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Even brothers in
the same family may not be intelligent to the same extent. It is unreasonable, therefore,
for one who is wealthier to look down upon another who is less wealthy. No charity is
worth its it if it is done in the spirit of vanity or patronage or egoism. The true spirit
of humility should inspire charity. It is noteworthy that the Lord in the Bhagavad Gita
echoes the sentiments expressed in the sixth verse already referred to above where it is
said that he who eats alone eats sin.
The Anna Sukthas of the Rig-Veda lay down the duty of service to others. This service is
of various kinds. The duty of sharing food with others who are in need is one such.
Helping others in distress, the spread of knowledge to others, production of food for the
Community are other kinds of service. Speaking about the spirit In which service should be
done, it lays down that it should be done not with vanity or with a sense of patronage,
but with due regard to the inevitability of the existence of inequalities among the
members of the community.
The person who is
fortunately well-placed should not gloat over his opulence, but should have humility
enough to feel that his advantage Is a matter of accident only to be utilized for his
brethren lower in the scale in respect of material possessions. A famous sentence in
Rig-Veda in the 8th ashtaka 7th adhyaya sums up the pronouncement of the Rig-Veda on the
great ideal of service to humanity. " Who is it that is said to live and in what
manner? He who lives for the sake of help to others, lives."
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