When it was argued that a family man (Grihastha) may remain in the family, but may have no concern with it, and consequently may remain uncontaminated by the world, an illustration was cited to refute such an argument, which is as follows:
A poor Brâhmana once came to one of those family men, who are unconcerned with family affairs, to beg some money. When the beggar asked of him some money, he replied, "Sir, I never touch money. Why are you wasting your time in begging of me?"
The Brâhmana, however, would not go away. Tired with his importunate entreaties the man at last resolved in his mind to give him a rupee, and told him, "Well, sir, come tomorrow, I shall see what I can do for you."
Then going in, this typical family man told his wife, who was the manager of all his affairs, he being unconcerned, "Look here, dear, a poor Brâhmana is in great difficulty, and wants something of me. I have made up my mind to give him a rupee. What is your opinion about it?"
"Aha! what a generous fellow you are!" she replied, in great excitement at the name of a rupee. "Rupees are not, like leaves or stones, to be thrown away without any thought."
"Well, dear," replied the husband, in an apologizing tone, "the man is very poor and we should not give him less than a rupee."
"No!" replied the wife, "I cannot spare that much; here is a two anna bit and you can give him that, if you like."
The man of course had no other alternative, being himself unconcerned in all such worldly matters, and he took what his wife gave him.
Next day the beggar came, and received only a two anna bit. Such uncontaminated family men are really henpecked persons who are solely guided by their wives, and as such are very poor specimens of humanity.
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