Text 14] Description of Adverse Fruitive Activities 1293

TRANSLATION

Seeing him unable to support them, his wife and others do not treat him
with the same respect as before, even as miserly farmers do not accord the
same treatment to their old and worn-out oxen.

PURPORT

Not only in the present age but from time immemorial, no one has liked
an old man who is unable to earn in the family. Even in the modern age, in
some communities or states, the old men are given poison so that they
will die as soon as possible. In some cannibalistic communities, the old
grandfather is sportingly killed, and a feast is held in which his body is
eaten. The example is given that a farmer does not like an old bull who
has ceased to work. Similarly, when an attached person in family life
becomes old and is unable to earn, he is no longer liked by his wife, sons,
daughters and other kinsmen, and he is consequently neglected, what to
speak of not being given respect. It is judicious, therefore, to give up
family attachment before one attains old age and take shelter of the
Supreme Personality of Godhead. One should employ himself in His
service so that the Supreme Lord can take charge of him and he will not
be neglected by his so-called kinsmen.

TEXT 14
Taaaaaal BTA: aTATA: |
MAMIE ATMfaga TW izevil

tatrapy ajata-nirvedo
bhriyamanah svayam bhrtaih

Jaray opatta-vairiipyo
maranabhimukho grhe

tatra—there; api—although; ajata—not arisen; nirvedah—aversion;
bhriyamanah—being maintained; svayam—by himself; bhrtaih—by those
who were maintained; jaraya—by old age; upatta—obtained; vairipyah—
deformation; marana—death; abhimukhah—approaching; grhe—at home.

TRANSLATION

The foolish family man does not become averse to family life although
he is maintained by those whom he once maintained. Deformed by the in-
fluence of old age, he prepares himself to meet ultimate death.
