Being rich and having sufficient wealth is always a wish one dreams of. However, it is the natural instinct of wealth that it is never enough. Also, being rich has many meanings. For some, if it is to acquire wealth, for some it is to acquire assets, for some being rich is being rich in knowledge, and for some it is being rich in virtues. However, the common thing which one gives a miss is that being rich in virtues leads to being rich in all and that is the very foundation of truly being rich, and the best example for this is Shri Ram, who believed that being virtues are the greatest treasures one possesses. As the son of a great emperor, it is needless to mention the materialistic riches and treasures he had, but what makes Shri Ram unique was not the material wealth he possessed, but the most valuable treasure of virtues that he had as an individual and which made him the Maryada Purushottam.
Rich in promises – Shri Ram had a great kingdom to rule along with the wholehearted love of all his people. However, he first sets out to fulfil his father’s promise and leaves to the exile without accepting any kind of favour or comfort from his father or the kingdom during his time of exile. But he takes along his greatest treasures of confidence, determination and faith in Dharma.
Rich in the company of his dear ones – Shri Ram was rich in the company of his most two beloved persons, Mata Sita and Lakshman. While Mata Sita was his company of love and affection in the forest, Lakshman took care of all their needs thus making Shri Ram never feel any discomfort in the forest. In the care of these two, Shri Ram sets out to fulfil his purpose in the forest which was to eradicate the demons. His unmatched valour spreads like wild fire and he is blessed by all the great rishis like Bharadhwaj, Atri and Agastya.
Rich in hope – Although he was devastated by the separation with Mata Sita in the forest, Shri Ram with the help of his treasure of hope moves ahead in search of her. His faith helps Sugriv gain back his kingdom and meet his eternal devotee Hanuman. Although Ravan had all the riches with him, he had no happiness as he succumbed to lust and greed. On the other hand, Shri Ram’s faith was pure and he stood up for Dharma. His mission was not to conquer the riches of Lanka, but to install Dharma and fight for the respect of the entire womanhood through Mata Sita. After Ravan’s death, without any attraction towards the golden city of Lanka, Shri Ram gives back the city and throne to Vibhishan and the people of Lanka as promised and rushes back to his greatest treasured city which was his motherland Ayodhya.
Shri Ram attests that riches are not the ones which are materialistic, but the ones in the form of virtues and values. If a person in rich in wealth, then only people who are favoured by his wealth surround him, but if he is rich in virtues, then the entire world get surrendered to him, not of fear or greed, but out of respect and love. The treasure trove of virtues is not seen physically, but the warmth is felt by one and all and is idolised and that, is the real source of wealth.