Lure for money has been existing from time Immemorial! In the Ramayana Lakshmana tells Sri Rama, “ Dhana marjaya Kakkutsa dhanamula midamjagat antaram nabhi janami nirdhanasya mrutasyacha”--You have to earn money for it is the root cause of the world. I find no difference between the man without money and the dead! While money is important in life, too much money or too little of it creates problems! In the four ‘purusharthas’, Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha, Artha or money is very important next to Dharma. Without money Dana or charity cannot be made. Even Dharma cannot be maintained. Kama or desires can never be fulfilled. It is money that gives happiness and pleasures to the mortal in his daily existence. But is money the be all and the end all human existence? Man has become the slave of money and worshipper of Mammon, the God of Wealth! He has become Srikama, one who desires wealth! In other words, man has become the victim of materialism and has forgotten the roots of spiritualism in his own heart! He is prepared to do anything for the sake of money including murder! All values are forgotten and all rules violated just for the sake of money! It is a pitiable society that we see today that is engaged in a rat race for money! Where will this lead us to?
Sensing this ever existing danger to humanity, compassionate Sankara warns man to not go after money! Calling him a fool , Sankara wants him to burn away that blind passion for earning money in some way or other! “ mooda jahihi dhanagama thrushnam” Many earn money and we find corporates, the fabulously rich and various others that eke out their life by hard manual labor. It is not earning or accumulating wealth that is important. It is the manner and means by which you gather wealth that requires proper scrutiny! The word, ‘thrushna’ signifies thirst! It stands for desires that can never be satiated! Fulfilment of one desire leads to another endlessly. Therefore Sankara counsels control of desires. Develop good mind and try to remain desireless suggests Sankara. “ kuru sad buddhim manasi vithrushna.” Sankara dilates on the theory of Karma, the effect of one’s good and bad deeds in his previous innumerable births.
“ yal labhase nija karmopattham- that you receive as a result of your past karma- “ Vittam thena vinodaya chittam” be happy with the money that you receive as per your purva punya karma. As per the karma theory, our sufferings and joys are dictated by our bad and good deeds in the past. Our fortune, income, and everything is also decided by Karma! If you are eligible there can be a bonanza or a windfall! Otherwise you have to suffer in penury! However much you try, you will fail. At other times, without any effort, you climb the ladder of fame and prosperity! This is all because of Karma of which we are totally ignorant in this birth! Sankara reaffirms the part played by Karma in man’s life and directs him to be satisfied with what he gets according to his past karma. There are many examples of people who had nothing, but became millionaires by their hard work and luck! On the other hand, many, in spite of their opulence, plunged into dire poverty and grief! What is it due to? It is the consequence of their past Karma!
It is an illusion that money is instrumental for the happiness of man! Real happiness is entirely different! Money has been the source of sorrow always! Says a poet: “ arthanam arjanam dukkham”- It is very difficult to earn money. We know the hardship of the manual laborer who sweats to earn a little money! The others have to strain their intellect and business acumen to earn a lot! But it does not end there! “ arjithanancha rakshane”-protecting the wealth accumulated is another bugbear! We have seen the terrible attempts of crorepatis to convert black and unaccounted money into white soon after demonetization! Some have thrown away the notes in sheer desperation as they could not protect it! Money causes sorrow thus. “ Nase dukkham vyaye dukkham ki martham dukkha bhajanam?”-Man is afflicted with sorrow when it is lost as well as when it is spent away! The poet concludes by remarking” Why this money the source of perpetual sorrow?” So Sankara explains that one should not lose himself in pursuing money which is not his! Whatever is his due, he shall surely get and he should be perfectly satisfied with that. Whatever is not his due, he shall not get even by herculean efforts! There is no point in sweating out for that!
How true are the words of Adi Sankara to the present situation in society! People are mad after money and spare no effort to earn it through fair or foul means! We can understand the poor and the downtrodden in their effort to make money. But what about the millionaires and crorepatis exerting themselves to make more and more money though they could give away a part of it to charity and helping the needy and the deserving! “ Lakshmis thoya taranga bhanga chapala” says another poet. Lakshmi or Money is as unstable and momentary as the bubble in the wave! But the lure of money has become irresistible for man! Until man realizes the imperative need to curb the passion to earn more and more money, he cannot find real happiness and peace of mind! Let us think seriously about Sankara’s advice and conduct ourselves accordingly!
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