ONCE UPON a time, the great sage, Narada Muni, came upon two young men who were drunk and naked amid the company of beautiful nude women. When the girls saw him coming, they immediately covered themselves and ran home. The two men felt no shame whatsoever.

Then, Narada said, ?The attraction of riches bewilders one?s intelligence. Without control, a rascal who is falsely proud of his riches becomes so cruel that, to maintain his perishable body, he is willing to kill animals without mercy.

Atheists are blinded by wealth. So, returning them to poverty is the appropriate ointment for their eyes so they may see things as they are. A poor man realizes the difficulty of his situation. Therefore, he doesn?t wish this condition on others.

A poverty-stricken man must undergo austerities, because he doesn?t possess anything else. Thus, his false prestige is vanquished. Always in need of food, shelter and clothing, he must satisfy himself with what he obtains from the mercy of providence. Undergoing this is good for him, because this purifies and frees him from false ego.