Money is not the END

The scriptures tell us about the four purusharthas (objectives of human pursuit) – Kama (material possessions), Artha (money), Dharma (goodness) and Moksha (liberation).

It is recommended that with resources, one should generate money. With money, one should do good and thereby liberate oneself from samsara (cycle of births and deaths).

But how should one go about making money over a long term ?

During the churning of the Ocean of Milk (Kshirasagar) by the Gods and Demons to draw out Goddess Lakshmi and the Nectar, 12 products first came out. Then came Lakshmi. Finally, surfaced the jar of nectar. But only the Gods could partake of it as the demons were distracted by Mohini.

In the Hindu pantheon, Lord Vishnu is responsible for perseveration of order and the nectar symbolises stability.

But there is more to life than money.

Once, Satyabhama, Lord Krishna’s wife, was giving away alms when sage Narada came by. “What should I offer you ?” She asked.

Narada said,”Whatever is most precious to you.”

Satyabhama thought and thought and realized that Krishna was ‘most precious’ to her. But she didn’t want to give Krishna to Narada. “So give me something equal in weight to him”,Narada suggested.

Satyabhama agreed to weigh against the gold that she had and so, a balance was set up.

With Krishna sitting on one side, Satyabhama began putting her gold ornaments on the other pan. But Krishna’s side stayed at the bottom even when she had put all her jewellery.

At that time, Rukmini, another of Krishna’s wife came there. She removed all the jewellery from the pan and put a ‘Tulsi’ leaf in its place after uttering Krishna’s name. The balance was achieved !

In the end, nothing else but what you did, with your wealth will matter.