No asset is greater than intelligent offspring

CHENNAI, SEPT. 22. While it is possible to measure a piece of cloth with a yardstick, that of oil products with a calibrated jar, what can be the index by which a man's character - whether he is good or bad - is to be assessed? One way suggested in one of the monumental works is to see how his children behave. Invariably the past deeds of a person are responsible for his conduct now and this can be found out from his progeny. If a person has carried out his obligations faithfully, impartially and with justice as his watchword, God will surely bless him with obedient and noble wards, who will surely maintain the tradition established or followed by him. The classic example is that of a Chola king who, unmindful of the consequences, drove a chariot over his son who had violated the rules laid down by him. God, admiring the king's impartiality, made the boy come alive.

After offering his prayers to God and describing how there will be prosperity and timely rains and about the Law of Virtue, Thiruvalluvar, in his Thirukkural, deals with children stating that there is no asset greater than intelligent offspring. He says the duty of a father is to provide his children with education that will make him to take an honoured place amongst enlightened and cultured men. The son, should in his turn, bring reputation to his parents. There can be no greater happiness, pride and joy for parents when other people praise their sons for their wisdom, impeccable conduct and adherence to virtue. So too, the son's filial duty is to behave himself amongst other people so as to make them acclaim ``Great should have been the father's good deeds to be blessed by God with such a noble child.''

Sri M. K. Ramanan, in a lecture, cited the example of Dasaratha in the Ramayana. The emperor was not so elated even when he heard about his son's achievement in breaking the bow enabling Him to marry Sita, nor when He humbled Parasurama, than when the citizens, in one voice, gave an acclamation when he proposed that he was keen on installing Rama on the throne. Likewise Prahlada, as a child, prayed to God that his father should be pardoned. That a son even when he was bitten by a snake and was about to die made his father, Appoodhi Adigal, to attend on the honoured guest, Saint Appar, on his visit to their house is mentioned in the Periapuranam. Scriptures also refer to the grim penance of Bhagiratha to bring river Ganga to the plain to remove the curse suffered by his forebears.

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