During the churning of the ocean, Lakshmi ji’s elder sister Jyestha, also known as Daridra, appeared.

Jyestha wanted to marry Lord Vishnu but Lord chose Lakshmiji. Due to this, there was discord between Jyestha and Lakshmiji which kept coming out from time to time.
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It was decided that both sisters would display their influence to decide who was superior.
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To exert their influence, both sisters chose a temple priest, Harinath, who was a great devotee of Vishnu.

Next day, both of them changed their clothes and reached Vishnu temple and sat at the entrance of the temple. When Harinath returned after performing puja, Jyestha asked Lakshmi to show her influence.
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Lakshmiji placed a hollow bamboo in the path of Harinath. There were gold coins filled inside the bamboo.
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Jyestha touched the bamboo and said, now you see my effect. When Harinath saw a beautiful bamboo lying on the way, he picked it up. Thought it would be of some use at home.
The Pandit had just moved a little further when he met a boy. The boy said to Harinath, ‘Pandit ji! I want exactly this kind of bamboo for my cot.
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Where can I get this bamboo and buy it?’ Pandit said, ‘I have not bought it. Picked up what was lying on the way. If you need it then you keep it. It will not be worth less than one rupee in the market.
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The boy gave the four rupees and said, ‘But I have only this four rupees, Panditji. For now, you keep this only, I will give the remaining twelve annas home in the evening.
Panditji was happy that he earned money from the bamboo lying on the road. Kept the Chavanni in Pooja’s dolchi and went towards home.
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The two goddesses standing near the temple were watching the entire leela. Jyestha said, ‘Lakshmi! So many of your coins were sold for just one rupee. Now even this twenty rupee will not stop with your devotee.
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Dinu kept the bucket near a pond and started plucking lotus flowers. Meanwhile, a shepherd came and ran away with the rupees kept in the bucket. The Pandit didn’t even know.
After plucking the flowers he started walking home. Meanwhile, the same boy was seen coming who had taken the bamboo from him by giving him Rs.
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The boy said, ‘Panditji! This bamboo is very heavy. Light bamboo is required for the cot. You take it back.’ He handed over the bamboo to Panditji.
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The Pandit wanted to return the twenty rupees in exchange for the bamboo, but the rupees had already flown away from the bucket.
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The Pandit said, ‘Son, the rupee has fallen somewhere. You come home with me, I will give you another one there. At this moment I don’t have even a single penny.’ The boy told the Pandit that he would come in the evening and collect his money from home.
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The bamboo again came to Panditji. Lakshmi ji smiled softly. Seeing him smiling, Jyestha got jealous.
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She said, ‘There is no need to boast. The game has just begun. Just keep watching.’ Harinath did not know that he was entangled in the intrigues of two ladies.
He found a shepherd near the village. Returning the rupee, he said, ‘My son ran away with the rupee from your dolchi. I have come to return the twenty rupees.’ The Pandit became happy. Otherwise he would have had to pay a fine of Rs 250 without any reason.
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The boy who had four rupees had not gone far yet. The Pandit called him and returned his rupees.
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Harinath started moving towards home with a relaxed mind. He had a puja pot in one hand and the same bamboo in the other.
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On the way he thought that the bamboo was very heavy and strong. I will put it in the door frame. Will get rid of the bat for many years.
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Seeing Harinath benefiting from Lakshmiji’s influence, Jyestha became envious. When they saw that the Pandit’s house was near, finding no other solution, they thought of killing Harinath.
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Jyestha said angrily, ‘Lakshmi! I have already snatched away the wealth and property, now I will also take away the life of this devotee.
Jyestha took the form of a snake and pounced on Harinath. Harinath started running away after seeing the snake. Jyestha, who became a snake, did not leave him. Harinath got scared.
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He folded his hands and said, ‘Snake God! I didn’t harm you. Why are you following me? It is not a good thing to torture someone unnecessarily.’ But the snake hissed loudly in response.
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When Harinath saw that there was no way out, he gave the bamboo to the snake and killed it. The bamboo broke into two pieces as soon as it hit the ground. The coins stuffed inside it were scattered.
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The Pandit kept looking at him in surprise. For a moment he forgot the snake. Then when I looked, I saw that the snake’s back was broken due to the injury of the bamboo and it was running towards the bush in a bleeding state.
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Harinath started praising Goddess Lakshmi!
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Lakshmi asked her sister Jyestha, ‘Tell me sister! Has the depth of greatness been found yet or not?
Excellence is achieved in giving something to someone, not in snatching it away.’ Jyestha did not give any answer. She stood silently and sadly!