Dhana Kaṇḍa — On Wealth

75. The Seven Noble Treasures

This verse presents the "Seven Noble Treasures" (ariya-dhana), inner riches nobler than any external wealth, arranged as a path of progress: faith gives the initial confidence to set out on the way; virtue lays the foundation of peace and a good destiny; moral shame and moral dread are the twin guardian deities of ethics, generating restraint; learning is the study of the teachings; generosity is the giving that loosens attachment; and wisdom is the supreme treasure, the insight that sees things as they truly are. These treasures differ from worldly wealth, for thieves cannot steal them, they do not decay, and they provoke no quarrels.

76. The Characteristic Wealth of Each Kind

This verse points out that each station in life has its own distinct "capital" or characteristic wealth. For a woman in the context of ancient society, beauty was social capital; for a man it was birth and honor; the snake's defensive power is its venom; the king's authority is his military might. But for the monk, true wealth is not external but the inner virtue of moral discipline, and for the brahmin it is sacred knowledge. By placing the spiritual wealth of the monk and the brahmin last, the verse conveys a hierarchy in which inner qualities stand above external things.

77. In Times of Crisis, Wealth Is Decisive

When facing the inevitable vicissitudes of life, in times of crisis as well as times of opportunity, beauty, wisdom, and noble birth often prove of little practical use compared to ready money. Wealth becomes the decisive factor that determines one's options, security, and influence. This is a candid acknowledgment of reality and a warning: although virtue is supreme for liberation, to underestimate the role of worldly wealth is dangerous. It should therefore be managed with balance.

78. When Wealth Runs Out, Friends Depart

When a person loses his wealth, he is often forsaken by those closest to him — friends, spouse, children, even siblings. That very same group, by contrast, eagerly serves and flatters the rich. The closing line, "wealth is a mighty thing in the world," reveals a sad truth rather than offering praise. This verse exposes the fickle and conditional nature of many social bonds, cautioning us to discern where true loyalty actually lies.

79. People Flock to a Source That Still Holds Water

Just as people gather at a well or pond as long as it holds water, but abandon it when the water dries up, so people associate with another only as long as that person still has wealth and resources. This simile reveals the "transactional" view in many human relationships: people stay because they hope to gain something from the source, and once the source is seen as empty or of no further use, it is deserted. The verse underscores the unreliability of seeking security and friendship through external possessions.

80. Good and Bad Fortune Are of One's Own Making

This verse rejects the notion of destiny or fate determined by external powers, gods, or other people, and declares instead that one's condition, whether good or bad, is chiefly the result of one's own actions, words, and thoughts. The verse thus empowers the individual: you are the author of your own destiny. This understanding removes any grounds for blaming others or despairing, and places the driving force for change in one's own present choices, in keeping with the principle of kamma and its fruits.