Arth the Most Important Purushaarth

In one of my previous posts, "Four Purushaarth", I wrote that Arth (wealth) is the most important thing in one's life. Without it nothing is possible, neither to satisfy desires, nor to do Dharm Karm and thus not to get Moksh which are the four important Purushaarth of a human being's life. In Kali Yug the wealth is considered second to Bhagavaan, even if not equal to Bhagavaan

Today I am citing two great incidents from our two most important scriptures - Vaalmeeki Raamaayan and Mahaabhaarat, which prove that even Bhagavaan and Devtaa-like men also considered wealth the most important in a human life.

From Vaalmeeki Raamaayan
In Vaalmeeki Raaamaayan, 6/33, when Raam and Raavan war was going on, once Meghnaad plays Maayaa trick with Raam. He creates a Maayaa (illusionary) Seetaa, and attempts to kill Her in front of Vaanar army. Hanumaan was in the front of the army so he got very angry seeing this. He abused Meghnaad very much but there was no effect of his abuses on him. At last pulling Her hair, Meghnaad killed Her. Seeing Seetaa killed Hanumaan got extremely sad, lost control and thought - "What we had come for here, to take Seetaa back, and the same Seetaa is killed. What is the use of our fighting with Raavan now? Let us go to Raam and report this to Him." So he went to Raam and reported it to Him. As was expected from Bhagavaan in human form, Raam immediately got unconscious hearing this news.

Seeing this Lakshman  also got very sad. He lifted Raam in his arms and started consoling Him with his philosophical ideas. At that time along with other reasons, Dharm etc, he says to Raam - "I told you about the demerits of leaving wealth even before. What intelligence did you use when you were coming to forest? Whoever has the wealth, his all aims, Kaam, Dharm, and Moksh are fulfilled, while a poor man cannot fulfill his aims in spite of doing his best. Happiness, desire, pride, Dharm, anger, peace, Daan (charity) all qualities remain only with rich people. Even for Tapaswee, this Lok becomes sorrowful without wealth. The same sorrows have destroyed your life also - without wealth which you don't have. As in bad days even auspicious planets do not stay along with a human being in the same way no happiness stay with a poor person.

There will be friends only for a person who has wealth, there will be relatives only for a person who has wealth. Only a wealthy person will be praised as embodiment of manliness and storehouse of all knowledge. Only a wealthy person is called valorous, source of fortune, and repository of all virtues. Only a wealthy person remains a person whose duties, desires and earthly needs are all effectively looked after and all the needy go around him in supplication. A poor person could not achieve any favorable results even he is ready to strive hard."

Thus Lakshman spoke to Raam about wealth.

From Mahaabhaarat
After Mahaabhaarat war, Ashwamedh Parv, 7/4, had ended and Yudhishthir was very sad after killing his relatives, friends, Guru etc people, Muni Vyaas Jee suggested him to do Ashwamedh Yagya. But Yudhishthir did not have so  much money so that he could do any kind of Yagya - Ashwamedh Yagya or Sarvmedh Yagya etc. Yudhishthir said to Vyaas Jee - "I know that all kinds of sins can be purified by sacrifice, austerity and donations, but I don't have money even for a small sacrifice. Duyodhan has emptied the royal treasury. Tell me what to do." Then Vyaas Jee suggests him to bring the gold left by Braahman in Raajaa Marutt's Yagya. Thus Vyaas Jee had to make wealth available to Yudhishthir to get rid of his sadness and sins.


Sushma Gupta
www.sushmajee.com