Greed

Bhārata Sāvitrī

Bhārata Sāvitrī

Śrī Vedavyāsa’s final message to humanity in Mahābhārata.

Excerpted from the Svargārohana Parva, 5.47–51.

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nārāyaṇamayaṁ dhīrāḥ paśyanti paramārthinaḥ

nārāyaṇamayaṁ dhīrāḥ paśyanti paramārthinaḥ |
jagad dhanamayaṁ lubdhāḥ kāmukāḥ kāminīmayam ||
(Unknown source)

“The wise, seekers of the highest attainment, see the world to be full of Nārāyaṇa [i.e., pervaded by Nārāyaṇa], the greedy [however, see the world to be] full of wealth, and the lustful [see the world to be] full of desirable women.”

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tāvad bhayaṁ draviṇa-deha-suhṛn-nimittaṁ

tāvad bhayaṁ draviṇa-deha-suhṛn-nimittaṁ
śokaḥ spṛhā paribhavo vipulaś ca lobhaḥ |
tāvan mamety asad-avagraha ārti-mūlaṁ
yāvan na te’ṅghrim abhayaṁ pravṛṇīta lokaḥ ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 3.9.6)

“So fear, grief, longing, humiliation, and immense greed on account of wealth, the body, and companions, and so the false [alt., wicked] temperament of ‘mine’—the root of distress—remain as long as a person does not embrace your fearless feet.”

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na tatra mūḍhā gacchanti puruṣā viṣayātmakāḥ

na tatra mūḍhā gacchanti puruṣā viṣayātmakāḥ |
dambha-lobha-bhaya-droha-krodha-mohair abhidrutāḥ ||
nirmamā nirahaṅkārā nirdvandvāḥ saṁyatendriyāḥ |
dhyāna-yoga-ratāś caiva tatra gacchanti sādhavaḥ ||
(Padma Purāṇa: 2.95.16–18; cited in Prīti Sandarbha: 10)

“Foolish persons absorbed in objects of the senses and overpowered by deceit [alt., arrogance], greed, fear, enmity, anger, and delusion, do not reach there [i.e., the supreme abode of Viṣṇu]. Only sādhus free from possessiveness, free from egotism, free from duality, of controlled senses, and engaged in the practice of meditation (dhyāna-yoga) reach there.”

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paṇḍitā bahavo rājan bahu-jñāḥ saṁśaya-cchidaḥ

paṇḍitā bahavo rājan bahu-jñāḥ saṁśaya-cchidaḥ |
sadasas patayo’py eke asantoṣāt patanty adhaḥ ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 7.15.21)

“O King! Many paṇḍitas who have vast knowledge and can cut away [others’] doubts, and even numerous assembly leaders [i.e., paṇḍitas of the highest rank], fall down because of dissatisfaction [i.e., the inability to be satisfied, that is, because of greed].”

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kāmaḥ krodhas tathā lobho harṣo māno madas tathā

kāmaḥ krodhas tathā lobho harṣo māno madas tathā |
ṣaḍ-vargam utsṛjed enaṁ tasmiṁs tyakte sukhī nṛpaḥ ||
(Hitopadeśa: Sandhi, 102)

“Give up the six enemies: lust, anger, greed, pleasure, egotism, and pride. O King, one who rejects them is happy in this world.”

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santuṣṭaḥ kena vā rājan na vartetāpi vāriṇā

santuṣṭaḥ kena vā rājan na vartetāpi vāriṇā |
aupasthya-jaihvya-kārpaṇyād gṛha-pālāyate janaḥ ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 7.15.18)

“O King! Can a person not become satisfied with anything, even water? [Certainly. Yet] A person acts like a house pet [i.e., a dog] because of avarice for the sensation of the genitals and sensation of the tongue.”

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atidānād balir baddho naṣṭo mānāt suyodhanaḥ

atidānād balir baddho naṣṭo mānāt suyodhanaḥ |
vinaṣṭo rāvaṇo laulyād ati sarvatra varjayet ||
(Cāṇakya-nīti)

“Bali was bound by excessive giving. Duryodhana was ruined by [excessive] pride. Rāvaṇa was ruined by [excessive] greediness. [Therefore,] Excess should be given up in all respects.”

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anyāyaḥ prauḍhavādena

anyāyaḥ prauḍhavādena nīyate nyāyatāṁ yayā |
nyāyaś cānyāyatāṁ lobhāt kiṁ tayā kṣudra-vidyayā ||
(Mahāsubhāṣita-saṅgraha: 1798)

“Of what good is that meager learning which, because of [one’s] greed, with meager learning turns the improper into propriety and the proper into impropriety [alt., the unjust into justice and the just into injustice]?”

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