All transfer of farming land, land, house and wealth such as gold should always be done in a proper manner with proper solicited documentation - witnessed by other people. In all such business matters, an appropriate document should be written and signed before property etc is transferred to others. Yagnavalkya explains a suitable witness to be used for such actions, ‘One who performs penance, is charitable, from a reputed family, honest, obeys Dharma, unbiased, who has children and is reasonably wealthy - such a person should be used as a witness. Those who obey the Shruti-Smruti, and live in accordance with their Jata and Varna (caste laws) should be accepted as a witness.’
Yagnavalkya further explains the structure of such a document to be used, ‘First and foremost the name of the lender should be written. Then the date and details about the borrower (name, class, caste, family details, etc.) should be provided. At the end of the document, the receiver should sign the document along with the witnesses to the agreement (borrower and witness names should be signed inclusive of fathers name).’
‘Those who do not possess the necessary skills to write out such a document should have one written out by somebody else.’ The body of the document should contain the terms and conditions of the transactions. Lagucharankya explains who should write such a document; ‘He who is of good intellect, a good spokes person, patient, light handed, writes with clarity and who is conversant with legal affairs should be used to write the document.’
Thus those who obey these rules will never face complication in their business affairs. Lord Swaminarayan specifies that even in affairs with one’s own son or friend, the proper legal process should be carried out. This is because such business affairs can often lead to arguments. This is evident today when a child may act unscrupulously for self gain against his own father in order to swindle money or wealth out of his father.