Ishtopadesh Gatha 15

English Translation of Acharya Pujyapada swami’s Ishtopadesh – Deliberation (vivechana) and Poetic Translation by Acharya shri Vidyasagarji maharaj

Utthanika (Prelude):

Still, the disciple asks, “O Lord! What is the reason that people fail to see even the impending calamities approaching them?”

The Acharya Maharaj responds with clarity, “It is due to greed— ‘lobhāt’.

Greed and attachment to wealth make affluent individuals blind to the dangers that are directly in front of them. Their excessive desire and craving for material possessions obscure their wisdom and insight.

They remain so engrossed in their pursuit of accumulating and preserving wealth that they fail to perceive the impending adversities, which are inevitable outcomes of their attachments and actions.”

इष्टोपदेश गाथा 15

आयुवृद्धिक्षयोत्कर्ष हेतुं कालस्य निर्गमम् । वाञ्छतां धनिनामिष्टं जीवितात्सुतरां धनम् ॥15॥

Ayuvṛddhikṣayotkarṣa hetuṁ kālasya nirgamam |
Vāñchatāṁ dhanināmiṣṭaṁ jīvitātsutarāṁ dhanam || 15 ||

Poetic Translation (Padyanuvad )

Kāl bītatā jyoṁ-jyoṁ tyoṁ-tyoṁ āyu karma vah ghaṭe baḍhe,
Dhan kā vardhan dhanī chāhate, pratidin ham to bane baḍhe.
Kaheṁ kahāṁ tak dhanī log to, jīvan se bhī jaṛ dhan ko,
Param-iṣṭ paramēśvar kahate, dhanyavād dhan-jīvan ko. ॥15॥

Meaning (Romanized):
As time passes, life diminishes or grows as determined by karma,
Yet the wealthy wish only for their riches to multiply day by day.
How ironic it is that wealthy people value inert wealth
Even above life itself, treating it as the supreme treasure and offering gratitude to it.

Time is the cause of the shortening of the duration of life as well as of the increase of wealth: the amassers of wealth (thus) love money more than their lives.

Deliberation (vivechana)

From time immemorial, this soul has been deeply influenced by the intense impression of greed (lobha kashaya). It is due to this greed that the soul values wealth more than its own life. Even though the passage of time and the depletion of lifespan are factors in accumulating wealth, the greed for wealth leads wealthy individuals to disregard the fleeting nature of time and the diminishing of their lifespan. Instead, they consider the passage of time as beneficial for the increase in wealth.

This is why the wealthy do not reflect on the misfortunes arising from wealth. In fact, they do not even perceive them as misfortunes. This is entirely due to the influence of greed. Even if they reflect, their thoughts are solely directed toward increasing wealth and safeguarding it. Their efforts are focused on gathering resources to achieve this end, paying no attention to impending calamities.

This behavior stems from the delusion caused by the lobha kashaya karma and the insatiable craving for wealth. The Acharya repeatedly emphasizes that attaining wealth should not be the sole purpose of life. Alongside wealth, one should strive for virtues, noble thoughts, and adopt righteous practices (dharma), which pave the way for a meaningful and fulfilling life.

Isthopadesh Gatha 15 – Dwadasa Varshiya Shraman Sanskriti Swadhyaya Pathyakram

Literal Meaning ( Anvayartha)
(kālasya nirgamam) The passage of time (āyuḥ-kṣaya-vṛddhi-utkarṣa-hetuṁ) is the cause of the depletion of life and the increase of wealth. (vāñchatāṁ dhaninām) To those who desire wealth, (jīvitāt) more than their very life, (sutarām) wealth is dearer.

Interpretation ( Bhāvārtha)
Every moment of human life is invaluable. During their lifetime, if a person embraces ascetic practices (muni diksha), they can engage in intense meditation (shukladhyan) and, within a short time (antarmuhurta), attain omniscience (kevalgyan), achieving immortality, infinite knowledge, and eternal happiness. They can perform significant acts of self-discipline, moral enhancement, and service to others while gaining a good reputation.

Thus, wise, self-aware, and virtuous individuals make the best use of every moment of their lifespan. However, those who do not recognize the soul’s significance view the passage of time merely as a cause of both the depletion of life and the accumulation of wealth. They focus on the fact that while their lifespan decreases moment by moment, the wealth they have invested increases over time. These wealth-obsessed individuals value wealth more than their own life.

Even though the passage of time diminishes life, such deluded individuals disregard the inevitable loss of their vitality. Instead, they eagerly wish for the swift passage of days to amass more wealth. This obsession with wealth, driven by ignorance, is lamentable.

Uttānika (Prelude):
Here, the disciple asks, “Why is wealth, which facilitates the accumulation of merit (punya), condemned? Isn’t wealth essential for noble deeds such as giving alms to the deserving and worshipping the divine? Without wealth, these virtuous actions, which lead to spiritual merit, cannot be performed. Hence, isn’t wealth praiseworthy?”

In response, the Acharya explains that wealth should indeed be acquired, but only through righteous means. It should be used wisely—offered to worthy recipients and invested in virtuous deeds—to gather merit and achieve true happiness. The misuse or excessive attachment to wealth is what makes it blameworthy. Gatha 16

Swadhyay Ishtopadesh Gatha 13 to 17

Ishtopadesh Swadhyay youtube playlist

इष्टोपदेश Ishtopadesh

गाथा 1 (Gatha 1) | गाथा 2 ( Gatha 2 )| गाथा 3 ( Gatha 3)| गाथा 4 ( Gatha 4) | गाथा 5 ( Gatha 5) | गाथा 6 ( Gatha 6 )| गाथा 7 ( Gatha 7 )| गाथा 8 ( Gatha 8 ) | गाथा 9 ( Gatha 9 ) | गाथा 10 ( Gatha 10)| गाथा 11 ( Gatha 11 )| गाथा 12 ( Gatha 12) | गाथा 13 ( Gatha 13 )| गाथा 14 | गाथा 15 | गाथा 16 | गाथा 17 | गाथा 18 | गाथा 19 | गाथा 20 | गाथा 21 | गाथा 22 | गाथा 23 | गाथा 24

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