Lakshmi and Daridra: A Tale of Two Sisters

Lakshmi and Daridra were two sisters with vastly different personalities. Lakshmi was diligent, dedicated, and brought prosperity wherever she went. In contrast, Daridra was lazy and unmotivated, leading to hardship and poverty. Recognizing Lakshmi’s virtues, Lord Krishna chose her as his consort, honoring her commitment to hard work and virtue.

However, Lakshmi, compassionate by nature, expressed concern for her sister Daridra, who struggled to find a suitable partner due to her indolent ways. Understanding her worry, Krishna thought of a wise sage who spent his days in meditation and might be patient enough to bear Daridra’s laziness.

Despite his tolerance, even the sage grew frustrated with Daridra’s idleness and decided to seek guidance from Krishna. To resolve the issue and create a sense of balance, Krishna devised a solution: he instructed Daridra to stay beneath a peepal tree on Saturdays, a day associated with reflection and restraint. Lakshmi, concerned about her sister’s loneliness, agreed to visit her every Saturday alongside Krishna. 

Since then, Saturdays became a day for people to revere the peepal tree, believing that the blessings of both Lakshmi and Krishna reside in it, bringing prosperity and dispelling hardships for those who seek it sincerely.

**Moral:** Hard work and virtue bring prosperity and happiness, while laziness can lead to isolation and hardship. Saturdays symbolize a balance between prosperity and reflection, reminding us to honor both diligence and self-restraint in our lives.