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DISCOURSE 57
121 THE WAY TO SPEND MONEY
The commentator on the grantha, the acharyashri has prescribed the right way to spend the money you have earned. He prescribes the way by means of the Nithishastra (the science of ethics) thus :
"पादमायान्निधिं कुर्यात् पादं वित्ताय घदयेत्।
धर्मोपभोगयोः पादं पादं भर्तव्यपोषणे ॥" Divide your income (annual income) into four equal parts. Save one part; invest one part in your business; spend one part for the maintenance of your family i.e. for the food, clothes, education etc. of the members of your family); and spend one part to carry out spiritual activities and for your personal expenses. Now, I will illustrate this arrangement by means of an example,
Let us suppose that a person's annual income is twelve thousand rupees. He has to save three thousand rupees and put it along with his permanent wealth. He should invest three thousand rupees in his business. He should spend three thousand rupees for the maintenance of his family, and the remaining three thousand should be spent for carrying out spiritual activities and for his own enjoyment.
From the Audience : We spend the entire amount of twelve thousand for the maintenance of our family and for our own enjoyments and pleasures; and for the satisfaction of our addictions.
Maharajashri : Then your income has to be a fifty thousand rupees per year. He who earns fifty thousand rupees a year can spend about 12 or 13 thousand for the maintenance of his family. But a man who is employed in some office or factory etc. has to make only three divisions of his income because he need not invest anything in his employment. Therefore, such a man can spend six thousand rupees for the maintenance of his family. He has to save three thousand; and spend three thousand for carrying out spiritual activities and for his own enjoyment.
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