FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.17.39

पुनश्च याचमानाय जातरूपमदात्प्रभु: । ततोऽनृतं मदं कामं रजो वैरं च पञ्चमम् ॥ ३९ ॥
punaś ca yācamānāya
[punash cha yaachamaanaaya]
jāta-rūpam adāt prabhuḥ
[jaata-roopam adaat prabhuh]
tato ’nṛtaṁ madaṁ kāmaṁ
[tato ’nritam madam kaamam]
rajo vairaṁ ca pañcamam
[rajo vairam cha panchamam]
punaḥ — again ca — also yācamānāya — to the beggar jāta-rūpam — gold adāt — gave away prabhuḥ — the King tataḥ — whereby anṛtam — falsehood madam — intoxication kāmam — lust rajaḥ — on account of a passionate mood vairam — enmity ca — also pañcamam — the fifth one.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
punaś ca yācamānāya
punaḥ
again
ca
also
yācamānāya
to the beggar
jāta-rūpam adāt prabhuḥ
jāta-rūpam
gold
adāt
gave away
prabhuḥ
the King
tato ’nṛtaṁ madaṁ kāmaṁ
tataḥ
whereby
rajo vairaṁ ca pañcamam
anṛtam
falsehood
madam
intoxication
kāmam
lust
rajaḥ
on account of a passionate mood
vairam
enmity
ca
also
pañcamam
the fifth one.
The personality of Kali asked for something more, and because of his begging, the King gave him permission to live where there is gold because wherever there is gold there is also falsity, intoxication, lust, envy and enmity.

Although Mahārāja Parīkṣit gave Kali permission to live in four places, it was very difficult for him to find the places because during the reign of Mahārāja Parīkṣit there were no such places. Therefore Kali asked the King to give him something practical which could be utilized for his nefarious purposes. Mahārāja Parīkṣit thus gave him permission to live in a place where there is gold, because wherever there is gold there are all the above-mentioned four things, and over and above them there is enmity also. So the personality of Kali became gold-standardized. According to Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, gold encourages falsity, intoxication, prostitution, envy and enmity. Even a gold-standard exchange and currency is bad. Gold-standard currency is based on falsehood because the currency is not on a par with the reserved gold. The basic principle is falsity because currency notes are issued in value beyond that of the actual reserved gold. This artificial inflation of currency by the authorities encourages prostitution of the state economy. The price of commodities becomes artificially inflated because of bad money, or artificial currency notes. Bad money drives away good money. Instead of paper currency, actual gold coins should be used for exchange, and this will stop prostitution of gold. Gold ornaments for women may be allowed by control, not by quality, but by quantity. This will discourage lust, envy and enmity. When there is actual gold currency in the form of coins, the influence of gold in producing falsity, prostitution, etc., will automatically cease. There will be no need of an anticorruption ministry for another term of prostitution and falsity of purpose.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
When implored again, the King gave the place where there was gold. In that place there will be untruthfulness, intoxication, illicit sex, pride, and enmity.
Commentary

“O King! Having heard this news, no one will perform gambling, drinking, illicit sex or animal killing. First I must enter their minds. Therefore the King gave Kali materials represented by gold, but indicating other things like silver etc. as his living place. Because of Kali residing in this place, in a place where there is wealth, four times of adharma—untruth, intoxication, illicit sex, and pride—and a fifth, enmity will also be present. Mada and kāma in neuter gender is poetic license.

Kali asked for more; the King allowed him to live where there is gold, because gold brings falsity, intoxication, lust, envy, enmity. Wealth itself can be the fifth zone. Mind the entry point.
Reflection Questions
  • Where does gold (money, wealth, possessions) currently sit in my life and what does it bring?
  • How can I treat it as a guarded threshold rather than a free zone?
📝 My note

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