In current scenario the status of a man is judged by the amount of money they owned. No matter if the source of the money is legal or illegal. A person without the money has no standing in the society. Other people may avoid their presence or they will be suppressed for no reason. People with little to no money are more vulnerable to exploitation. Highlighting the severe condition of a penniless person, Sanskrit has said ;
अहो नु कष्टः सततं प्रवासस्ततोSतिकष्टः परगेहवासः |
कष्टाधिकाः नीचजनस्य सेवा ततोSतिकष्टा धनहीनता च ||
Aho nu kashtah satatam pravaasastatotikashtah paragehavaash. Kashtaadhikaah neechajanasya seva tatotikashtaa dhanaheenataa cha.
Aho = Oh !
Nu = certainly.
Kashtah = painful, troublesome.
Satatam = continuously.
Prasastatotikashtah = pravaash + tato + ati + kashtah.
Pravaash = absence from home in a foreign country.
Tato = due to this, afterwards.
Ati = very much.
Paragehavaasah = para + geha + vaasah.
Para = others.
Geha = residence.
Vaasah = staying.
Kashtaadhikaa = kashta + adhikaa,
Adhikaa = more.
Neechajanasya = a wicked person's
Sevaa = service.
Dhanaheenataa = not having any money or wealth (being poor).
Cha = and.
i.e. Ah! It is very painful to live in a foreign land, far from home, but even more painful is to live in someone else's house. Even more painful is to be a servant of a mean person, and the most painful thing is to be penniless.
A lack of money creates constant, severe stress and limits basic life choices, making it challenging to meet fundamental human needs and participate fully in society. A penniless life strips away security, dignity, and choice, turning every day into a struggle for survival rather than an opportunity for growth and fulfillment. This is is what has been highlighted in the above proverb in Sanskrit.