View source for Money is sweeter than honey

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{{terms|"money as being sweeter than honey"|"money is as good as honey"|"money is so sweeter than honey"|"money is sweeter than honey"|"money is the honey"|"money, sweeter than honey"}}
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[[Category:Money]]
[[Category:Sweet]]
[[Category:Honey]]
[[Category:Prabhupada's Expressions]]
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<div id="Srimad-Bhagavatam" class="section" sec_index="1" parent="compilation" text="Srimad-Bhagavatam"><h2>Srimad-Bhagavatam</h2>
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<div id="SB_Canto_7" class="sub_section" sec_index="7" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam" text="SB Canto 7"><h3>SB Canto 7</h3>
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<div id="SB7610_0" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_7" book="SB" index="241" link="SB 7.6.10" link_text="SB 7.6.10">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 7.6.10|SB 7.6.10, Translation]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="trans text"><p style="display: inline;">Money is so dear that one conceives of money as being sweeter than honey. Therefore, who can give up the desire to accumulate money, especially in household life? Thieves, professional servants (soldiers) and merchants try to acquire money even by risking their very dear lives.</p>
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<div id="SB7610_1" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_7" book="SB" index="241" link="SB 7.6.10" link_text="SB 7.6.10">
<div class="heading">It is practically proved—and everyone will admit—that money is sweeter than honey.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 7.6.10|SB 7.6.10, Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="purport text"><p style="display: inline;">How money can be dearer than life is indicated in this verse. Thieves may enter the house of a rich man to steal money at the risk of their lives. Because of trespassing, they may be killed by guns or attacked by watchdogs, but still they try to commit burglary. Why do they risk their lives? Only to get some money. Similarly, a professional soldier is recruited into the army, and he accepts such service, with the risk of dying on the battlefield, only for the sake of money. In the same way, merchants go from one country to another on boats at the risk of their lives, or they dive into the water of the sea to collect pearls and valuable gems. Thus it is practically proved—and everyone will admit—that money is sweeter than honey. One may risk everything to acquire money, and this is especially true of rich men who are too attached to household life. Formerly, of course, the members of the higher castes—the brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas and vaiśyas (everyone but the śūdras)—were trained in the guru-kula to adhere to a life of renunciation and sense control by practicing brahmacarya and mystic yoga. Then they were allowed to enter household life. There have consequently been many instances in which great kings and emperors have given up household life. Although they were extremely opulent and were the masters of kingdoms, they could give up all their possessions because they were trained early as brahmacārīs.</p>
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<div id="SB71336_2" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_7" book="SB" index="570" link="SB 7.13.36" link_text="SB 7.13.36">
<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 7.13.36|SB 7.13.36, Translation]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="trans text"><p style="display: inline;">From the bumblebee I have learned to be unattached to accumulating money, for although money is as good as honey, anyone can kill its owner and take it away.</p>
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<div id="Lectures" class="section" sec_index="4" parent="compilation" text="Lectures"><h2>Lectures</h2>
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<div id="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" class="sub_section" sec_index="1" parent="Lectures" text="Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures"><h3>Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures</h3>
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<div id="LectureonSB129NewVrindabanSeptember71972_0" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="53" link="Lecture on SB 1.2.9 -- New Vrindaban, September 7, 1972" link_text="Lecture on SB 1.2.9 -- New Vrindaban, September 7, 1972">
<div class="heading">Don't work hard simply money, money, money, money, sweeter than honey. That is not life. That is cats and dogs life.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 1.2.9 -- New Vrindaban, September 7, 1972|Lecture on SB 1.2.9 -- New Vrindaban, September 7, 1972]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Therefore, our principle is yāvad artham. You can earn honestly as far, as much as you require for maintaining your body and soul together. Don't earn..., don't work hard simply money, money, money, money, sweeter than honey. That is not life. That is cats and dogs life. They're simply working hard, just like ass, mūḍha. Mūḍha means ass. This mūḍha, this word is applicable to the worker, to the karmīs, because they are working very hard. But actually, what he's enjoying? When he lies down, he requires that six feet bedstead. That's all.</p>
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<div id="LectureonSB1841LosAngelesMay31973_1" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="242" link="Lecture on SB 1.8.41 -- Los Angeles, May 3, 1973" link_text="Lecture on SB 1.8.41 -- Los Angeles, May 3, 1973">
<div class="heading">"Oh, you have such nice apartment, nice wife." Then to maintain all this, we must have money. Money, money, money, money, sweeter than honey. In this way, our attachment increases, attachment increases.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 1.8.41 -- Los Angeles, May 3, 1973|Lecture on SB 1.8.41 -- Los Angeles, May 3, 1973]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">First of all, there is natural affinity, attraction, for man and woman. A man is seeking after woman, woman is seeking after man. That is in human society, in bird society, beast society, everywhere. Even flies, insects, you'll see that one female is attached to the male, male is attached. So this is beginning of material attachment. Then by attachment, when one male finds out another woman, or one finds out another man, they unite. So this attachment becomes fixed up again. Already there is attachment, and as soon as they are united, that attachment becomes more firm. Tayor mitho hṛdaya-granthim āhuḥ. I have already got attachment, but when I am again united actually, that attachment increases. Now, after the attachment increases to some degree, then next degree is find out nice apartment to live together. That is another increase of attachment. Then we have got an apartment. Find out some means of earning money. Formerly, they were earning..., there were no factories. Everyone has to earn his livelihood by agriculture, kṣetra. Ato gṛha-kṣetra. First of all, apartment must be maintained by working, by earning something, gṛha-kṣetra. Then when we, everything is settled up, now we must have a son, children. Yes. Ato gṛha-kṣetra-sutāpta. Then we shall, we must have some friends, who will come and eulogize me: "Oh, you have such nice apartment, nice wife." Ato gṛha-kṣetra-sutāpta-vittaiḥ ([[Vanisource:SB 5.5.8|SB 5.5.8]]). Then to maintain all this, we must have money. Money, money, money, money, sweeter than honey. In this way, our attachment increases, attachment increases.</p>
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<div id="LectureonSB7610VrndavanaDecember121975_2" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="765" link="Lecture on SB 7.6.10 -- Vrndavana, December 12, 1975" link_text="Lecture on SB 7.6.10 -- Vrndavana, December 12, 1975">
<div class="heading">So stri śūdra quality, vaṇik quality, they are very backwards. Professor Marshall, he has given reason for economic development: the family affection. Unless one has got family affection, he is not interested in money.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 7.6.10 -- Vrndavana, December 12, 1975|Lecture on SB 7.6.10 -- Vrndavana, December 12, 1975]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Harikeśa: Translation: "Money is so dear that one conceives that money is sweeter than honey, and who can give up the desire of accumulating such money, especially in the household life? The thieves, the professional soldiers, or the mercantile community try to acquire money by risking the very life."</p>
<p>Prabhupāda:</p>
:ko nv artha-tṛṣṇāṁ visṛjet
:prāṇebhyo 'pi ya īpsitaḥ
:yaṁ krīṇāty asubhiḥ preṣṭhais
:taskaraḥ sevako vaṇik
:([[Vanisource:SB 7.6.10|SB 7.6.10]])
<p>So here is one condemnation, that taskaraḥ, sevakaḥ and vaṇik. Similarly, there is another verse in Bhagavad-gītā, striyaḥ vaiśya tathā śūdra. So stri śūdra quality, vaṇik quality, they are very backwards. So here it is said, sneha-pāśair dṛḍhair baddham. Professor Marshall, he has given reason for economic development: the family affection. Unless one has got family affection, he is not interested in money. So therefore I sometimes say that these hippies, they are little advanced because they have no affection for family and they have no affection for money also. This is... In the other way, these are good qualification: no interest, no affection. Everyone is working on account of family affection, sneha-pāśair. He has got wife and children, and he requires money to make the family happy. So..., and for maintaining the family, he requires money. Ato gṛheṣu sutāpta-vittair janasya moho 'yam.</p>
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<div id="LectureonSB7610NewVrindabanJune261976_3" class="quote" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam_Lectures" book="Lec" index="766" link="Lecture on SB 7.6.10 -- New Vrindaban, June 26, 1976" link_text="Lecture on SB 7.6.10 -- New Vrindaban, June 26, 1976">
<div class="heading">Money is the via media for enjoyment of material world. People are working so hard, day and night, just to get money because money is the source or the means of sense enjoyment. That is the disease, sense enjoyment.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on SB 7.6.10 -- New Vrindaban, June 26, 1976|Lecture on SB 7.6.10 -- New Vrindaban, June 26, 1976]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Pradyumna: (leads chanting, etc.) "Money is so dear that one conceives of money as being sweeter than honey. Therefore, who can give up the desire to accumulate money, especially in household life? Thieves, professional servants (soldiers) and merchants try to acquire money even by risking their very dear lives."</p>
<p>Prabhupāda:</p>
:ko nv artha-tṛṣṇāṁ visṛjet
:prāṇebhyo 'pi ya īpsitaḥ
:yaṁ krīṇāty asubhiḥ preṣṭhais
:taskaraḥ sevako vaṇik
:([[Vanisource:SB 7.6.10|SB 7.6.10]])
<p>So, the beginning of instruction was kaumāra ācaret prājño dharmān bhāgavatān iha ([[Vanisource:SB 7.6.1|SB 7.6.1]]). This material world, beginning, those who are not trained up, their beginning is hankering after union for sex. And puṁsāṁ striya mithuni-bhāvam, this is the material world, attraction, and when they are united the attraction increases, we have already discussed. In this way our attraction for material wealth, ato gṛha-kṣetra-sutāpta-vittair ([[Vanisource:SB 5.5.8|SB 5.5.8]]). In this way material possessions, material facilities, we increase. Modern civilization is that. They are simply increasing material wants. The process is pravṛttir eṣaṁ bhūtānāṁ nivṛttes tu mahā-phalaṁ. Natural tendency is, because we have come to enjoy this material world... Conditioned soul means we wanted to enjoy this material world, not to serve anyone. Although our constitutional position is to serve, but artificially we want to give up service and we want to enjoy. That is material disease. So gradually, if we want to enjoy material world, then we require money. Money is the via media for enjoyment of material world. People are working so hard, day and night, just to get money because money is the source or the means of sense enjoyment. That is the disease, sense enjoyment.</p>
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<div id="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="section" sec_index="5" parent="compilation" text="Conversations and Morning Walks"><h2>Conversations and Morning Walks</h2>
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<div id="1976_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="9" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1976 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1976 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
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<div id="GardenConversationJune101976LosAngeles_0" class="quote" parent="1976_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="124" link="Garden Conversation -- June 10, 1976, Los Angeles" link_text="Garden Conversation -- June 10, 1976, Los Angeles">
<div class="heading">They are prepared to give up life for money. Money is so sweeter than honey.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Garden Conversation -- June 10, 1976, Los Angeles|Garden Conversation -- June 10, 1976, Los Angeles]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Hṛdayānanda:</p>
:ko nv artha-tṛṣṇāṁ visṛjet
:prāṇebhyo 'pi ya īpsitaḥ
:yaṁ krīṇāty asubhiḥ preṣṭhais
:taskaraḥ sevako vaṇik
<p>"Money is so dear that one conceives of money as being sweeter than honey. Therefore, who can give up the desire to accumulate money, especially in household life? Thieves, professional servants, soldiers and merchants try to acquire money even..."</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Here is a very nice example. Soldiers. They know "We are going to give up our life." And what for? "Money." (laughs) They are prepared to give up life for money. Money is so sweeter than honey. (laughs) And thieves, they go at night for burglary. He knows that "If I trespass anyone's house, he can kill me immediately." But still he takes the risk for money. That is all explained here. What is the verse?</p>
<p>Hṛdayānanda: "Thieves, professional servants, soldiers and merchants try to acquire money even by risking their very dear lives."</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Merchants also. Formerly, merchants used to go from one country.... And now they also go, now. Facility of transport is easier. Formerly, they had to cross the big ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, waves, and many of them died. Still, for money, they used to go.</p>
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<div id="1977_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" class="sub_section" sec_index="10" parent="Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" text="1977 Conversations and Morning Walks"><h3>1977 Conversations and Morning Walks</h3>
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<div id="RoomConversationwithSvarupaDamodaraFebruary281977Mayapura_0" class="quote" parent="1977_Conversations_and_Morning_Walks" book="Con" index="112" link="Room Conversation with Svarupa Damodara -- February 28, 1977, Mayapura" link_text="Room Conversation with Svarupa Damodara -- February 28, 1977, Mayapura">
<div class="heading">Big animals. They are animals, but big animals, because they have got money. "Money is sweeter than honey."
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Room Conversation with Svarupa Damodara -- February 28, 1977, Mayapura|Room Conversation with Svarupa Damodara -- February 28, 1977, Mayapura]]: </span><div class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Rūpānuga: From Svarūpa Dāmodara Prabhu's experience, it appears that India is the best place to begin our attack on science.</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes.</p>
<p>Rūpānuga: Because we can recruit Indian scientists, I think, and then to...</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Yes.</p>
<p>Rūpānuga: ...America we can make some headway. Because America, the scientists are very arrogant and dogmatic. They're not so receptive. Here there is...</p>
<p>Prabhupāda: Big, big animals. Big animals. They are animals, but big animals, because they have got money. "Money is sweeter than honey."</p>
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<div id="Correspondence" class="section" sec_index="6" parent="compilation" text="Correspondence"><h2>Correspondence</h2>
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<div id="1967_Correspondence" class="sub_section" sec_index="2" parent="Correspondence" text="1967 Correspondence"><h3>1967 Correspondence</h3>
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<div id="LettertoHamsadutaCalcutta13October1967_0" class="quote" parent="1967_Correspondence" book="Let" index="177" link="Letter to Hamsaduta -- Calcutta 13 October, 1967" link_text="Letter to Hamsaduta -- Calcutta 13 October, 1967">
<div class="heading">"Money is the honey" goes so far as it is employed for Krishna consciousness.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Letter to Hamsaduta -- Calcutta 13 October, 1967|Letter to Hamsaduta -- Calcutta 13 October, 1967]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">Please accept my blessings. I have received your letter of Oct. 5. "Money is the honey" goes so far as it is employed for Krishna consciousness. The body is undoubtedly a material vehicle but when it acts for Krishna Consciousness it becomes spiritualized. By the grace of Krishna material energy can be transformed to spiritual energy &amp; spiritual energy is never deteriorated. To be in Krishna Consciousness means to be in Spiritual energy. More in my next. Hope you are well.</p>
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