In this Bhaja Govindam verse, the Jagadguru explains the true nature of money. All of us give great importance to money in our lives. We think that if we have money, we can enjoy all the comforts we desire freely. If we do not have enough money, we feel afraid. But here, the Swamiji says that money is of no real use. He also says that it does not provide even the slightest happiness. Furthermore, he says that a wealthy person even fears his own son. Let us see how.
Money is extremely unstable. Even among the names of Goddess Lakshmi, there are names like “Om Chanchalayai Namah” and “Om Chapalayai Namah,” indicating her fickle nature. The money that is in your hands today—no one can say in whose hands it will be tomorrow. We are seeing daily the ups and downs of the stock market. In moments, wealth worth lakhs and crores disappears. Likewise, the happiness that comes from money is also just an illusion. Sri Babuji Maharaj used to say—if a rich man traveling in first class on an airplane suddenly gets severe stomach pain, will that luxurious seat give him any comfort?
On the other hand, a person without money can sleep peacefully even on the roadside. But one who has more money than necessary—where is sleep for him? Every moment he fears from where someone may come and steal his money. Sri Babuji Maharaj used to narrate an incident. A merchant had the habit of stitching a cloth pouch inside his dhoti and keeping money in it. Once, he had to sleep on a railway platform. How could he sleep? He sat in fear the whole night, and the moment he dozed off from exhaustion, a thief who had been watching him cut his cloth with a blade. Unfortunately, it injured him in a sensitive place, and he ended up in the hospital.
Not just that—one who thinks “this money is mine, mine” even fears his own son. When he is in middle age, he fears that his young son may waste his wealth on luxuries. In old age, if he hands over all his property to his son, he fears that he may be thrown out with nothing. At an age when he should peacefully chant “Rama, Krishna,” he instead struggles with documents, income tax, and worries endlessly. “Vriddhas tavat chintasaktah” — again, the Jagadguru says this.
Moreover, if we do not have proper samskaras (impressions from past lives), money brings out all the negative qualities hidden within us. As long as a man lives with a meager salary, he thinks, “everyone is mine, what I have should be shared with others.” He showers love and affection. He even preserves a little cooked food as prasadam and eats it the next day. But if the same person suddenly gains wealth, everyone around him starts appearing as enemies. It feels as if the whole world is waiting to rob him. Even one who donates lakhs and crores for fame or merit becomes restless if a small spoon or cloth goes missing in his house. He does not hesitate to accuse anyone—from servants to his own son and daughter-in-law—of theft.
Why does this fear arise even towards one’s own people? If we examine, as long as one has strength and authority, without any sense of “this is ours,” he behaves arrogantly with the attitude, “this is all mine, I will use it as I wish,” even ignoring his wife and children. Later, in old age, when strength fades and memory weakens, fear arises that his children may behave the same way and take everything away. But one who from the beginning thinks, “this is all God’s prasadam; this family too is His gift,” and lives with the feeling “this is ours,” consulting wife and children in all matters, instills the same values in them. Then there is no fear that they will snatch anything away. Duryodhana, who thought “this is mine, all rights belong to me,” lived in constant anxiety even in a palace. The Pandavas, who thought “this is ours, everyone is ours,” lived peacefully even in forests.
Then a question arises—how is it wrong to have ambition to grow? But we have made the mistake of measuring growth only in terms of money. The one who is called the richest in the world today—what guarantee is there that he will remain so tomorrow? Someone else will surpass him. This is an endless race. Again, the Jagadguru says about this race: as long as a person is engaged in earning wealth, his family shows affection. Once his body becomes old and weak, no one even asks about his well-being. Then what has he really achieved?
In this race, we forget our true goal and the purpose of life. No matter how much we earn, in the end, we must leave empty-handed. No one has ever taken even a single coin from here to the other world. Even if one could, it would not be valid there. That is why the Jagadguru says: “Do not be proud of wealth, people, or youth. Time destroys everything in a moment. Realize that all this is illusion and strive to attain the state of Brahman.”
In the Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 16, Lord Krishna says that thoughts like “I have gained this wealth today, I will fulfill all my desires, I have this wealth and will gain more in the future” arise from demonic nature. Such people think, “I killed this enemy, I will kill others; I am powerful, happy, wealthy, superior,” and fall into delusion and ultimately into downfall.
Then how should we view and use wealth? Sri Babuji Maharaj said: “A bank employee handles lakhs of rupees daily, but has no attachment to it. The moment attachment arises, he ends up in jail. Similarly, a devotee should act with responsibility and care in worldly life, but without attachment. Consider yourself a trustee of wealth, not its owner.”
Bhartruhari said that wealth has three paths: charity, enjoyment, or destruction. If one neither gives nor enjoys, the wealth is lost in the third way. Among these, charity is the best. That too should be done without desire for fame or reward, and with proper understanding of time, place, and recipient, as taught in the Bhagavad Gita. Enjoying what one has is the middle path. Otherwise, wealth is lost to thieves, rulers, or fire.
Our culture gives more importance to knowledge than wealth. Wealth earns respect only in one’s locality, and that too temporarily. But a learned person is respected everywhere. Money may not be useful in other countries, but knowledge is universally valuable.
Then what is true wealth? What remains with us forever? Sri Gurudev said, “The wealth of Nama Smarana (remembrance of the Divine Name) is your true wealth.” “Keep increasing the treasure of the Divine Name.” Time spent in remembrance of God and satsang is accumulated in your eternal account. In this Kali Yuga, the only wealth worth earning is the wealth of Nama Smarana. There is no other way to cross worldly bondage, as taught in the Kali Santarana Upanishad.
