What the scriptures say about greed

What do the scriptures say about greed?

The texts call it lobha (लोभ). The wanting that grows with gain. One of the three gates (16.21); the Yaksha is told it is the illness without end. They set contentment and letting go against it.

72 verses
3 stories
Weighs on the mind

Read the verses Find it on the map

Krishna

लोभः प्रवृत्तिरारम्भः कर्मणामशमः स्पृहा । रजस्येतानि जायन्ते विवृद्धे भरतर्षभ ॥

lobhaḥ pravṛttirārambhaḥ karmaṇāmaśamaḥ spṛhā | rajasyetāni jāyante vivṛddhe bharatarṣabha ||

Greed, activity, the undertaking of actions, restlessness and craving: these arise when rajas increases, best of the Bharatas.

Bhagavad Gita 14.12

Greed in the texts' own words

Someone in the verse is in it, or the text names it outright. Many readers find their own day here.

Narada
अन्यामन्यां धनावस्थां प्राप्य वैशेषिकीं नराः / अतृप्ता यान्ति विध्वंसं संतोषं यान्ति पण्डिताः
anyāmanyāṃ dhanāvasthāṃ prāpya vaiśeṣikīṃ narāḥ / atṛptā yānti vidhvaṃsaṃ saṃtoṣaṃ yānti paṇḍitāḥ
Reaching one level of wealth after another, people remain unsatisfied and come to ruin. The wise come to contentment.
Mahabharata · Shanti Parva · Bhishma: Mokshadharma
Depicts each level reached and still not enough. our reading
Krishna
इदमद्य मया लब्धमिमं प्राप्स्ये मनोरथम् । इदमस्तीदमपि मे भविष्यति पुनर्धनम् ॥
idamadya mayā labdhamimaṃ prāpsye manoratham | idamastīdamapi me bhaviṣyati punardhanam ||
'This I have gained today; this desire I shall fulfil. This wealth is mine, and this too shall be mine.'
Bhagavad Gita 16.13
Depicts the inner voice of never enough, quoted word for word. our reading
Krishna
लोभः प्रवृत्तिरारम्भः कर्मणामशमः स्पृहा । रजस्येतानि जायन्ते विवृद्धे भरतर्षभ ॥
lobhaḥ pravṛttirārambhaḥ karmaṇāmaśamaḥ spṛhā | rajasyetāni jāyante vivṛddhe bharatarṣabha ||
Greed, activity, the undertaking of actions, restlessness and craving: these arise when rajas increases, best of the Bharatas.
Bhagavad Gita 14.12
Krishna
त्रिविधं नरकस्येदं द्वारं नाशनमात्मनः । कामः क्रोधस्तथा लोभस्तस्मादेतत्त्रयं त्यजेत् ॥
trividhaṃ narakasyedaṃ dvāraṃ nāśanamātmanaḥ | kāmaḥ krodhastathā lobhastasmādetattrayaṃ tyajet ||
Threefold is the gate of hell that destroys the self: desire, anger and greed. Therefore one should give up these three.
Bhagavad Gita 16.21
Yudhishthira
कः शत्रुर्दुर्जयः पुंसां कश्चव्याधिरनन्तकः / कीदृशश्च स्मृतः साधुरसाधुः कीदृशः स्मृतः क्रोधः सुदुर्जयः शत्रुर्लोभोव्याधिरनन्तकः / सर्वभूतहितः साधुरसाधुर्निर्दयः स्मृतः
kaḥ śatrurdurjayaḥ puṃsāṃ kaścavyādhiranantakaḥ / kīdṛśaśca smṛtaḥ sādhurasādhuḥ kīdṛśaḥ smṛtaḥ krodhaḥ sudurjayaḥ śatrurlobhovyādhiranantakaḥ / sarvabhūtahitaḥ sādhurasādhurnirdayaḥ smṛtaḥ
Yaksha: 'Which enemy is hardest to conquer? Which disease has no end? Who is considered good, and who is not?' Yudhishthira: 'Anger is the enemy hardest to conquer; greed is the disease without end; one who wants the good of all beings is good; one without compassion is not.'
Mahabharata · Vana Parva · Yaksha Prashna

What feeds it, step by step

Sequences the texts state outright, in their own order.

What each guna yields

Bhagavad Gita 14.17; Bhagavad Gita 14.8; Bhagavad Gita 14.12-13

purity
knowledge
passion or activity
Greed
darkness
Carelessness
Laziness
Confusion

Sattva produces knowledge. Rajas produces greed. Tamas produces heedlessness, delusion and ignorance. Tamas binds through heedlessness, laziness and sleep. When rajas rules there is greed, restless activity and craving.

Krishna
तमस्त्वज्ञानजं विद्धि मोहनं सर्वदेहिनाम् । प्रमादालस्यनिद्राभिस्तन्निबध्नाति भारत ॥
tamastvajñānajaṃ viddhi mohanaṃ sarvadehinām | pramādālasyanidrābhistannibadhnāti bhārata ||
Know tamas to be born of ignorance, deluding all embodied beings. It binds through heedlessness, laziness and sleep, Bharata.
Bhagavad Gita 14.8
Krishna
लोभः प्रवृत्तिरारम्भः कर्मणामशमः स्पृहा । रजस्येतानि जायन्ते विवृद्धे भरतर्षभ ॥
lobhaḥ pravṛttirārambhaḥ karmaṇāmaśamaḥ spṛhā | rajasyetāni jāyante vivṛddhe bharatarṣabha ||
Greed, activity, the undertaking of actions, restlessness and craving: these arise when rajas increases, best of the Bharatas.
Bhagavad Gita 14.12
Krishna
अप्रकाशोऽप्रवृत्तिश्च प्रमादो मोह एव च । तमस्येतानि जायन्ते विवृद्धे कुरुनन्दन ॥
aprakāśo’pravṛttiśca pramādo moha eva ca | tamasyetāni jāyante vivṛddhe kurunandana ||
Darkness, inertia, heedlessness and delusion: these arise when tamas increases, joy of the Kurus.
Bhagavad Gita 14.13

The three gates

Bhagavad Gita 16.21-22

Craving
Anger
Greed
ruin of the self
highest good

Desire, anger and greed are the threefold gate that ruins the self. A person gives up these three. Freed from them, that person does what is good for the self and reaches the highest.

Krishna
त्रिविधं नरकस्येदं द्वारं नाशनमात्मनः । कामः क्रोधस्तथा लोभस्तस्मादेतत्त्रयं त्यजेत् ॥
trividhaṃ narakasyedaṃ dvāraṃ nāśanamātmanaḥ | kāmaḥ krodhastathā lobhastasmādetattrayaṃ tyajet ||
Threefold is the gate of hell that destroys the self: desire, anger and greed. Therefore one should give up these three.
Bhagavad Gita 16.21
Krishna
एतैर्विमुक्तः कौन्तेय तमोद्वारैस्त्रिभिर्नरः । आचरत्यात्मनः श्रेयस्ततो याति परां गतिम् ॥
etairvimuktaḥ kaunteya tamodvāraistribhirnaraḥ | ācaratyātmanaḥ śreyastato yāti parāṃ gatim ||
Released from these three gates of darkness, Kaunteya, a person does what is good for the self and so reaches the highest goal.
Bhagavad Gita 16.22

The enemy and the illness

Mahabharata, Vana Parva (Yaksha Prashna)

Anger is the enemy hardest to defeat. Greed is the illness without end. The mind is faster than the wind. Worries outnumber the blades of grass.

Yudhishthira
कः शत्रुर्दुर्जयः पुंसां कश्चव्याधिरनन्तकः / कीदृशश्च स्मृतः साधुरसाधुः कीदृशः स्मृतः क्रोधः सुदुर्जयः शत्रुर्लोभोव्याधिरनन्तकः / सर्वभूतहितः साधुरसाधुर्निर्दयः स्मृतः
kaḥ śatrurdurjayaḥ puṃsāṃ kaścavyādhiranantakaḥ / kīdṛśaśca smṛtaḥ sādhurasādhuḥ kīdṛśaḥ smṛtaḥ krodhaḥ sudurjayaḥ śatrurlobhovyādhiranantakaḥ / sarvabhūtahitaḥ sādhurasādhurnirdayaḥ smṛtaḥ
Yaksha: 'Which enemy is hardest to conquer? Which disease has no end? Who is considered good, and who is not?' Yudhishthira: 'Anger is the enemy hardest to conquer; greed is the disease without end; one who wants the good of all beings is good; one without compassion is not.'
Mahabharata · Vana Parva · Yaksha Prashna
Yudhishthira
किंस्विद्गुरुतरं भूमेः किंस्विदुच्चतरं च स्वात् / किंस्विच्छीघ्रतरं वायोः किंस्विद्बहुतरं तृणात् माता गुरुतरा भूमेः खात्पितोच्चतरस्तथा / मनः शीघ्रतरं वाताच्चिन्ता बहुतरी तृणात्
kiṃsvidgurutaraṃ bhūmeḥ kiṃsviduccataraṃ ca svāt / kiṃsvicchīghrataraṃ vāyoḥ kiṃsvidbahutaraṃ tṛṇāt mātā gurutarā bhūmeḥ khātpitoccatarastathā / manaḥ śīghrataraṃ vātāccintā bahutarī tṛṇāt
Yaksha: 'What is heavier than the earth? What is higher than the sky? What is faster than the wind? What is more numerous than blades of grass?' Yudhishthira: 'A mother is heavier than the earth; a father is higher than the sky; the mind is faster than the wind; worries are more numerous than blades of grass.'
Mahabharata · Vana Parva · Yaksha Prashna

Three that unsettle even the wise

Ramcharitmanas, Aranya Kand 38 (Gita Press)

Desire, anger and greed are three very strong ones. They shake even a sage's mind in a moment.

Ram
तात तीनि अति प्रबल खल काम क्रोध अरु लोभ। मुनि बिग्यान धाम मन करहिं निमिष महुँ छोभ ॥
tāt tīni ati prabal khal kām krodh aru lobh| muni bigyān dhām man karahiṃ nimiṣ mahuṁ chobh ||
Brother, three enemies are exceedingly strong: desire, anger and greed. In an instant they unsettle even the minds of sages who are homes of wisdom.
Ramcharitmanas · Aranya Kand

What heals it

What the texts set against it, and the verses that give footing.

Contentmentsantoṣa
Contentment cures greed as the autumn sun dries puddles. stated in the text
Manas Kishkindha 16; Yoga Vasishtha 2.15; Narada
Generositydana
To humans the thunder says: give. stated in the text
Brihad 5.2 (datta); Gita 17.20; Gandhari
Letting govairāgya
Letting go lets people enjoy and stops them from coveting. stated in the text
Isha 1; Vidura 36

Dhritarashtra asks; Vidura answers
नित्योद्विग्नमिदं सर्वं नित्योद्विग्रमिदं मनः / यत्तत्पदमनुद्विग्नं तन्मे वद महामते नान्यत्र विद्यातपसो नान्यत्रेन्द्रियनिग्रहात् / नान्यत्र लोभसन्त्यागाच्छान्तिं पश्यामि तेऽनघ
nityodvignamidaṃ sarvaṃ nityodvigramidaṃ manaḥ / yattatpadamanudvignaṃ tanme vada mahāmate nānyatra vidyātapaso nānyatrendriyanigrahāt / nānyatra lobhasantyāgācchāntiṃ paśyāmi te’nagha
Dhritarashtra: 'Everything is always unsettled, and this mind is always unsettled. Wise one, tell me of the state that is free from unrest.' Vidura: 'I see no peace for you apart from learning and discipline, apart from mastering the senses, apart from giving up greed.'
Mahabharata · Udyoga Parva · Vidura Niti
Prajapati
त्रयाः प्राजापत्याः प्रजापतौ पितरि ब्रह्मचर्यमूषुर्देवा मनुष्या असुरा उषित्वा ब्रह्मचर्यं देवा ऊचुर्ब्रवीतु नो भवानिति । तेभ्यो हैतदक्षरमुवाच द इति व्यज्ञासिष्टा३ इति । व्यज्ञासिष्मेति होचुर्दाम्यतेति न आत्थेत्योमिति होवाच व्यज्ञासिष्टेति ॥ अथ हैनं मनुष्या ऊचुर्ब्रवीतु नो भवानिति । तेभ्यो हैतदेवाक्षरमुवाच द इति व्यज्ञासिष्टा३ इति । व्यज्ञासिष्मेति होचुर्दत्तेति न आत्थेत्योमिति होवाच व्यज्ञासिष्टेति ॥ अथ हैनमसुरा ऊचुर्ब्रवीतु नो भवानिति । तेभ्यो हैतदेवाक्षरमुवाच द इति व्यज्ञासिष्टा३ इति । व्यज्ञासिष्मेति होचुर्दयध्वमिति न आत्थेत्योमिति होवाच व्यज्ञासिष्टेति । तदेतदेवैषा दैवी वागनुवदति स्तनयित्नुर्द द द इति दाम्यत दत्त दयध्वमिति । तदेतत्त्रयꣳ शिक्षेद् दमं दानं दयामिति ॥
trayāḥ prājāpatyāḥ prajāpatau pitari brahmacaryamūṣurdevā manuṣyā asurā uṣitvā brahmacaryaṃ devā ūcurbravītu no bhavāniti | tebhyo haitadakṣaramuvāca da iti vyajñāsiṣṭā3 iti | vyajñāsiṣmeti hocurdāmyateti na ātthetyomiti hovāca vyajñāsiṣṭeti || atha hainaṃ manuṣyā ūcurbravītu no bhavāniti | tebhyo haitadevākṣaramuvāca da iti vyajñāsiṣṭā3 iti | vyajñāsiṣmeti hocurdatteti na ātthetyomiti hovāca vyajñāsiṣṭeti || atha hainamasurā ūcurbravītu no bhavāniti | tebhyo haitadevākṣaramuvāca da iti vyajñāsiṣṭā3 iti | vyajñāsiṣmeti hocurdayadhvamiti na ātthetyomiti hovāca vyajñāsiṣṭeti | tadetadevaiṣā daivī vāganuvadati stanayitnurda da da iti dāmyata datta dayadhvamiti | tadetattrayaꣳ śikṣed damaṃ dānaṃ dayāmiti ||
The gods, humans and demons, the three children of Prajapati, lived with their father as students. The gods asked for teaching; he said the syllable 'Da' and asked if they understood. 'Be self-controlled (damyata),' they said. 'Yes.' The humans asked; 'Da.' 'Give (datta),' they said. 'Yes.' The demons asked; 'Da.' 'Be compassionate (dayadhvam),' they said. 'Yes.' The divine voice of thunder repeats it: Da Da Da: be self-controlled, give, be compassionate. One should learn these three: self-control, giving, compassion.
Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 5.2.1-3
To humans, who hold on, the syllable says give. our reading
Seer
ॐ ईशा वास्यमिदꣳ सर्वं यत्किञ्च जगत्यां जगत् । तेन त्यक्तेन भुञ्जीथा मा गृधः कस्यस्विद्धनम् ॥
oṃ īśā vāsyamidaꣳ sarvaṃ yatkiñca jagatyāṃ jagat | tena tyaktena bhuñjīthā mā gṛdhaḥ kasyasviddhanam ||
All of this, whatever moves in this moving world, is pervaded by the Lord. Enjoy it by letting go. Do not covet; whose is wealth, after all?
Isha Upanishad 1
Vasishtha
संतोषो हि परं श्रेयः संतोषः सुखमुच्यते संतुष्टः परमभ्येति विश्राममरिसूदन ॥
saṃtoṣo hi paraṃ śreyaḥ saṃtoṣaḥ sukhamucyate saṃtuṣṭaḥ paramabhyeti viśrāmamarisūdana ||
Contentment is the highest good; contentment is what is called happiness. The contented person reaches the deepest rest, O destroyer of foes.
Yoga Vasishtha
Bhartrihari
दानं भोगो नाशस्तिस्रो गतयो भवन्ति वित्तस्य । यो न ददाति न भुङ्क्ते तस्य तृतीया गतिर्भवति ॥
dānaṃ bhogo nāśastisro gatayo bhavanti vittasya | yo na dadāti na bhuṅkte tasya tṛtīyā gatirbhavati ||
Wealth has three destinies: giving, enjoying and loss. Whoever neither gives nor enjoys it meets the third.
Bhartrihari · Niti Shatakam
Heals by showing hoarding is the same as losing. our reading
Bhartrihari
लोभश्चेदगुणेन किं पिशुनता यद्यस्ति किं पातकैः सत्यं चेत्तपसा च किं शुचि मनो यद्यस्ति तीर्थेन किम् । सौजन्यं यदि किं गुणैः सुमहिमा यद्यस्ति किं मण्डनैः सद्विद्या यदि किं धनैरपयशो यद्यस्ति किं मृत्युना ॥
lobhaścedaguṇena kiṃ piśunatā yadyasti kiṃ pātakaiḥ satyaṃ cettapasā ca kiṃ śuci mano yadyasti tīrthena kim | saujanyaṃ yadi kiṃ guṇaiḥ sumahimā yadyasti kiṃ maṇḍanaiḥ sadvidyā yadi kiṃ dhanairapayaśo yadyasti kiṃ mṛtyunā ||
If there is greed, what need of other faults? If backbiting, what need of other sins? If truth, what need of austerity? If a pure mind, what need of pilgrimage? If goodness of heart, what need of other virtues? If greatness, what need of ornaments? If true learning, what need of wealth? If disgrace, what need of death?
Bhartrihari · Niti Shatakam
Names greed alone as fault enough. our reading
Bhartrihari
वयमिह परितुष्टा वल्कलैस्त्वं दुकूलैः सम इव परितोषो निर्विशेषो विशेषः । स तु भवतु दरिद्रो यस्य तृष्णा विशाला मनसि च परितुष्टे कोऽर्थवान्को दरिद्रः ॥
vayamiha parituṣṭā valkalaistvaṃ dukūlaiḥ sama iva paritoṣo nirviśeṣo viśeṣaḥ | sa tu bhavatu daridro yasya tṛṣṇā viśālā manasi ca parituṣṭe ko’rthavānko daridraḥ ||
We are content here with bark garments, you with silk; the contentment is equal, and the difference makes no difference. He is poor whose craving is vast. When the mind is content, who is rich and who is poor?
Bhartrihari · Vairagya Shatakam
Redefines poverty as large craving. our reading
Hamsa (the golden swan)
अज्ञानेनावृतो लोको मात्सर्यान्न प्रकाशते । लोभात्त्यजति मित्राणि सङ्गात्स्वर्गं न गच्छति ॥
ajñānenāvṛto loko mātsaryānna prakāśate | lobhāttyajati mitrāṇi saṅgātsvargaṃ na gacchati ||
The world is covered by ignorance; it does not shine because of envy; people abandon friends out of greed, and miss heaven through attachment.
Hamsa Gita 40 (Mahabharata, Shanti 12.305.40 in our data)
Names greed as how friends are lost. our reading

Practices that grow contentment and letting go

Verses that give something to do, today or in the hard moment.

Krishna
श्री भगवानुवाच असंशयं महाबाहो मनो दुर्निग्रहं चलं । अभ्यासेन तु कौन्तेय वैराग्येण च गृह्यते ॥
śrī bhagavānuvāca asaṃśayaṃ mahābāho mano durnigrahaṃ calaṃ | abhyāsena tu kaunteya vairāgyeṇa ca gṛhyate ||
The Blessed Lord said: Undoubtedly, mighty-armed one, the mind is restless and hard to control. But it is held by practice and by detachment, Kaunteya.
Bhagavad Gita 6.35
Shows loosening the pull of what the mind runs to. our reading
Bhartrihari
दानं भोगो नाशस्तिस्रो गतयो भवन्ति वित्तस्य । यो न ददाति न भुङ्क्ते तस्य तृतीया गतिर्भवति ॥
dānaṃ bhogo nāśastisro gatayo bhavanti vittasya | yo na dadāti na bhuṅkte tasya tṛtīyā gatirbhavati ||
Wealth has three destinies: giving, enjoying and loss. Whoever neither gives nor enjoys it meets the third.
Bhartrihari · Niti Shatakam
Names enjoy what one has. our reading
Kalakavrikshiya
अवाप्यान्कामयन्नर्थान्नानवाप्यान्कदाचन / प्रत्युत्पन्नाननुभवन्मा शुचस्त्वमनागतान्
avāpyānkāmayannarthānnānavāpyānkadācana / pratyutpannānanubhavanmā śucastvamanāgatān
Wish for what can be had, never for what cannot. Enjoy what is in front of you now, and do not grieve over what has not yet come.
Mahabharata · Shanti Parva · Bhishma, Rajadharma
Shows enjoying what is present is named as the practice. our reading
Gandhari
न लोभादर्थसंपत्तिर्नराणामिह दृश्यते / तदलं तात लोभेन प्रशाम्य भरतर्षभ ॥
na lobhādarthasaṃpattirnarāṇāmiha dṛśyate / tadalaṃ tāta lobhena praśāmya bharatarṣabha ||
No one in this world gains real wealth through greed. Enough of greed, my son. Be at peace.
Mahabharata · Udyoga Parva · Udyoga: Krishna's peace embassy
Enough. our reading
Kausalya
यह बिचारि नहिं करउँ हठ झूठ सनेहु बढ़ाइ। मानि मातु कर नात बलि सुरति बिसरि जनि जाइ ॥
yah bicāri nahiṃ karauṁ haṭh jhūṭh sanehu baṛhāi| māni mātu kar nāt bali surati bisari jani jāi ||
Thinking this over, I will not insist out of false affection. I bless you, son; only keep the bond of a mother, and don't forget me.
Ramcharitmanas · Ayodhya Kand
Ram
सातवँ सम मोहि मय जग देखा। मोतें संत अधिक करि लेखा॥ आठवँ जथालाभ संतोषा। सपनेहुँ नहिं देखइ परदोषा ॥
sātavaṁ sam mohi may jag dekhā| moteṃ saṃt adhik kari lekhā|| āṭhavaṁ jathālābh saṃtoṣā| sapanehuṁ nahiṃ dekhai paradoṣā ||
The seventh is to see the whole world as filled with me, and to regard good people as greater than me. The eighth is to be content with whatever comes, and never, even in a dream, to look for faults in others.
Ramcharitmanas · Aranya Kand
Shows contentment named as a form of devotion. our reading
Tulsidas
कबहुँक हौं यहि रहनि रहौंगो। श्रीरघुनाथ-कृपालु-कृपातें संत-सुभाव गहौंगो॥ ९॥ जथालाभसंतोष सदा, काहू सों कछु न चहांगो। पर-हित-निरत निरंतर, मन क्रम बचन नेम निबहौंगो॥ … परुष बचन अति दुसह श्रवन सुनि तेहि पावक न दहांगो। बिगत मान, सम सीतल मन, पर-गुन नहिं दोष कहाँगो॥ ३॥ परिहरि देह-जनित चिंता, दुख-सुख समबुद्धि सहोंगो।
kabahuṁk hauṃ yahi rahani rahauṃgo| śrīraghunāth-kṛpālu-kṛpāteṃ saṃt-subhāv gahauṃgo|| 9|| jathālābhasaṃtoṣ sadā, kāhū soṃ kachu na cahāṃgo| par-hit-nirat niraṃtar, man kram bacan nem nibahauṃgo|| … paruṣ bacan ati dusah śravan suni tehi pāvak na dahāṃgo| bigat mān, sam sītal man, par-gun nahiṃ doṣ kahāṁgo|| 3|| parihari deh-janit ciṃtā, dukh-sukh samabuddhi sahoṃgo|
Will I ever live like this? By the grace of kind Raghunath, will I take on the nature of a saint: always content with what comes, wanting nothing from anyone, always devoted to others' good, keeping my vow in mind, deed and word; hearing very harsh words and not burning in that fire; free of pride, even and cool of mind, speaking of others' virtues and not their faults; letting go of the body's worries, bearing joy and sorrow with an even mind?
Vinay Patrika, pada 172
Markandeya
स होवाच । वैराग्यतैलसम्पूर्णे भक्तिवर्तिसमन्विते । प्रबोधपूर्णपात्रे तु ज्ञप्तिदीपं विलोकयेत् ॥ मोहान्धकारे निःसारे उदेति स्वयमेव हि । वैराग्यमरणिं कृत्वा ज्ञानं कृत्वोत्तरारणिम् ॥
sa hovāca | vairāgyatailasampūrṇe bhaktivartisamanvite | prabodhapūrṇapātre tu jñaptidīpaṃ vilokayet || mohāndhakāre niḥsāre udeti svayameva hi | vairāgyamaraṇiṃ kṛtvā jñānaṃ kṛtvottarāraṇim ||
In a vessel full of awakening, filled with the oil of detachment and fitted with the wick of devotion, behold the lamp of knowing. In the hollow darkness of delusion it rises of itself. Make detachment the lower fire-stick and knowledge the upper.
Dakshinamurti Upanishad 26-27
Shows letting go as the fuel. our reading

People who lived it

Someone in the scriptures went through this, and the story shows what turned.

From the Mahabharata
The golden mongoose and the handful of flour
At the end of Yudhishthira's lavish horse sacrifice, a half-golden mongoose declares it worth less than a poor family's gift. In a famine, a gleaner, his wife, son and daughter-in-law each gave their last handful of flour to a hungry guest; rolling in the spilt flour turned half the mongoose to gold.
A small gift, honestly earned and given from little, outweighs the grandest show.
From the Upanishads
Da Da Da: the voice of thunder
Gods, humans and demons finish their studies with their father Prajapati and ask for a parting word. To each he says only 'Da'. The gods hear 'be self-controlled', humans hear 'give', and demons hear 'be compassionate'. The thunder still repeats it.
Each of us hears the lesson we most need: restraint, generosity or compassion.
From the Poets and saints
Vairagyashatakam: Censure of craving
The poet confesses everything he did for money and approval: digging for treasure, flattering kings, forcing laughter. He ends with the famous lines that pleasures consumed us and craving never aged, and hope pictured as a river.
We think we are chasing things; really, the chase is using up our lives.

Is this where you are?

Write a line about today. Your words find their place on the map, with a verse for each.

Nearby on the map

See greed on the whole map

Questions people ask

What is the Sanskrit word for greed?

Lobha (लोभ). Never enough, greed.

Which Bhagavad Gita verse speaks about greed?

Bhagavad Gita 14.12: Greed, activity, the undertaking of actions, restlessness and craving: these arise when rajas increases, best of the Bharatas.

How do the scriptures say to overcome greed?

They set contentment and letting go against it. Contentment cures greed as the autumn sun dries puddles. (Manas Kishkindha 16; Yoga Vasishtha 2.15; Narada) To humans the thunder says: give. (Brihad 5.2 (datta); Gita 17.20; Gandhari)

Verses, translations and stories come from the Wisdom library, read with the traditional commentaries. A line marked stated in the text is a link the verse or a named commentator makes; our reading is Wisdom's own reading of the verse.