Who is rich, who is poor
Bhartrihari, Vairagya Shataka 53- Expectations
- Feeling unworthy
- Contentment
A person is poor when his craving is large. When the mind is content, there is no distinction between rich and poor.
- 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
- Bhartrihari
ये सन्तोषनिरन्तरप्रमुदितास्तेषां न भिन्ना मुदो ये त्वन्ये धनलुब्धसंकुलधियस्तेषां न तृष्णा हता । इत्थं कस्य कृते कृतः स विधिना कीदृक्पदं सम्पदां स्वात्मन्येव समाप्तहेममहिमा मेरुर्न मे रोचते ॥
ye santoṣanirantarapramuditāsteṣāṃ na bhinnā mudo ye tvanye dhanalubdhasaṃkuladhiyasteṣāṃ na tṛṣṇā hatā | itthaṃ kasya kṛte kṛtaḥ sa vidhinā kīdṛkpadaṃ sampadāṃ svātmanyeva samāptahemamahimā merurna me rocate ||
Those always delighted by contentment have joy that is undivided; the others, minds crowded with greed for money, never kill their craving. So for whom did fate make wealth, and what kind of place is it? Mount Meru, whose golden glory ends in itself, does not appeal to me.
Bhartrihari · Vairagya Shatakam