Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – Sookti – March 22, 2020 – Mysore
Compiled by Parimala Eshwarla
Dvāvimou puruṣou lōkē, sukhinī na kadācana
Yaścādhanaḥ kāmayatē, yaśca kupyati anīśvaraḥ ǁ
Meaning: Those whose desires far exceed their financial ability, and those who remain eternally angry with others even when they have no right over them, can never ever be happy in this world. Such people can never experience bliss.
In common parlance, joys-sorrows, difficulties-losses, grief-happiness are one and the same! Yet, each has its own speciality. The Supreme Lord showered every living being with only happiness, health and bliss. Grief, difficulties and troubles is what we have brought upon ourselves. Not realizing this, we accuse God and suffer consequently. There is no wealth greater than contentment.
The human mind is like a deep well. The more you draw, the more it yields. Similarly, in the human mind, one desire immediately follows another. Desires can emerge. There is no problem in it. But what is important is to introspect- do I have the financial ability to fulfil the desire? This is crucial.
A rich man uses his wealth to fulfil his desires. A poor man observes the rich and laments (at his own misfortune). As such, a close connection exists between wealth and desires. Desires pertaining to the body are few. Desires pertaining to the mind are many. There is no harm in having good desires pertaining to the body. Desires pertaining to the mind are, by and large, filled with impurities (faults)!
Women love gold, don’t they? Despite possessing a lot of jewellery, they still crave for more. In aspect of gold, their mind always longs and grieves. Likewise, more than the rich, grief is often found in the houses of the poor.
There are others who crave for authority and power. Intoxicated by power, they rule others and show their might on others. Such people cannot withstand the loss of authority or power. They are totally engulfed in grief if power is snatched away from them. They then presume that others are ridiculing them, due to which, their grief only multiplies. Now that they are no longer in that position of authority, no one cares for their word. This further throws them into sorrow.
As such, the person who harbours desires without having the financial ability to fulfil them and the person who, although not in position of authority still retains his haughtiness, endlessly grieve. This is the message given by this sookti.
Further, money and power become the cause for many upheavals in life. Youthfulness, affluence, power and dim-wittedness – any of these four is harmful. If all the four exist in the same person, then what more needs to be said of him?
It is only contentment that can grant real happiness! Even the Devatas cannot harm a person who is totally content. There is no wealth greater than contentment! All desires are nothing but a sheer waste. For this reason, our elders ask us to worship the Lord selflessly (without any selfish motive). Use your wealth for meritorious, righteous deeds. Use your power only for the wellbeing of the society. Such people experience eternal joy!