be dream! Even the ascetics or sanyasis suffer in the absence of money at their disposal For daily routine and other activities money is absolutely essential! But money is unstable! It moves from one hand to the other! It has value only in circulation like the blood in our body! The rich are extolled as great by the world.They are imbued with qualities that they do not deserve! It is money in their possession or wealth that entices others to sing in their praise! That is the way of the world!
Adi Sankara hits the nail on the head when he describes the importance of money in the daily life of man! Man has respect,dignity, value, love, and affection as long as he is a earning member of the family! “yavad vittoparjana saktaha tavan Nina parivaro raktaha…..” In other words the love and affection rained on man is directly proportional to the amount of money he earns, spends and saves! The prime stage of life gone, when he is in the evening of his life, when he becomes old, senile, when old age obscures his senses, is he looked upon with the same love and respect? Sankara points out that it is not the case! The person has retired, his money is in the hands of his children, he has no job, he sits In a corner of the house expecting help from others in the family. His wife neglects him, brothers and sisters stay away from him, children have no time to talk or spend with him! Mostly the individual is at the mercy of others in his own family! What a miserable situation for the head of the family in his own house! What Sankara has described in his Bhajagovinda stotra is literally correct in the modern society of the present century! It has gone a step further as children, unable to look after their aged parents put them in old age homes and visit them occasionally while the parents pine for them every moment!
When the pond is full of water it is a feast and treat for the eye! It attracts a number frogs which produce a deafening sound. The same frogs mercilessly desert the pond when it dries up! When sustenance is gone it is difficult to remain in the same place. Similarly a sugar candy is surrounded by hundreds of ants and they are lost in the enjoyment of the sweetness of the candy. Slowly and steadily as the candy dissolves we have to search where the ants have disappeared! These are laws of Nature! But it is surprising that relationship, love, affection, kindness and attachment are intricately interwoven with money in the life of man! According to a Sanskrit adage, “ Udyogam Purusha lakshanam"--Employment is the requisite for an individual. It is only through a job a person can earn money in a righteous manner. He has to engage himself in any activity in any field like agriculture, engineering, science, arts,music and others. The criterion for dignity,respect love and affection from the family and society is the money that you earn! If you are unemployed and eke out a hand to mouth existence nobody cares! The Tatas and Birlas and the Anbanis of today are mainly revered for the money they have apart from their business acumen and the capacity to influence the economy of the Nation!
But we should remember that money is not the be all and end all in life! Sankara merely describes the the fate of man when he is unable to earn money and has retired from service. When finance is insufficient for family expenses, education of children and their marriages or for buying a house family people are agitated! Now that the head of the family is not earning a good salary, their interest, love, affection and concern for him suffer a little! The great philosopher Sankara himself feels pity for the status of the man who has lost the capacity to earn! Where is the necessity for Sankara to feel sorry for this man?
It is because Sankara does not want man to waste his life in memorizing a grammar rule! That is not going to help him in his after life! Instead, compassionate Sankara directs him to worship Govinda again and again in his terminal stage so that he can get moksha or salvation! It is the quality of great sages to turn worldly wise men to spirituality. Indirectly Sankara counsels the foolish man to realize the futility of human relationships which lay emphasis on money only! Worshipping Govinda Shall make his life peaceful rather than earning and aspiring for elusive money!
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