494
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
[Canto 3, Ch. 13]
always ready to help the son in his progress in life. But in spite of the father's good will, the son is sometimes misguided because of his misuse of personal independence. Every living entity, however small or big he may be, has the choice of independence. If the son is unreservedly willing to be guided by the father, the father is ten times more eager to instruct and guide him by all means. The father and son relationship as exhibited herein in the dealings of Brahmā and Manu is excellent. Both the father and the son are well qualified, and their example should be followed by all human-kind. Manu, the son, unreservedly asked the father, Brahmā, to instruct him, and the father, who was full of Vedic wisdom, was very glad to instruct. The example of the father of mankind may be rigidly followed by mankind, and that will advance the cause of the relationship of fathers and sons.
TEXT 10
एतावत्यात्मजैवीर कार्या ह्यपन्तिर्गुरो । शक्त्याप्रमत्तैर्गृह्येत सादरं गतमत्सरैः ॥१०॥
etāvaty ātmajair vīra kāryā hy apacitir gurau śaktyāpramattair gṛhyeta sādaraṁ gata-matsaraiḥ
etāvatī—just exactly like this; ātmajaiḥ—by the offspring; vīra—O hero; kāryā—should be performed; hi—certainly; apacitiḥ—worship; gurau—unto the superior; śaktyā—with full capacity; apramattaiḥ—by the sane; gṛhyeta—should be accepted; sādaraṁ—with great delight; gata-matsaraiḥ—by those who are beyond the limit of envy.
TRANSLATION
O hero, your example is quite befitting a son in relationship with his father. This sort of adoration for the superior is required. One who is beyond the limit of envy and who is sane accepts the order of his father with great delight and executes it to his full capacity.
PURPORT
When the four previous sons of Brahmā, the sages Sanaka, Sanātana, Sanandana and Sanat-Kumāra, refused to obey their father, Brahmā was mortified, and his anger was manifested in the shape of Rudra. That incident was not forgotten by Brahmā, and therefore the obedience of Manu