Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 2.2Famous
beginner
सा होवाच मैत्रेयी यन्नु म इयं भगोः सर्वा पृथिवी वित्तेन पूर्णा स्यात्कथं तेनामृता स्यामिति। नेति होवाच याज्ञवल्क्यः यथैवोपकरणवतां जीवितं तथैव ते जीवितं स्याद्। अमृतत्वस्य तु नाशास्ति वित्तेनेति॥
sā hovāca maitreyī yannu ma iyaṃ bhagoḥ sarvā pṛthivī vittena pūrṇā syātkатhaṃ tenāmṛtā syāmiti | neti hovāca yājñavalkyaḥ yathaivopakaraṇavatāṃ jīvitaṃ tathaiva te jīvitaṃ syāt | amṛtatvasya tu nāśāsti vitteneti ||
"Maitreyi said: "Sir, if this entire earth filled with wealth were mine, would I become immortal through it?" "No," said Yajnavalkya, "your life would be like that of the wealthy. Through wealth there is no hope of immortality.""
What This Means:
Maitreyi asks: Even with all the wealth in the world, would I become immortal? Yajnavalkya says: No, wealth cannot give immortality.
Going Deeper:
Maitreyi shows wisdom by asking the crucial question. Wealth gives comfort, not freedom from death.
How To Apply This:
No amount of wealth makes you immortal. Seek what wealth cannot buy.
#wealth#immortality#Maitreyi's wisdom#questioning