Episode # 1260 – “Wealth is important for survival!” – Arjuna asserts to Yudishtra!!!

In the previous episode, we had witnessed the continuation of an important conversation that had commenced between Yudishtra and Bhishmachaarya. While Yudishtra is slowly opening up to Bhishmachaarya about his gross guilt feeling, he explains that because of this, he doesn’t have any interest in ruling the Hastinapura kingdom any further. He wants to go to the forest as a “Tapasvi”, perform penance and attain “Moksha”. As Yudishtra opines thus, Arjuna is quick to counter him, even as Bhagawan Krishna, Bhishmachaarya, Sage Naarada and the others look on. Arjuna says that Yudishtra is contemplating upon a hasty decision of renouncing everything and going to the forest, as this is not his “Dharma”. Arjuna replies with stern words that by deciding to go to the forest, Yudishtra is going against the “Raaja Dharma” and is trying to escape responsibility as a righteous king. He also invokes Bhagawan Krishna here, saying that Yudishtra is making Bhagawan’s strenuous effort to go futile. All these eighteen days at Kurukshetra, it was Bhagawan Krishna who had made Yudishtra victorious for the cause of “Dharma”. Bhagawan Krishna wanted Yudishtra to rule the Hastinapura Kingdom according to the path of “Dharma”, and by trying to escape responsibility, Yudishtra is making Bhagawan Krishna look like a joker! 

Saying thus, Arjuna asserts to Yudishtra that he should reconsider his decision of renouncing his “Varnashrama-Dharma”. While performing penance is a good thing, it is not suitable for “Kshatrya” warriors. Being a “Tapasvi” is a characteristic of a Brahmana Rishi, and a Kshatrya can never become a Brahmana Rishi. Hence, Arjuna is particular that Yudishtra continues to rule the Hastinapura kingdom according to the principles of “Raaja Dharma”. Arjuna continues further thus, “Oh Yudishtra! You’re saying that you are going to stop earning wealth. Do you think this is really possible? Let me tell you one thing – Imagine that there are two people – One whose character is lost, and the other whose wealth is lost. Who is better here? Will you say that the person who has lost his wealth is better than the other? I would deny that! For me, both are bad! Oh Yudishtra! Earning wealth is not easy. Wealth is required for performing any sort of “Dharma-Kaaryam”. You cannot live life without wealth. Let us take for an argument-sake here – You are ascending to the forest. In the forest also you’ve to survive, shouldn’t you? You cannot commit a suicide! Committing suicide is one of the greatest sin that you can ever do in this world! Hence, for you to survive, you need food. For obtaining food, you’ve to climb up over the trees to obtain it. For climbing up on trees, you need strength. How will you equip your physical strength if you’re not taking care of your health? Moreover, if wild animals come and attack you in the forest, you will have to confront them at some point in time, and you should perhaps kill a few! Isn’t this “Paapa-Karma” as well? You will be walking along the path of several insects and flies and thereby you will be killing several of them in due course! Won’t these account to your “Paapa-Karma” as well? Hence, oh Yudishtra! Please understand that things are not going to change upside down if you ascend to the forest. Dangers are everywhere and if you are afraid of them, you are only trying to escape the danger without confronting them bravely!” 

This is an important point that Arjuna is making here – Even in our present-day life, all of us know that survival is difficult without wealth. Even for our regular food and shelter expenditure, no matter how minimal and simple we maintain ourselves, we cannot manage without a minimum of 700 – 800 rupees (in the Indian context) per day. Given the way in which inflation and currency depreciation is happening in the present day, it is getting more and more difficult for many of us to make all ends meet. Thus, earning wealth is important. Even if we’ve to perform a “Homam” or if we’ve to perform a “Shraadham” or any spiritual offering, we need money. We’ve to give “Dakshina” to the person who is performing the offering on behalf of us. We’ve to get all the materials / ingredients for the offering. All these activities require money. Hence, earning money in today’s context is very critical and is important for our survival and also to conduct any kind of spiritual offerings as well. This is exactly what Arjuna is highlighting here – Given the way wealth is intertwined with our life, Yudishtra cannot escape this and run away, just because he has a guilt feeling. Arjuna questions Yudishtra that if he runs away like this, who will perform the important “Yagnyas” and other spiritual offerings that a king has to perform! Hence, wealth becomes a paramount factor in performing several important duties in this world! 

So for today, let us ponder over this important point and let us wait till the next episode to continue this discussion further! Stay tuned! 🙂