Bhaj Govindam - Moh Mudgar Verse 2

           Moodh Jaheehi Dhan-Aagam Trishnaam

           Kuru Sad-Buddhim Mansi Vitrishnaam 

           Yallabhsay Nij Karmo-Paatam

           Vittam Taina Vinodaya Chittam

                              (Bhaj Govindam - Moh Mudgar Verse 2)

O ignorant! Let go of your thirst to amass wealth.

Make the right decision - Divert your intellect and thoughts toward the Truth, the Real - and your mind to dispassion and detachment. 

Whatever you get through your sincere & honest actions - from your own work - 

Be happy and content with that. 

             ~~~~~~~~~~~~

There are several vital points in this verse to consider. 

In this verse, Shankracharya is not saying that earning wealth is evil, immoral, or sinister - or to give up worldly life. 

He says the thirst for hoarding - accumulating amass wealth is foolishness - because nothing is permanent. Everyone leaves this world empty-handed. 

Therefore, give up the Greed for wealth and attachment to possessions. 

Even though Shankracharya was a Sanyasi - a monk - he had renounced the world and begged for his food - as all monks do. Yet, he does not advise everyone to become a Sanyasi or a monk. 

He says - to be content with whatever you earn through your sincere & honest actions. 

In other words, do not cheat - do not embrace the wrong means of making money, and do not be greedy. 

The same has been said in the Ishopanishad:

         "Ma Gridhah Kasya Sviddhnam" 

 Do not snatch someone else's possessions - that, what belongs to someone else - not to you.

According to the Vedas, there are two ways to achieve the goal - to be free from the Samsara. 

One is Sanyas Marg - renounce the world and focus on Reality only.

Second is Grahasth Marg - living in the world as a household - yet keeping the mind focused on Reality.

Shankracharya chose the first Marg for himself. 

In this verse, however, he is trying to guide those who choose the second path - the Grahasth Marg. 

Those who want to stay in the world - and also want to become free of Samsara. 

To them, he says: 

Earn your living by proper, sincere, and honest means, and be content with what comes your way. 

Do not seize others' belongings. 

Do not be greedy - let go of attachments - and devote your intellect and mind to the Truth.

                                                      ' Rajan Sachdeva '

Meaning of Sanskrit words:

Moodh  =   Ignorant, Delusional

Jaheehi  =  Give up, Let go

Dhan-Aagam Trishnaam = Greed - Thirst to accumulate wealth

Kuru Sad-Buddhim  = Have pure thoughts, Make the right decision

Mansi Vitrishnaam = Be detached in your mind

Yallabhsay   = Whatever you receive - whatever comes your way

Nij Karmo-Paatam  = Through your own sincere work

Vittam Taina   = with that money

Vinodaya Chittam  = Be happy, content in your heart

मूढ जहीहि धनागमतृष्णां कुरु सद्बुद्धिं मनसि वितृष्णाम् । 

यल्लभसे निजकर्मोपात्तं वित्तं तेन विनोदय चित्तम् ॥ २ ॥