Subhashithaani-Quotable quotes

[Guest guest]

29. aDhamaaH Dhanam icChanthi

Dhanam maanam cha maDhyamaaH

utthamaaH maanam icChanthi

maano hi mahathaam Dhanam

Lowest are those who want only money and in the middle are those who wish for money and honour. Those who wish for honour only are the highest. For the great honour is their wealth.

 

Those who want money only do not care for good reputation or respect. They will be prepared to do anything for money which includes begging or serving people who should be avoided. They will tolerate any insult or disrespect for the sake of money.

 

Those in the middle are ordinary people who want money but also honour and respect. They will not demean themselves for the sake of money but will work for it through honourable methods.

 

The great however do not care for money but only respect honour. The devotees saints and learned people come under this category. They have shunned the request of the kings because they never valued wealth. The great souls like Thyagaraja and Vedanta Desika are the examples of this. The former said `nidhisaalasukhamaa raamuni sanniDhisevaa sukhamaa,' does the wealth bring happiness or the service to the feet of Lord Rama? Vedantadesika said ` asthi me hasthiSailaagre vasthu paithamaham Dhanam,' there is the wealth of my fore fathers on the hasthi hills, meaning Lord Varadaraja.

 

There are incidents when the poets who valued honor more than money even despised the kings who did not treat them with respect. Kamban once felt insulted and said to the chola king thus:

 

Mannavanum neeyO vaLa naadum ninnadhO

unnai aRindhO thamizai OdhinEn

 

Are you the only one king and is your country is the only one? Did I learn Tamil only by knowing you?

 

Such is the sense of honour of the learned and the devotees.