Once, in that village, there was a wedding. Shyam went to the wedding.

The ceremony of distributing dakshina was going on. The householders were receiving dakshina. The Brahmins—especially the young boys—were being given dakshina. Those who truly had the right to receive dakshina were the poor Brahmins. They studied, performed religious duties, and so that they would not face difficulties in these, this dakshina was given to help them.

If a boy was the son of a priest, he would receive this support naturally, along with his father.

Shyam was sitting with some of his school friends. They were teasing and joking with each other. The host distributing the dakshina arrived. Some of the boys stretched out their hands. Shyam too stretched out his hand. He had not intended to do so just to get money, but his hand went out on its own. He received two annas as dakshina. In those days, money was of great value. When the boys received money, they were filled with joy. Shyam too was delighted. He took those two annas and gave them to his mother.

"Who gave you this money, Shyam?" Mother asked.

"They distributed gifts at the wedding. Someone gave me two annas," Shyam replied.

Hearing this, Mother’s face lost its glow. She felt embarrassed. Thoughts began to race through her mind. "Did Shyam accept a gift just because we are poor? Did the host give him money out of pity for us? Truly, when giving gifts, one must know whom to accept from and whom not to. Why didn’t I ever explain this to my child?" She stood there silently, lost in thought.

"Mother, take the money back! I didn’t steal it or anything," Shyam said, coming closer, his voice pleading.

"Shyam, though we are poor, we are not beggars. We are householders. We should not accept gifts. It is the duty of householders to give, not to take," Mother explained gently to Shyam.

"But why does Pandu Bhatmam, who is not rich, accept gifts then? He is a respected man, a priest in the fields and villages," Shyam tried to defend himself.

"That is his fault. In the old scriptures, it is written that Brahmins used to accept donations and then share them with others. The sages and seers would teach children who came to them. Householders are meant to give, not to take. Do you know the story of Rohidas, Shyam? He would draw water from the public well for everyone, but never took any for himself!" Mother made her thoughts clear.

Mother gave those two annas to a woman working in a neighboring house. This incident left a mark on Shyam’s heart.

Shyam learned many valuable lessons from these stories. We take from others whatever is available, and in doing so, we become dependent. We become sinners—living arrogantly, or living with shame—both are wrong. A person should have self-respect. In Europe, children are taught self-respect from a young age. Living off their parents’ earnings is seen as