How to follow justice in the division of the wealth among the children?

[Ms. Thrylokya asked:- Paadanamaskaaram Swami. An older devotee approached for an advice to divide his property between his two children. I request You to please enlighten us about how to follow justice in division of wealth among children.]

Swami replied:- The Veda says that the parents shall give property, gold and money equally to all the children irrespective of male and female gender (Manuḥ putrebhyo dāya madāt). The word 'putra' means both son and daughter as per Sanskrit grammar (Eka śeṣa sūtra). However, in case one child is more capable of high earning and another child is incapable of high earning, or in case one child has more number of children than the other child, then unequal division of property is also justified. We should always think about our impression in the mind of God and ignore the opinions of other people around us because every human being is answerable to God alone and not to any other human being. Every human being has his/her own fashion of calculations without logic and justice, based on self-inclination. But, God's calculation alone is correct and justified. Let Me explain it with an example. If a father has two children, the father must divide his property equally to both of them at the same time. If the handover happens at different times, the father must give equal valued property to both the children. If both the children are following family life (gṛhastha āśrama), both must be seen equally. Suppose the father has given 8 grams of gold worth Rs. 48,000 to one child when the rate of gold was Rs. 6,000 per gram. Now, the rate of gold is Rs. 16,000 per gram. There is 2.5 times raise in value. Today, the father has to give 8 grams of gold worth Rs. 1,28,000 to the second child because the gold given to the first child has also attained the same value today. Only an unjust father will give 3 grams of gold worth Rs. 48,000 to the second child today saying that he has given equal amount to his first child in the past. Whether it is gold or money or property, the raise of its value should be considered as per the date of handover.

Following the justice under all circumstances, every parent must equalise the total value of gold, money and property among their children as per the date of handover to each child. The total value of gold, money and property must be considered and gold shall not be separated from money or property. To one child, more gold and less property may be given. To another child, less gold and more property may be given as per their requirements and as per the best ability of parents. But, the total value shall be equal based on the value as per the date of handover. When there is a time gap, interest shall be calculated and added as per the dates of handover. Interest on money and value hike on gold or property are to be clearly calculated and a record is to be maintained. With respect to financial matters, every parent must maintain a record so that unjust division of wealth does not happen among the children.

However, these things are a part of Pravrutti or justified worldly life. No child must be worried even if he/she does not get their deserving share. Only a worldly person will bother about these things too much. A true devotee of God will always leave all these things to God and go on worshiping God with full faith without any worry. Even if the parents do injustice to a child due to fascination to another child, God will do justice to everybody without any partiality since nobody is God’s personal relative. In the administration of God, nothing can go wrong. If a father does any injustice in division of his wealth, God will punish that father and make sure that the lost wealth is received by the deserving child in another way. The omnipotent God has unimaginable ways when He decides to give. The undeserving child (although deserving in the eyes of the father) will lose that extra wealth given by his unjust father through the will of God. A devotee must never forget that God's administration is always running above the human administration. A true devotee must always be happy without thinking all these worldly things because finally God will see that justice is protected in every case in the world.

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