Right versus Wrong choice

Last week, while accepting the Dhirubhai Ambani Lifetime Achievement Award conferred on him in Mumbai, renowned chemist C N R Rao narrated a story from the Upanishads . The nanotechnologist was making the point that ultimately it’s not the search for wealth and power that motivates great research but the quest for knowledge for its own sake.

This produces a ‘high’ which is really incomparable, Rao said recalling a conversation between the Sage Yajnyavalkya and his spouse, Maitreyi from the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad. Maitreyi asks whether all the wealth that she’s getting from her husband will make her immortal. No, Yajnyavalkya says. Money would certainly make one rich and comfortable but not immortal. “In that case, I’m not interested in this wealth,” Maitreyi replies. “Please tell me about that which would give immortality. Teach me that which confers that wisdom.” Yajnyavalkya is supposed to have been mightily pleased with his wife's earnest query.

According to Professor Rao, knowledge is its own reward, which cannot be ‘monetised’ successfully. His remarks reminded your columnist of the unflinchingly contrary view of the Mahabharata which says, “Men are slaves of money (Arthasya purushah dasah).” Of course the epic also says one can disregard this dictum. Karna apparently does that by refusing to abandon the losing side. But his hosts’ immorality compromises that choice. Duryodhana’s evil overpowers Karna’s innate brilliance. In contrast, Arjuna unwaveringly remains on the right, read moral, side that wins.