Acharyas should not get involved in other people’s social and business affairs such as selling, buying, giving, property etc. Thus they should not act as surety or advisor in such matters. This is because unnecessary suffering can be caused as a result of such advice. Similarly in times of hardship, the Acharyas should subsist on alms but never incur debt through borrowing money from the wealthy. This again is due to the fact that such borrowing can result in great pain and suffering.
Skandapurana explains, ‘There is no other greater pain for householders than that experienced through debt.’ Mahabharat explains, ‘Those who can live off cooked vegetables on the fifth or sixth day and yet do not incur debt nor move to another country, attain happiness and bliss.’
‘Healthiness of the body, not being in debt, not emigrating to another country, association with the virtuous, a good job or business and security of living are the six ways to happiness in this world.’ Krutyachintamani explains further that a great misdeed can occur if one dies before a debt is repaid: ‘Agnihotras (who perform sacrifices) and Tapasvis (who perform penance) who die without paying off a debt loose all their fruits accrued through sacrifice or penance, to that person who is owed.’
‘Those who borrow, but do not resolve the debt before dying loose their Punya to the person owed.’ Shatanand points out that this directive is a ‘Sadharana’ or ordinary duty that applies to all. Thus in this way it is important to clarify that some of these Shlokas are not merely for Acharyas to read and obey but are applicable to all. Therefore all should read and understand the precepts here and evaluate the inner messages, which may apply to other groups of people.