Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 12
Nimi Questions the Yogendras: Varṇāśrama’s Purpose, Ritualism’s Fall, and Yuga-Avatāras with Kali-yuga Saṅkīrtana
धनं च धर्मैकफलं यतो वै ज्ञानं सविज्ञानमनुप्रशान्ति । गृहेषु युञ्जन्ति कलेवरस्य मृत्युं न पश्यन्ति दुरन्तवीर्यम् ॥ १२ ॥
dhanaṁ ca dharmaika-phalaṁ yato vai jñānaṁ sa-vijñānam anupraśānti gṛheṣu yuñjanti kalevarasya mṛtyuṁ na paśyanti duranta-vīryam
Der einzig rechte Ertrag von Reichtum ist Dharma; auf dieser Grundlage reift Erkenntnis zur direkten Schau der Absoluten Wahrheit und zum Frieden. Materialisten jedoch verwenden ihr Vermögen nur zur Förderung von Haus und Familie und sehen nicht, dass der unbezwingbare Tod bald diesen schwachen Körper zerstören wird.
Those things that come under the control of the proprietor are called dhanam, or wealth. When a foolish person becomes addicted to spending all of his hard-earned money to increase the prestige of his material body and family, he is no longer able to see how death is steadily approaching his own body as well as the temporary bodies of his family and friends. Mṛtyuḥ sarva-haraś cāham: the Supreme Lord appears as all-powerful death, which destroys all material situations. Actually, even in family life one should use one’s wealth for spiritual advancement of oneself and one’s family. In the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement there are many religious householders who live a simple, peaceful life and use their wealth for arranging Kṛṣṇa conscious activities at home and for helping the renounced brahmacārīs and sannyāsīs who are actively preaching Kṛṣṇa consciousness in public places. Such householders, even those who are not able to dedicate one hundred percent of their energy to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, gradually acquire a very solid understanding of the spiritual principles of life and eventually become transcendentalists firmly fixed at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. Thus they free themselves from all of the anxieties of conditional life, namely birth, old age, disease and death.
FAQs
This verse notes that for materially motivated people, the “fruit” of their dharma becomes merely wealth; real peace comes from jñāna with realized understanding, not from accumulation.
Because death cannot be overcome by bodily maintenance or household absorption; it arrives inevitably, and the verse warns that ignoring it is a symptom of material illusion.
Use wealth and duties as supports for bhakti, cultivate daily spiritual study and remembrance of life’s impermanence, and prioritize realized knowledge that brings steadiness and peace.