Hinduism: In search of wealth

Once upon a time, a princess wanted to marry a holy, saintly man. She refused all the offers of marriage with young, handsome princes. The king in desperation called for a meeting of holy men. A lot of saints and sadhus arrived at the behest of their king. The king then announced his offer of the hand of his beautiful daughter and half his kingdom as dowry to the man his daughter chooses as her husband. As soon as the senior sadhus heard this they promptly got up and left.

They were renunciates who had come thinking that they were invited for some spiritual discussions. They had no interest in collecting wealth. Then the king made a little enhanced offer to the remaining holy men. They also refused his offer saying, “Oh king! Indeed we are saintly men but we are not sanyasis, so we are married and live in ashrams occupying ourselves with spiritual conferences and practices. We care not for these material pleasures as we have higher goals in life and are searching diviner joys.”

Then only one man was left. The king took the last chance and made him an interesting offer. To the surprise of the king, the man said, “Forgive me, oh king! I am just a thief in the garb of a holy man. I came to cheat you of your wealth, but now I have begun to wonder if your great wealth really has any value. If it was truly of value why have all these wise men rejected it? They must be in possession of a much greater wealth which gives them such happiness, bliss and contentment which your material wealth is incapable of providing. I have woken up now. I no longer want this but will join the sadhus to look for higher joys.” He also left the king.

Prarthna Saran, President, Chinmaya Mission, Delhi.