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False wealth

Śrīla Bhakti Vinod Ṭhākur warns devotees about the pride produced by wealth.

The following song is from Śrī Kalyāṇa-kalpa-taru (1.12).

mana re, dhana-mada nitānta asāra
dhana jana vitta yatae dehera anugata
deha gele se sakala chhāra [1]

O mind! The pride produced by wealth is extremely troublesome. Wealth, companions, and property follow this body, and when the body dies, they all become meaningless.

vidyāra yateka cheṣṭāchikitsaka upadeṣṭā
keha deha rākhibāre nāre
ajapā ha-ile śeṣadeha-mātra avaśeṣa
jīva nāhi thākena ādhāre [2]

No doctor or any of his remedies can save the body. When the life-air expires, only the body remains. The soul does not remain within the carcass.

dhane yadi prāṇa ditadhanī rājā nā marita
dharāmara ha-ita rāvaṇa
dhane nāhi rākhe dehadeha gele nāhe keha
ataeva ki karibe dhana [3]

If wealth gave life, then a wealthy king would never die. Rāvaṇa would have become an immortal on the earth. Wealth does not save the body, and when the body dies, no one remains. So, what does wealth do for us?

yadi thāke bahu dhananije habe akiñchana
vaiṣṇavera kara upakāra
jīve dayā anukṣaṇarādhā-kṛṣṇa arādhana
kara sadā haye sadāchāra [4]

If you have great wealth, consider yourself possessionless and serve the devotees. Always be kind to everyone, worship Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, and follow the practices of the sādhus.

Reference

tomāra kanakabhogera janaka
kanakera dvāre sevaha “mādhava”
(Vaiṣṇava ke?: 3)

Your wealth is a means to enjoyment, so serve Kṛṣṇa with it.”