In plain words
While this fear travels on one side, greed chases close behind. Through this greed they trust no one fully, whether relatives, friends or wife. How can one who cannot trust even these people trust God? In the end he loses even his own trust and turns into nothing but a weakling. Money is certainly needed. There must be money. But in what way must we earn it? How far must we earn it? We must keep these two rules as well. We must keep to only as much as is needed. We must use it in just the way we ought to use it.
When wealth increases, pride increases; when pride increases, vices grow without cease; when wealth wanes, pride wanes; when pride wanes, the vices cease, Vēmā!
Śaṅkarācārya too went to Kāśī, taking thirteen of his students. These thirteen were going to the Ganges to bathe. Under a tree sat a great scholar. They went there and looked. He had closed his eyes. He was reciting Pāṇini's grammar. Śaṅkara listened. “My son! What are you studying?” he asked. “I am studying grammar,” he said. “What fruit will you gain from studying this grammar?” he said. “I shall become a scholar of grammar,” he said. “What fruit is there for you in being a scholar of grammar?” he said. “I shall go to the king's court and become a great poet,” he said. “What fruit comes from learning this poetry?” he said. “I shall receive gifts from the king and live my life in comfort with my family,” he said. “How long will you live this comfortable life?” he said. “I shall live this comfortable life until I die,” he said. “What will you do after that?” he said. “I do not know,” he said. “Madman! As long as there is money, as long as there is water in the tank, the frogs come in. As long as you have money, wife, children, relatives, all of them will settle in your house. Once the money is gone, not one of them will so much as lift an eye to look at you. When the money runs out, even your wife will not respect you. ‘Eat what you are given, shut your mouth and stay in a room,’ she will say. Even your sons will not listen to you. ‘For now you just lie there; we will see to the work,’ they will say. They will even pull down your honour and standing. Is this the fruit that comes to you from money? Earn the wealth of Jñāna, my son!” he said. Then that learned one said: