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I have seen families making fun of low income individuals and also the respect given to higher income family members. Upto what extent a family should know the income of individuals and, what are the pros and cons. Seeking answers according to dharma and duties to be followed in such situations

Pradeep Acharya
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The amount of wealth one possesses is one of the many things that a householder must keep secret.

See the following verses from Chapter 3 of the Daksha Smriti:


Iniquitous deeds are, again, [the following : ] Falsehood, knowing another's wife, taking forbidden food, knowing a woman who should not be known, drinking what should not be drunk, theft, committing injury, doing works not sanctioned in the S'ruti, transgression of a friend's duty, these are nine improper deeds. One should avoid them all.

Longevity, wealth, weakness of a house, counsel, sexual intercourse, medicine, austerity, charity, and honour, these nine should be carefully kept secret.

Freedom from a disease, satisfaction of a debt, gift, study, sale, giving away a daughter in marriage, dedication of a bull, secret sin, and the act of not being censured by others, these nine should be publicly done by a householder. (verses 8-14)

From this injunction we can infer that there is no harm in not telling others what one's income is.

Rickross
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  • Counsel should be kept a secret? – Wikash_ Nov 30 '21 at 14:13
  • Yes that's what the verse says. But one might need a commentary to explain exactly what sort of advice are required to be kept secret. But I don't have any such commentary @Wikash_ – Rickross Nov 30 '21 at 14:38
  • Here, longevity means age? Also, weakness of house refers to house in astrology? – Rudra Dec 09 '21 at 09:34
  • @Rudra Yes longevity is age (aayu) and no house refers to the home we live in and not astrological house. – Rickross Dec 09 '21 at 12:30