Earning money has dual aspect in life. While it may be an important factor in enhancing and individual lifestyle. It may prove to be a cause of their destruction. Over-reliance on money can erode self-worth, replace reliance on faith or community, and lead to poor decision-making or materialistic pursuits at the expense of personal fulfillment. This is what has been conveyed through todays Sanskrit verses ;
अर्थेन्द्रियार्थाभिध्यानं सर्वार्थापह्नवो नृणां |
भृंशितो ज्ञानविज्ञानाद्येनाविशति मुख्यतां ||
Arthendriyaarthaabhidhyaanam sarvaarthopahnavo nrunaam'
Bhrumshito gyaanavigyaaanaadyenaavisshati mukhyataa.
Arthendriyaarthaabhidhyaanam = arthena + indriyaartha + abhidhyaanam.
Arthena = through wealth.
Indriyaartha = sensory objects, carnally.
Abhidhyaana = desiring
Sarvaartha = every thing, all matters.
Apahnavo = neglecting or denying.
Nrunaam = people.
Bhrumshito = decays, declines
Gyaana = Higher knowledge.
Vigyaanat = of Science.
Yena = as a consequence
Avishati = becomes,
Mukhyataam = especially.
i.e. As a result of using wealth primarily for pleasures, people begin to neglect other needs. This adversely affects the pursuit of higher knowledge and science, leading to their decline.
In pursuit to earn more money and wealth and individual may end up spoiling their life. Use of wealth by people mainly for fulfilling their carnal desires and for merriment results in overall neglect of all other important matters. As a consequence of this, there is overall decline and decay, mainly in the fields of Higher Education and Science.
I have seen many individual with enormous wealth, but they lack the basic knowledge and they are not interested progressing towards studies. The relentless pursuit of money can become an addictive, compulsive behavior, similar to other behavioral addictions. This can cause a person to manipulate their brain chemistry for a "high" associated with gaining money or possessions.
