Shloka 37
Vāmanadeva Praises Bali; the Measure of Three Steps; Śukrācārya Warns Against the Gift
धर्माय यशसेऽर्थाय कामाय स्वजनाय च । पञ्चधा विभजन्वित्तमिहामुत्र च मोदते ॥ ३७ ॥
dharmāya yaśase ’rthāya kāmāya sva-janāya ca pañcadhā vibhajan vittam ihāmutra ca modate
അതുകൊണ്ട് സമ്പൂർണ്ണജ്ഞാനമുള്ളവൻ തന്റെ സമ്പാദിച്ച ധനം അഞ്ചായി വിഭജിക്കണം—ധർമ്മത്തിനായി, യശസ്സിനായി, ഐശ്വര്യവർദ്ധനയ്ക്കായി, ഇന്ദ്രിയസുഖത്തിനായി, സ്വജനങ്ങളുടെ പോഷണത്തിനായി. അങ്ങനെ ചെയ്യുന്നവൻ ഇഹലോകത്തും പരലോകത്തും സന്തോഷിക്കുന്നു.
The śāstras enjoin that if one has money one should divide all that he has accumulated into five divisions — one part for religion, one part for reputation, one part for opulence, one part for sense gratification and one part to maintain the members of his family. At the present, however, because people are bereft of all knowledge, they spend all their money for the satisfaction of their family. Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī taught us by his own example by using fifty percent of his accumulated wealth for Kṛṣṇa, twenty-five percent for his own self, and twenty-five percent for the members of his family. One’s main purpose should be to advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. This will include dharma, artha and kāma. However, because one’s family members expect some profit, one should also satisfy them by giving them a portion of one’s accumulated wealth. This is a śāstric injunction.
FAQs
This verse says wealth should be divided into five uses—dharma, good name, economic stability, regulated enjoyment, and support of one’s dependents—bringing well-being in both this life and the next.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī speaks this instruction while narrating the events of the Eighth Canto to Mahārāja Parīkṣit.
Budget your income with clear portions for spiritual duty/charity, responsible reputation-building, savings and necessities, disciplined enjoyment, and family responsibilities—so prosperity supports both values and inner peace.