Can The Miser Take A Needle To Heaven With Him?

Many people are unreasonably attached to their material wealth – their money, their clothes, and their family. They try so hard to protect all these, but what is the use? When their life ends, even their body is consumed by agni. They cannot take anything with them. Only the good deeds performed by them will stand by their name, none of their wealth.

When life ends, even your body is consumed by fire -
only your good deeds will be remembered.

That is why, Adi Shankaracharya says in his famous work, Bhaja Govindham…

मा कुरु धन जन यौवन गर्वं हरति निमेषात्कालः सर्वम्|

मायामयमिदमखिलं हित्वा ब्रह्मपदं त्वं प्रविश विदित्वा|

Ma kuru dhana jana youvana garvam harathi nimeshaath kaalah sarvam|

Maya mayamidham akhilam hithva brahmapadham tvam pravisha vidhithva||

Do not take pride in your wealth, people and youth. Time will destroy all this in a moment. Understand that all this is maya (an illusion), leave these aside, understand the true nature of brahman and enter into it.

Here is a simple story that explains this profound truth.

There was once a rice man in a village. He enjoyed the wealth earned by several earlier generations. He lived in a huge mansion with all comforts but would never willingly part with his money for any reason, be it charity or to pay others for their services. He would try to get things for free or pay meagre amounts. Many a times he would even bargain with his tailor to reduce the fee for stitching his grand garments.

As time passed, he became old and naturally weak. He was lying in bed, when his tailor came to visit him one day. The tailor said, “Sir, can you please do me a favour?”

The miser replied, “Do not ask for money or any of my possessions? If there is some other help you need, tell me and I will try to help!”

The tailor replied, “Sir, of course, everyone knows you will not give anything away! I just want one small favour. When my father was old and frail, he often used to say that he would go to heaven and stitch fine clothes for all the devas there. But, when he died, he forgot to take his needle with him. When you die, can you please take the needle and give it to him in heaven?”

The miser thought for a moment and replied, “How can I do that, son? When I die and they cremate me, the needle will also burn with my body and melt. I will not be able to take it with me to heaven.”

The tailor left with a smile. The miser thought about the incident all night and realized the message the young boy wished to convey. If he cannot take even a small needle to heaven, the same applies for all his wealth! The next morning, he gave away all his money to charitable causes, retaining only what he needed for his last days and final rites.

This is a lesson for all of us. Our wealth is of no use after we die! So, instead of wasting our life in accumulating and protecting wealth, we should earn and save just enough for our needs, and spend the rest of our time and money on worthy causes.