Knowledge - The Greatest Wealth Worth Pursuing!! (2024)

While casually chatting about the significance of knowledge with a kid who is very dear to me, I recalled two Sanskrit Shlokas my father always emphasized to drive home the importance of knowledge and even greater importance of passion to seek knowledge. Thought worth sharing these Shlokas that greatly shaped my worldview, life & career.

Thus goes the first one:

न चौरहार्यं न च राजहार्यं न भ्रातृभाज्यं न च भारकारी ।

व्यये कृते वर्धते एव नित्यं विद्याधनं सर्वधन प्रधानम् ॥

Thieves cannot steal it, Kings (state) cannot confiscate it, nor is it divisible amongst siblings, nor is it heavy to carry around.

It’s a wealth, the more you spend, the more it grows, indeed wealth of knowledge is undoubtedly the greatest wealth.

And here is the second one:

विद्यां ददाति विनयं, विनयाद् याति पात्रताम् ।

पात्रत्वात् धनमाप्नोति, धनात् धर्मं ततः सुखम् ॥

Knowledge enables modesty & humility, through modesty & humility one attains ability (skills), with ability comes wealth. And wealth enables one to get means of comfort and happiness.

Bottomline - knowledge & skills are crucial & instrumental to the path of success, comfort and happiness. Further, it’s the wealth that never parts way with you, hence it is the only wealth worth acquiring, rest everything follows.

Please note, we often mistake knowledge with education. Education is one of many formal ways to get knowledge, but not the only one. I know many knowledgeable and inspirational people who had had little or no formal education. Education is necessary, but more important is the quest for knowledge, whether through education and/or any avenue available.