In plain words
This frail body made of the five elements: when it will be cast off, no one knows; they set its span at a hundred years, but do not trust that word in your heart; in childhood, or in the prime of youth, in later years, or in old age, in a town, in a forest, or in the midst of the waters, where it will be cast off, no one knows.
This is a leather puppet with nine holes that topples at a sneeze. Trusting such an unsteady body, you forget the precious jewels within it. That is just why you fall prey to unrest. Go to a millionaire: ‘Sir! You have everything, haven't you! But do you have Śānti?’ ask him. ‘I have everything, but I have no Śānti,’ he will say. Wherever you look outside there are ‘pieces’, but there is no ‘peace’. Śānti is right within you. So search for it within yourself. That alone is your duty. Forgetting it, you crave petty and worthless desires. When you attain the sacred qualities that are within you, you can experience a Śānti that is eternal Satya.
Without Satya, Dharma, Prema and Śānti, all the learning you have gained is worth nothing; without Satya, Dharma, Prema and Śānti, gifts and charities lose their worth; without Satya, Dharma, Prema and Śānti, the fruit of ruling from high office is nothing; without Satya, Dharma, Prema and Śānti, the gain of many good deeds is nothing.
Satya, Dharma, Prema and Śānti alone are our true and lasting wealth. The people of Kerala had these sacred qualities and went on worshipping God. What is the inner meaning in Vāmana's pressing Emperor Bali down to Pātāla? He trampled down the Ahaṅkāra in him. Recognising this Satya, all the people opened their eyes and gave up their Ahaṅkāra. That is why, even today, Kerala has won the name of a land most peaceful, holy and bright with green.
When Vāmana sent Bali to Pātāla, the people: “Alas! Our emperor has gone far away from us! Who is our refuge now?” they lamented bitterly. Then he promised them, “Every year, on this very day, I shall come and see you and then go.” That very day is this Onam. On this day he comes, blesses everyone and goes.
Every human being has some worries or other. But the people of Kerala have few worldly cravings. So they do not have many worries. They get along with one another in close affection and harmony. Now and then some differences may arise. But all of them are ‘passing clouds’. Truly, the people of Kerala are very pure, steady and selfless of heart. Others should take them as their example. However much work they have, they cannot go without putting on vibhūti, morning and evening, and visiting the temples. Even in such circumstances, people call the state of Kerala a Communist state. Not ‘Communist’; ‘Come-you-next’! It is the sacred feelings within them that draw them close to God. On this festival day of Onam they go to the temples and offer worship. In particular they go in great numbers to the shrine of Bālakṛṣṇa. Singing devotional songs, they revel in joy. However, under the influence of this modern age, many of them have changed to some extent. But in the past they were always steady and pure of heart. They longed for good to come to all. They never in the least desired anything that God would not like.