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Post No. 13,697
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Money in Hindu Books and Shakespeare Works (Post No.13,697)
Money /wealth is praised by all; money opens the gate of heaven if it is used justly; money is the gateway to hell if it is abused. From Sri Suktam in the Vedas to Tamil poet Bharatiyar, we see hymns asking Lakshmi, Goddess of Wealth to provide them a lot of money. But Hindus have been warning that money or wealth is like a wheel; it rotates; it does not say in one single place ; Hindus, unlike Shakespeare, also said please do charity, never store your money; when you die, not a single penny will come with you.
Let us compare some Shakesperean quotations and Hindu hymns.
Shakespeare stops with mundane world when he talks about money; but Hindus take it to the other worldly things.
Shakespeare stops with the good and bad effects of having money.
But Hindus point out it is not staying with one person permanently; even a king will become a pauper one day.
Shakespeare does not preach charity when he talks about money;but Hindus preach charity when they talk about money.
But Shakespeare and Hindu books agree on
Money is powerful; no one can live happily without it.
Money can buy women and anything
When money is there, all come to you; when money is gone, all will disappear.
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Here is the sloka seven from Viveka Chudamani (VC) of Adi Sankara
अमृतत्वस्य नाशास्ति वित्तेनेत्येव हि श्रुतिः ।
ब्रवीति कर्मणो मुक्तेरहेतुत्वं स्फुटं यतः ॥ ७ ॥
amṛtatvasya nāśāsti vittenetyeva hi śrutiḥ |
bravīti karmaṇo mukterahetutvaṃ sphuṭaṃ yataḥ || 7 ||
7. There is no hope of immortality by means of riches – such indeed is the declaration of the Vedas. Hence it is clear that works cannot be the cause of Liberation.
Notes:
[The reference is to Yajnavalkya’s words to his wife Maitreyi, Brihadáranyaka II. iv. 2. Cf. the Vedic dictum, “na karmaṇā na prajayā dhanena tyāgenaike amṛtatvamānaśuḥ”:—‘Neither by rituals, nor progeny, nor by riches, but by-renunciation alone some attained immortality.]
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Verse 2(Bhaja Govindam)
मूढ जहीहि धनागमतृष्णां
कुरु सद्बुद्धिं मनसि वितृष्णाम् ।
यल्लभसे निजकर्मोपात्तं
वित्तं तेन विनोदय चित्तम् ॥ २॥
Oh fool ! Give up your thirst to amass wealth, devote your
mind to thoughts to the Real. Be content with what comes through actions already performed in the past.
muda jahihi dhanagamatrsnam kuru sadbuddhim manasi vitrsnam |
yallabhase nijakaramopattam vittam tena vinodaya cittam ||
It is greed that is the villain that makes one indulge in unlawful means to amass money. There is no end to one’s greed if it gains a free hand.
As Nachiketas tells Lord Yama in Kathopanishad (1-1-27) “ Na vithena tarpaneyo manushyaha” meaning ‘ man is not to be satisfied with wealth’. Mind is always in a restless state and needs something to engage itself. The mind isolated from greed should be filled with spiritual thoughts, thoughts turned Godward
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Shakespeare wrote almost a million words (884,647 to be exact) and covered every aspect of life, including, of course, money—from its influence on relationships to its role in business.
No Worries about Paying Bills
1. “But the comfort is, you shall be called to no more payments, fear no more tavern-bills.”— First Gaoler (Jailer), Cymbeline, Scene 5 Act 4
Posthumus Leonatus is in jail, and the jailer is saying that while he’s not in a great situation, the silver lining is that he doesn’t have to pay his bar tab. According to Shakespeare, one definition of comfort is not having to pay your bills.
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Rich Girl is OK, but……..
2. “Think’st thou, Hortensio, though her father be very rich, any man is so very a fool to be married to hell?”
— Gremio, Taming of the Shrew, Act 1 Scene 1
It’s not worth it to marry rich if you’re hitched to a disagreeable partner. It’s as bad as eternal damnation.
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Morals change when money Comes!
3. “Whiles I am a beggar, I will rail and say there is no sin but to be rich; and being rich, my virtue then shall be to say there is no vice but beggary.”
—Bastard, The Life and Death of King John, Act 2 Scene 1
Shakespeare clearly understood that we adapt our views to fit our finances.
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Women will fall for you!
4. “With a good leg and a good foot, uncle, and money enough in his purse, such a man would win any woman in the world, if a’ could get her good-will.”
—Beatrice, Much Ado About Nothing, Act 2 Scene 1
Beatrice thinks that if someone looks good, gets into another person’s good graces, and is rich, the courtship will be successful. It is very true every now and then we read in newspapers that very young people getting married to very old, but rich people.
You can marry eight men like Actress Elizabeth Taylor.
Or
All girls will wait for you over night to see you like they waited for Tamil actor M G R
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5. “Money buys lands, and wives are sold by fate.”
—Ford, Merry Wives of Windsor, Act V Scene 5
Ford’s establishes a concept popularized by those other British bards, the Beatles, in their classic song “You Can’t Buy Me Love.”
We may attribute it to Fate in Hinduism
There is a saying in Tami, Wives are arranged by God
மனைவி அமைவதெல்லாம் இறைவன் கொடுத்த வரம்.
Thorough out 2000 year old Sangam Tamil literature we see Tamil women praying for the same husband in future births as well.
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You lose Money or Friendship!
6. “For loan oft loses both itself and friend, And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry.”
—Polonius, Hamlet, Act 1 Scene 3
Lending to your friends is a bad idea because you will end up without money or friends.
This is in Tamil and Sanskrit verses.
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7. “If thou wilt lend this money…lend it rather to thine enemy, who, if he break, thou mayst with better face exact the penalty.”
—Antonio, Merchant of Venice, Act 1 Scene 3
Shakespeare takes the don’t-lend-to-friends advice a step further, recommending instead that you lend to enemies.
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When you die, No more Mony Worries!
8. “He that dies pays all debts.”
—Stephano, Tempest, Act 3 Scene 2
The jailer in Cybelime noted that you don’t have to pay your bar tab if you’re in the clink, and Stephano says you don’t have to pay anything if you’re dead.
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Money creates Rivalry in Business World
9. “He lends out money gratis and brings down the rate of usance here with us in Venice.”
—Shylock, Merchant of Venice, Act 1 Scene 3
If someone offers a service or good, it hurts similar businesses that charge.
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10. “If money go before, all ways do lie open.”
—Ford, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Act 2 Scene 2
Shakespeare did not miss the fact that money can make life much easier, greasing wheels, buying respect, and providing opportunity.
This is seen in all the verses in Tamil and Sanskrit books.
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Use Money to get Everything
11. “Money is a good soldier, and will on.”
—Falstaff, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Act 2 Scene 2
He is essentially saying “you should be putting your money to work for you.”
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First let us compare these with Tamil Proverbs
2348. கனவில் கண்ட பணம் செலவிற்கு உதவுமா?
Will the money seen in a dream meet one’s expenses?
X
2391. காசு கொடுத்தால் வேசி வருவாள், கல நெல்லைக் கொடுத்தால் அவள் அக்காளும் ஆத்தாளும் கூட வருவார்கள்.
If you are free with your money a harlot will come, if you give also a kalam of rice, her sister and her mother will come.
X
1127. இறுப்பானுக்குப் பணமும் கிடையாது, உழைப்பானுக்குப் பெண்ணும் கிடையாது.
He who pays his debts cannot obtain money, nor can the labourer obtain a wife
X
1157. ஈட்டி எட்டியமட்டும் குத்தும், பணம் பதின்காதமும் குத்தும்.
A spear wounds as far as it reaches; the effect of money reaches ten kathams (100 miles).
X
1316. உருவத்தை அல்ல குணத்தைப்பார், பணத்தையல்ல சனத்தைப்பார்.
Look to the temper, not beauty, to the connections not at money, when choosing a wife
X
1383. உறியிற் பணம் போய்த் தெருவிற் சண்டையை இழுக்கிறது.
The money on the swinging-tray goes out and picks a quarrel in the public road. Money is not infrequently put on a swinging tray in a cap or small basket.
To be continued……………………………..
Tags- Money, Shakespeare, Hindu Views, Tamil, Sanskrit, Books, Hymns, Proverbs, Quotations.
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