The Story of King Srinjayaa and His Greed
Once, there lived a greedy King called Srinjayaa. He had only a daughter and no son, and he felt badly about it.
Seeking a Son
So, he asked the Brahmins for advice, and they told him that if he worshipped Narada Muni, he could get his desire fulfilled.
One day, when Narada Muni came to Srinjayaa’s palace, Srinjayaa worshipped him and prayed for a son.
The Blessing
When Narada Muni asked the King what sort of a son he desired, the King replied that he wanted a beautiful, intelligent, healthy son, from whose mouth pearls should fall whenever he cried or spoke.
Narada Muni blessed the King and went away.
The Miracle Child
Soon, a son was born to the King, by the blessings of Narada Muni. Pearls started falling from the child’s mouth every time he spoke or cried. The palace was filled with pearls, and even the doors and walls were inlaid with jewels.
The story of this miracle child spread like wildfire.
The Robbery
A gang of robbers in the forest heard about this child and decided to kidnap him. One night, they stealthily entered the palace and took the child away.
When the King learned of this, he was extremely distressed. He sent the royal soldiers to search for the child.
The Tragic End
When the gang of robbers heard the King’s command, they decided to leave the child, fearing the soldiers. All the robbers agreed except one, who suggested that the child be cut into pieces, believing that every drop of the child’s blood could also turn into a pearl.
Accordingly, they cut the child into pieces, but to their dismay, they couldn’t get a single pearl from the child’s blood.
By then, the royal soldiers had surrounded the robbers. They bound the robbers and brought them before the King.
The King’s Realization
The King came to know of the tragic end of his son and realized that his greed had ultimately ruined him.
Moral of the Story
In Srimad Bhagavatam, 11th Canto, Lord Sri Krishna, while instructing Sri Uddhava, told him the story of a Brahmana in the country of Avanti. The Avanti Brahmana speaks the following verse (SB 11.23.18-19):
steyam himsaanrtam dambhah kaamah krodhah smayo madah
bhedo vairam avisvaasah samspardha vyasanaani ca
ete pancadasaanarthaa hy artha-mulaa mataa nrnaam
tasmaad anartham arthaakhyam sreyo-rthi duratas tyajet
“Theft, violence, speaking lies, duplicity, lust, anger, perplexity, pride, quarrelling, enmity, faithlessness, envy, and the dangers caused by women, gambling, and intoxication are the fifteen undesirable qualities that contaminate men because of greed for wealth. Although these qualities are undesirable, men falsely ascribe value to them. One desiring to achieve the real benefit of life should therefore remain aloof from undesirable material wealth.”
In the story of King Srinjayaa, the King’s greed for material wealth led to many undesirable things like envy, theft, violence against the child, and perplexity for the King.
The Real Benefit of Life
On the other hand, if one desires to achieve the real benefit of life (sreyah-arthi), he should have intense greed for it, as quoted below in Caitanya Caritamrta, Madhya Lila 8.70:
“Pure devotional service in Krishna consciousness cannot be had even by pious activity in hundreds and hundreds of lives. It can be attained only by paying one price—that is, intense greed to obtain it. If it is available somewhere, one must purchase it without delay.”
Prayer
O Supreme Lord Krishna,
Please remove the veil of ignorance and greed from our hearts.
Grant us the wisdom to seek the real treasure of life—Your divine love and devotion.
May we always remember that material wealth is fleeting and deceptive,
But Your love and grace bring eternal happiness and peace.
Help us to purify our desires and seek only that which brings us closer to You.
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
May Your holy names and teachings always guide us in our journey of life.
