Bhaja Govindam Verse- 2

मूढ जहीहि धनागमतृष्णां

                      कुरु सद्बुद्धिं मनसि वितृष्णाम् ।

                         यल्लभसे निजकर्मोपात्तं

                       वित्तं तेन विनोदय चित्तम् ॥ २॥

                                                                         mUDha jahiihi dhanaagamatRishhNaaM
                                                                       kuru sadbuddhiM manasi vitRishhNaam.
                                                                                 yallabhase nijakarmopaattaM

vittaM tena vinodaya chittam. .. (2)

(mUDha = Oh fool!; jahiihi = jahi + iha, leave / give up + here (in this world); dhana = wealth; agama = coming / arrival; tR^ishhNaaM = thirst / desire; kuru = do; act; sadbuddhiM = sat.h + buddhiM, good + awareness (loosely speaking: mind); manasi = in the mind; vitR^ishhNaaM = a state without desires; yallabhase = yat.h + labhase, whatever + (you) obtain; nijakarma = nija + karma, one's + duty (normal work); upaattaM = obtained; vittaM = wealth; tena = by that; with that; vinodaya = divert / recreate (be happy); chittaM = mind.)

 (mUDha dhanaagama tR^ishhNaaM jahiihi = Oh fool, give up here the thirst to amass wealth; manasi vitR^ishhNaaM sadbuddhiM kuru = Getting rid of desire, fill (your) mind with good thoughts (on God); nija karmopaattam yad vittaM labhase = the wealth that is obtained as a result of one’s own karma; tena chittaM vinodaya = with that, entertain your mind.)

Again Sri Sankara calls a man ‘fool’: This time he addresses the man who is yearning for money! Money itself is not bad. But the ‘thrushna’, the relentless thirst for money could be a poison. Such a man could be easily called a fool! There is no harm in earning whatever money is obtained by doing honest work as per one’s dharma. But one shouldn’t be greedy.

It is an everyday affair: Killings for money, robbery, corruption and numerous financial crimes. The reason is the insatiable thirst for money. Man thinks that without money he cannot lead a reasonable life. This is true also. But when he finds his own means are limited, he tries to grab others’ property; if this is not easy, he even tries violent means. Sometimes he also ends up in trouble, along with his victim. Human mind refuses to set a limit for requirement of wealth. The shocking fact is that crimes are often committed not by poor people, but by well-to-do men who are not satisfied with their present position!

The word ‘dhana’ here not only means money, but also all other human pursuits for enjoyment and collection of wealth. The important thing is to isolate our mind from material possession. The materials of enjoyment are neither good nor bad. But we should not attach ourselves to them. This is the secret. The Acharya here doesn’t condemn money or wealth. Neither does he differ with our fair means of acquiring it. What is objectionable is the greed. There is no end to greed, if we give it a free hand. Very few people are satisfied with what they get. No amount will satisfy them. So, for having a balanced mind and a peaceful life, there has to be a line marking the limit. Sri Sankara nicely sets it here: Obtain your lot by fair means by doing your legitimate duties; but do not fall for greed. Be happy with whatever you attain through your limited and fair means and lead a contented life. This is the message. The mind which is isolated from greed should be filled with good thought; i.e, turned towards God. Mind being always in a restless state, needs something to entertain itself. Good thoughts and love of God should fill the vacuum created by lack of greed for material enjoyments. Wealth thus acquired without greed, through fair and legitimate means and meant for distribution to the needy, is good.