अर्थस्य पुरुषो दास:

Arthasya Purusho Daasah

(6.41.36,51,77 Mahabharata)

This is one of the all-time universal truths of human life. It was always true and applicable; it is applicable today and it will continue in future as well. What does it mean? It means that a man is a slave of money!

The background is like this: we know the Mahabharata, where Kauravas and Pandavas, first cousins, were at war against each other. Although the war ostensibly was for the kingdom or property, it was essentially a dispute between satya vs. asatya, dharma vs. adharma, truth vs. untruth, and righteous vs. evil. Kauravas represented the asatya, adharma, untruth, and evil. We know the disgraceful episode of Draupadi (Pandavas’ wife) being humiliated and ridiculed in the open court before all seniors in the family, ministers, gurus, and many others.

Surprisingly, Bheeshma, Dronacharya, Krupacharya, and many stalwarts who were basically the gurus (mentors), respected for knowledge, righteous behaviour, and selflessness, were silent observers of Kauravas’ misdeeds. Not only that they did not even attempt to effectively prevent Kauravas from doing wrong things and sinful acts, at the end of the most disastrous war, they stood to fight on behalf of the Kauravas against the Pandavas!

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