Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – Sookti – March 23, 2020 – Mysore
Compiled by: Parimala Eshwarla
Pibanti nadyaḥ svayamēva nāmbhaḥ svayam na khādanti phalāni vŗkṣāḥ
Nādanti sasyaṃ khalu vārivāhāḥ, parōpakārāya satāṃ vibhūtayaḥ ǁ
Rivers that carry water do not even drink a drop of water! Trees that bear fruit do not eat the fruit! Clouds that are responsible for the plentiful crops, do not eat even a grain from that crop. When examined closely, it will be known that virtuous people use their wealth entirely for the benefit of others!
What is it to be gained from wealth?
When pondered deeply, the doubt- should my wealth be used entirely for my own enjoyments or should it be used for the benefit of others?- emerges in the person. Foolish people presume that the wealth they own must be used exclusively for their enjoyment and for the enjoyment of their immediate family members!
The virtuous however believe that their wealth must be used solely for the benefit of others in society.
Like a woman in the advanced stage of pregnancy, rivers gush forcefully and as they flow, they quench the thirst of Mother Earth. They re-infuse life into the trees which, due to lack of water in summer, were on the verge of drying up. Through the medium of canals, they flow into the agricultural fields thereby bringing a smile on to the faces of the farmers.
These water droplets, unable to withstand the intense Sun’s rays, transform into vapour and rise up in the sky. Transforming into clouds they return back to earth in the form of rain ushering joy and bliss into every life. Water, which fills innumerable lives with happiness, does not even drink one drop to quench its thirst.
Trees look delightful when they are laden with fruits. Unable to withstand the weight of the fruits, the branches bend so low as to touch the earth. With its branches touching the ground, the tree appears to be inviting the young and the old to come and pluck its fruits. When naughty children pelt stones at it in order to cause the fruit to fall down, the trees do not grieve.
When the birds nesting on them pierce them with their sharp beaks, the trees do not lose their cool. They willingly drop their fruits so as to appease the hunger of the passers-by who are resting under their shade. Trees, which offer immeasurable help to other living beings, do not eat even one fruit when they are hungry! Precisely for this, our learned elders have declared that the virtuous use their wealth solely for the benefit of others.
During monsoons the dark rain bearing clouds come closer to earth. White clouds, which do not contain water, however are higher up in the skies. With their water, the rain-bearing clouds drench the earth thereby ensuring the growth of a good crop. Yet, the clouds do not seek even a grain of crop in return for their effort.
This sookti therefore teaches that the virtuous use their wealth solely for the benefit of others.