Page 31 - JAIN ONLINE

In a big metropolitan city like Mumbai, there lived a
wealthy merchant named Laxmidas. His business was running
in full swing, prospering day and night, yielding him a good
income. Money nurtures greed. One may naturally get
a ached to one's wealth. What is new in this? A worm of worry
even stung Laxmidas, “It is a big risk keeping all the wealth in
the house. Any me anyone can sniff it. I fear even my wife's
inten on may pervert!” Look, how mean and shallow psyche of
him!
He thought further, “Do I lend it to some Shroff (old
systemed banker)? The wealth would be safe and protected.
Besides, I would also get interest on it. No, even this idea is
risky. He may get bankrupt and then, on the contrary, would
s ck to home like a blood-sucking insect asking for money. No
need of giving any second thoughts. I would bury gold etc., and
I'll need to dig a large pit. I'll do one thing, and I'll buy jewellery
and ornaments out of my wealth. It would ease and lessen my
job. Also, I won't get caught in anyone's eyes. Even a small pit
would work and my wealth would last for many coming
genera ons! Everything would be fine!”
What is all this trouble and pain for? Black slavery,
service of Mistress Laxmi! (Goddess of wealth)
The merchant devised a superb plan to safeguard his
wealth. He bought plenty of superior & expensive jewellery out
of his abundant wealth He felt, 'If I take out this jewellery at the
right me when the market is favourable', I will earn a good
profit. Only the king's treasure have such jewellery!' Laxmidas
liked his plan very much. He packed all the jewellery in strong
and small boxes and those too in a sturdy casket and wrapped
and packed it in a cloth. Now he was ge ng ready to head on to
the forest.
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The merchant had a son named 'Bhala'. Everyone called
him 'Bhaliya'. The merchant now wanted to take this casket in
the forest and bury it. He thought 'If I show the place to my son,
then he can take it a er my death.' His mind was at the place to
that extent. He didn't get so cracked. This was a surprising
wonder about the miser. Although, he was very clever and had
raised his son with strict discipline. He had kept his son
suppressed under his command so that his son can't dare to do
anything against his wish! So he was sure his son wouldn't
undug the treasure. Otherwise, the miser would have a fear, 'If
my son's inten ons pervert and without my knowing if he digs
the treasure, then I would get ruined! Let anything happen to
me but not to my wealth. So I won't show him now'.
'Then, when should I show him? Do I show him, when
the death knocks the door?' But the poor soul wasn't not aware
'Will you have any energy to speak when the death is hovering
on you?' Even at that me, a miser won't disclose the treasure,
if he feels deep inside his mind that 'I'll s ll live long and I'm not
going to die so early', or maybe the son would be out of the city
when he dies. At that spur of me. 'I may not be able to inform
him of the exact, precise loca on. He may only know that
wealth is buried somewhere but won't know where. A miser's
mind has no space for such thoughts!
Look at the trouble of miserliness! The worry of wealth
doesn't let any thought of religion enter the mind. It drowns
him in the flood of such evil-black thoughts that he seems to be
a stupid fool person to all the people. Pained by the
a achment, his mind remains engrossed in such cruel and
mean thoughts all day long.
The merchant called his son while ge ng ready to go for
the forest, “O Bhaliya! Come with me. There is no safety of
Piteous Outcome of Greed 61