Kautsa, a disciple of sage ‘Varatantu‘ after completing his education, was about to return home. Before his departure he pleaded his ‘Gurudev’ to ask for the gift he desired. To this his Gurudev replied ‘My son! Your honest service towards me is enough to be counted as the gift. May God bless you!’ But Kautsa repeatedly kept on asking for the gift. Somehow his repeated entreaties irritated his Guru and he said, ‘Alright! Get me I40 million coins of gold.’
Now this was the command of the Guru. Such a huge sum of gold coins could be attained from no one else but the emperor Raghu. So he went to the king. The emperor had just finished a sacrifice called Vishvajit and had emptied his treasury by giving away all the wealth he had as alms. So he also
selected this auspicious day and asked Kubera, “Either shower gold coins or be prepared to face the war." Kubera showered gold on a Shami tree.’ The emperor Raghu gave kautsa I40 million gold coins. He too instead of holding on to it, gave it to the Sage.
The Shami tree is worshipped on the day of Vijaya Dashami. Its leaves are given to others to remind them of the teaching that wealth is to be distributed to others and the miseries are to be trampled under the feet.
Wealth is not meant for personal enjoyment.
“तेन त्यकतेन भुंजीथा”
The lshavasya Upanishad says. “...by such a renunciation enjoy thyself." Who enjoys it alone is verily destroyed by his wealth.