Bhaja Govindam Verse 6 Extra

अर्थमनर्थं भावय नित्यं नास्तिततः सुखलेशः सत्यम्।
पुत्रादपि धनभाजां भीतिः सर्वत्रैषा विहिता रीतिः॥
arthamanarthaṃ bhāvaya nityaṃ nāstitataḥ sukhaleśaḥ satyam |
putrādapi dhanabhājāṃ bhītiḥ sarvatraiṣā vihitā rītiḥ ||

  • artham: wealth; anarthaṃ: is useless (meaningless) or brings sorrow; bhāvaya: reflect or think!; nityaṃ: always; nāsti: there is not; tataḥ: from that (wealth); sukhaleśaḥ: even a little bit of happiness; satyam: (this is) the truth; putrādapi: even from (their own) son; dhanabhājāṃ: for the wealthy; bhītiḥ (bhavati): fear arises; sarvatra: everywhere; eṣā: this; vihitā (bhavati): exists or is established; rītiḥ: way or manner

Summary: Delusion of Wealth and Fear that Wealth Brings
Always reflect on the fact that wealth is ultimately disastrous and meaningless.
There is absolutely not even a trace of true happiness to be found in accumulating it.
Everywhere it is the established way of the world that the wealthy live in constant fear, even of their own sons.

  • The Delusion of Wealth: Swamiji addresses another profound delusion surrounding wealth. The most common and deepest delusion is the mistaken belief that money is the direct cause of happiness.
  • The Logic of Co-presence and Co-absence: To disprove this delusion, Swamiji applies the logical principle of anvaya vyatireka. anvaya means co-presence (meaning wherever money is present, happiness must be present), and vyatireka means co-absence (meaning wherever money is absent, happiness must be absent). If this relationship held true, we could definitively say money causes happiness. However, since this logic completely fails in the real world, money can never be considered the actual source of happiness.
  • Wealth as a Source of Pain: śaṅkarācārya takes this a step further. Money is not merely incapable of providing happiness; it frequently becomes the very source of unhappiness, distress, and intense pain.
  • The Havoc of Family Feuds: Swamiji illustrates this with the example of a wealthy family. Even when the father is only sixty years old, children begin indirectly discussing his will and property division. Arguments erupt over who deserves a larger share—one son might claim a larger piece for taking care of the father, other siblings demand equal shares, and daughters debate their legal rights. When the frustrated father threatens to donate his wealth to an ashram, the family coldly retorts that the ashram should also be the one to feed, treat, and cremate him. Swamiji also references a prominent Indian family in England whose members dragged each other to court, completely abandoning love and care because of wealth. Thus, money, which is often thought of as a source of comfort, wreaks havoc and destroys peace of mind.
  • The True Purpose of Money and Verse Explanation: Swamiji explains that money’s only legitimate role is to be utilized for noble work, which yields citta śuddhi, puṇyam, and jñānam, ultimately granting peace of mind. The verse perfectly encapsulates this: tataḥ sukhaleśaḥ nāsti (from wealth, there is not even an iota of happiness) and this is satyam (the truth). We are instructed: arthaṃ anarthaṃ ca bhāvaya nityaṃ (constantly remember that wealth often becomes anartha, a cause of distress). Because of wealth, rich parents live in fear even of their own children (putrādapi dhanabhājāṃ bhītiḥ), and this is the general rule everywhere (sarvatra eṣā rītiḥ vihitā). The only exception is a family grounded in dharma, saṃskāra, and devotion. Swamiji concludes with a vital piece of advice: never pray for lakṣmī (wealth) alone; always invite lakṣmī alongside nārāyaṇa (bhagavan). If bhagavan is present at home, money will never become a problem.