The Carrier of Pride

“Poverty-stricken people are free from pride; therefore, a poor person does not have any arrogance. Whatever misery he experiences by the will of providence become his genuine austerity for elevation.”

daridro niraham-stambho
muktah sarva-madair iha
krcchram yadrc-chaya”pnoti
tad dhi tasya param tapah

PURPORT BY SRI KRSNA BALARAM SWAMIJI

Austerity is the only way to become purified, and only the poor can properly perform austerity, because they are free from the pride of possession. The Lord, who is unobtainable by everyone, becomes the wealth of the poor. As Kunti Devi prays in Srimad Bhagavatam, tvam akincana gocaram, “O Lord, You are only known to those who are free from any material possession.” Material possessions are called prabhuta, meaning “the carrier of pride.” Therefore, Srila Rupa Goswami says, sarvopadhi vinir-muktam, “One must first become free from all material designations.” Only then can one understand the Supreme Lord. As per the logic of daridrya dambha nasini, “poverty kills pride and arrogance,” poverty brings one to a humble plane which bears perfect results for the soul’s elevation. Riches, quite the contrary to poverty, fill a person with the qualities which drive him away from the Lord.

[Srimad Bhagavatam, 10.10.15, KBS0057]