A folk-tale from Andhra Pradesh.

It is believed that Lakshmi, the Indian goddess of wealth and good fortune has a sister whose name is Alakshmi. She is the goddess of Poverty.

Long, long ago, the two sisters had a bitter argument as to who was the more beautiful. They argued for days and days, but neither was able to convince the other.

To settle their argument, they agreed to ask the opinion of a shopkeeper. "Tell us," said the divine sisters to the startled shopkeeper, "which of us is the more beautiful. And do not lie or else you will be punished."

The truth was simple. Lakshmi was much more beautiful by far. But this shopkeeper was a very clever person. He knew, that if he said so, then Alakshmi was sure to curse him with poverty. But, if he declared Alakshmi to be more beautiful, then that would be a lie and he would be punished. What should he do?

"Dear goddesses," exclaimed the shopkeeper, "your question is too difficult for me to answer straight away. Please let me go home and sleep on it." The goddesses consented.

The shopkeeper went home to bed. Before he went to sleep, he called on the Lord Vishnu to help him. The next morning, he had the solution to his problem.

When he stepped out of his house, he saw the two goddesses approaching. He shouted to Alakshmi to turn round and walk in the opposite direction. He called after her, "Alakashmi, when I see you walk away from my house, you are more beautiful than your sister." "But," said the shopkeeper, now addressing Lakshmi, "when I see you approach my house, you are more beautiful." Both goddesses were delighted with the shop keeper's reply and both gave him their blessings.

The shopkeeper had told the truth. The departure of poverty is more beautiful than the departure of wealth. While the arrival of wealth is more beautiful than the arrival of poverty.

But of the arrival of wealth and the departure of poverty, who can say which is the more beautiful?