Bhaja Govindam - Sloka 5

5.

Yavad – until (man is)

Vitta – wealth

Uparjana – to earn

Saktha – able / eligible

Tavat – till then

Nija – one’s

Parivara – relations

Raktha – are attached / affectionate

Paschat – later

Jivati – when he lives

Jarjara – in old age

Deha – fragile body

Vartam – news / enquiry / well being

Kopi – no one

Na – does not

Pruchchati – ask

Gehe – in the house

Until one is healthy to earn money to take care of the family, till then all the relations will attached to him and be affectionate. But, when he becomes old and not eligible to earn money then no one in the house is interested even in asking about his welfare.

In the previous stanza, Acharya showed the futility of attachment towards one's own body by showing the fickle state of the life. Now in this stanza he goes on to prove the attachment or the love showered by others is not unconditional. The affection shown is directly proportional to the ability to earn wealth. The people around, relations, are interested only in the wealth, in the later stanza (10th) Acharya will point out to this. People are only interested in sharing the wealth, and this was what was pointed out to the great sage Valmiki by Sage Narada.

The story goes like this, Valmiki was a dacoit who robbed people travelling through the forest. Narada to guide him in the path of truth appeared before him as a simpleton. When the dacoit Valmiki arrested him and was about to rob him, Narada questions him, N : who are you doing this for?  V : for my family N : will they accept also a share of the papa (sin) from what you are doing? V : of course N : please check it up with your family, I'll wait for you till then. When Valmiki asked his parents, they said it's his duty to take care of him. When he asked his wife she also said it's his duty to take care of her. Any asked his children they too said its duty to take care of them. When he asks his friends and relatives, they too say as a leader it's his duty. Valmiki comes back dejected to Narada and explained what happened. Narada tells him the path to salvation or a release from the sins is to chant the name of Rama. So in this way, we understand the people around us are interested only in sharing the good fruits of the Karma and not otherwise. This is exactly what is pointed out to by the Acharya. And, when the ability to earn is lost, we become weak or retire; we are relinquished to the back seat. The importance automatically goes to the next in line (to the retirement), the person who earns for the family.