अदना दोषेण भवेत् दरिद्रः दारिद्र्य दोषेण करोति पापं |
पापादवश्यंनरकं प्रयाति पुनर्दरिद्रः पुनरेव पापी ||
According to Atharva Veda, one should earn as if one has a hundred hands and donate as if one has a thousand hands. Yajur Veda teaches donating part of your wealth as your ultimate DHARMA. In the UPANISHADS we are told that the most important duties are- for Gods/ Goddesses or Devatas, DAMAM or self-restraint; for Asuras or demons: DAYA or compassion; for humans or Manavas: DAANAM or donating money.
Next time when we see a beggar on the street asking for alms he should remind us of our duty to give as generously as we can, and the sad stage we might reach by not being compassionate and generous to the needy. Shastras say that one who does not use a portion of his wealth to donate for good causes will be himself condemned to be born into poverty. Being poor goads him to commit more sins and to be born poorer in the next birth. The cycle continues.
Poverty is the scariest among curses, the very reason for unhappiness that results in disturbed events. Lord Brahma once asked Lord Vishnu what people should do to get out of this sad cycle, and to exchange poverty for peace and stability. The ever-compassionate Lord Srimannarayana replied
“SRI MAHALAKSHMI ISHTI”
यत् कृत्वा तु नरा भूमौ लभन्ते सर्व संपदा दारिद्रिय भय निर्मुक्तः मोदन्ते दिविजैस्समां | सर्वे सौभाग्य भोगादीन्महा वैभव सञ्चयान् प्राप्नुवन्ति च ते शीघ्रं अनेनैव हि कर्मणा ||
In conclusion, one should surrender to the Divine Couple to rid ourselves of the ill effects of not giving, to be relieved from the poverty-stricken life and to enjoy all the comforts of life. Sri Mahalakshmi Yaagam is being performed to annihilate this cyclic repetition of sinful poverty-laden life and award a purposeful, prosperous and trouble-free life here on earth and an eternal blissful communion with Lord Srimannarayana in Sri Vaikunta.