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यावद्-वित्तोपार्जन सक्तःतावन्-निजपरिवारो रक्तः ।पश्चाज्जीवति जर्जर देहेवार्तां कोऽपि न पृच्छति गेहे  ॥yaavad viththopaarjana saktah taavan nijaparivaaro raktah |paschaajjeevathi jarjara dehe vaartaam kopi na prchChathi gehe ||Meaning: As long as one is strong and capable of earning money, their kith and kin want them in their lives. When one is old and lives with an unhealthy, battered body, there’s none to enquire about their well-being.In this episode, Dr. N. Hema Malini, Madhavi Nadig and Chai Nadig discuss how one should plan for their old age and retirement.This sholka is the 5th shloka in Bhaja Govindam, a devotional poem composed by Adi Shankaracharya and his disciples.The 30th shloka in Bhaja Govindam is similar अर्थमनर्थं भावय नित्यं नास्ति ततः सुख लेशः सत्यम् । पुत्रादपि धनभाजां भीतिः सर्वत्रैषा विहिता रीतिः arthamanarTham Bhaavaya nithyam naasthi thathah suKha leshah sathyam | puthraadapi DhanaBhaajaam Bheethih sarvathreShaa vihithaa reethih ||Wealth and materialistic attachments become the source of one’s miseries. Neither brings peace in life. Even the bliss of having children comes with the threat of them trying to deprive the parents of their wealth. Such are the ways of the world.“Bhaja Govindam” is also known as “Moha Mudgara” (Destroyer of Illusion).Adi Shankaracharya once noticed an old man studying Sanskrit grammar. He was so engrossed in it that he was almost run over by a chariot. Shankara was horrified that the old man was wasting the little life he had studying something that would be useless in his afterlife. At that moment, Shankara composed the first 13 verses of Bhaja Govindam, advising the old man to pursue the path of devotion. It is said that each of his 14 disciples composed 1 verse after that. Finally, Shankara composed the last 4 verses. Thus Bhaja Govindam is a series of 31 shlokas.In most of his works, Adi Shankaracharya advises people to adopt the gnaana marga, the path of knowledge, for self-realization. This is one of the rare works where he promotes the bhakti marga, the path of devotion, instead.At first glance, these 2 shlokas may sound depressing. But Dr. Hema Malini shares a different perspective.Plan your old age such that you continue to have income throughout your life. Since you will be independent, you can maintain good relations with everyone. With a healthy lifestyle and keeping yourself fit throughout, you will be healthy in your old age as well and can also recover better from illnesses.She considers these shlokas as warnings.Money should not be the primary interest in one’s life. Lead enriched lives with hobbies and other pursuits. Stay in control of your own finances, without handing over everything to your children. This way you can ensure you lead a good life in your retirement as well.Chai believes that possession leads to clutter. Clutter is restrictive. Eliminating clutter is liberating.There’s a tradition of cleaning up our houses before Deepavali—eliminating clutter and getting rid of misfortune.Dr. Hema Malini appreciates Mr. Amitabh Bachchan who continues to work in his 80s as well. He is aging gracefully, working, earning and inspiring millions. Despite having health issues, he’s keeping himself as fit as possible.She feels sad for Mr. Vijaypat Singhania, the former chairperson of the Raymond Group, who lost all his wealth to his son Gautam Singhania and now faces hardship in his old age.The second shloka reminds Chai of Minimalism. Minimalists believe in leading stress-free lives with few possessions.Madhavi appreciates the billionaire Warren Buffett who gave some of his wealth as an inheritance to his children during his life. Buffett has set up foundations in the names of each of his children to ensure they will get enough money to lead simple lives, but not lavish ones.Warren Buffett believes that people should create their own wealth. He has pledged to give away 99% of his wealth to charity and has already donated tens of billions of dollars. Adi Shankaracharya composed these verses in the 8th century. Isn’t it amazing that they continue to be relevant today?Which incidents and whom did these shlokas remind you of? Share it with us in a comment.@susambhashanam on Instagram & YouTube