#SriAdiShankara, in his #Prashnottara_Ratnamalika asks this question and provides the answer.
किं इह अशौचं भवेत्? ऋणं नॄणाम्। What is Impurity in this world? It is only man's 'debt'. தீட்டு எது? கடன் தான் தீட்டு.
Our forefathers were very hesitant to take 'loan'. They considered it a prestige issue. An 'indebted' man cannot show his face in public. He would always be under pressure and grief. A Tamil poem goes like this: 'கடன்பட்டார் நெஞ்சம் போல கலங்கினான் இலங்கை வேந்தன்'. When Rama's arrows pierced Ravana, his grief was like the grief of a person in debt. That was the standard in the times of yore. Now, it is just the reverse.
Nevertheless, we do take 'loans' for unavoidable reasons. And, that burden is always pressing our shoulders. However, we can adopt an approach in re-paying the loan. Acharya Brahmasri Dr. Muralikrishna Srowthigal, in a discourse provides the following subtle clues:
a) Taking Loan should be the last option. This is possible by leading a simple life and avoiding extravagance and pomp.
b) We should never take any loan on Saturdays.
c) But, we should re-pay the loans (eg: monthly installment) on Saturdays.
d) Aswini and Anuradha (Anusham) stars can also be chosen for repaying the loans / installments.
e) We should chant 'Runamochaka Managala Stotram' that occurs in Skanda Purana. It is a small Stotram with 12 verses only.
By the above Practice, circumstances become favorable in coming out of the 'Debt Trap'.
Let this 'debt' impurity not stick on to us
கே. வித்யாசங்கர்
किं इह अशौचं भवेत्? ऋणं नॄणाम्। What is Impurity in this world? It is only man's 'debt'. தீட்டு எது? கடன் தான் தீட்டு.
Our forefathers were very hesitant to take 'loan'. They considered it a prestige issue. An 'indebted' man cannot show his face in public. He would always be under pressure and grief. A Tamil poem goes like this: 'கடன்பட்டார் நெஞ்சம் போல கலங்கினான் இலங்கை வேந்தன்'. When Rama's arrows pierced Ravana, his grief was like the grief of a person in debt. That was the standard in the times of yore. Now, it is just the reverse.
Nevertheless, we do take 'loans' for unavoidable reasons. And, that burden is always pressing our shoulders. However, we can adopt an approach in re-paying the loan. Acharya Brahmasri Dr. Muralikrishna Srowthigal, in a discourse provides the following subtle clues:
a) Taking Loan should be the last option. This is possible by leading a simple life and avoiding extravagance and pomp.
b) We should never take any loan on Saturdays.
c) But, we should re-pay the loans (eg: monthly installment) on Saturdays.
d) Aswini and Anuradha (Anusham) stars can also be chosen for repaying the loans / installments.
e) We should chant 'Runamochaka Managala Stotram' that occurs in Skanda Purana. It is a small Stotram with 12 verses only.
By the above Practice, circumstances become favorable in coming out of the 'Debt Trap'.
Let this 'debt' impurity not stick on to us
கே. வித்யாசங்கர்