A Worthy Son

(Compiled from notes on lectures of H. H. Mahavishnu Goswami)

When our spiritual master, H.H.Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaja was in Abu Dhabi in December 2007 he made all of us recite the following points:

1. I will obey my parents.
2. I will never trouble them in anyway.
3. I will always serve them to the best of my ability.
4. I am really grateful to them for all they are doing for me.
5. I will never be arrogant with them.
6. May Lord bless them with long long life.

It may seem that this is relevant for our children only but it is applicable to all of us whether 2 years, 16 years, 45 years, 70 years etc.

There is a story about an 80 year old man who was sitting on the sofa in his house along with his 45 year old highly educated son. Suddenly a crow perched on their window sill.

The father asked his son, "What is this?"

The son replied, "It is a crow."

After a few minutes, the father asked his son the 2nd time, "What is this?"

The son said "Father, I just told you, It's a crow."

After a little while, the old father again asked his son the 3rd time, "What is this"
The son said with some irritation, "It's a crow, a crow."

A little after the father again asked his son for the 4th time, "What is this."

This time the son shouted at his father, "Why do you keep asking me the same question again and again, although I have told you so many times 'IT IS A CROW'. Can't you understand this?"

A little later the father went to his room and came back with an old tattered diary, which he had maintained since his son was born. On opening a page, he asked his son to read that page.

When the son read it, the following words were written in the diary :
"Today my little son aged three was sitting with me on the sofa, when a crow was sitting on the window. My son asked me 23 times what it was, and I replied to him all 23 times that it was a crow. I hugged him lovingly each time he asked me the same question again and again all 23 times."

So...

If parents attain old age, do not repulse them or look at them as a burden, but speak to them a gracious word, be obedient, humble and kind to them. Be considerate to your parents. BE A WORTHY SON.

In the verse of Srimad Bhagavatam 3.3.1 :

uddhava uvaaca
tatah sa aagatya puram sva-pitros
cikirsayaa sam baladeva-samyutah
nipaatya tungaad ripu-yutha-naatham
hatam vyakarsad vyasum ojasorvyaam
"Sri Uddhava said: Thereafter Lord Krsna went to Mathura City with Sri Baladeva, and to please Their parents They dragged Kamsa, the leader of public enemies, down from his throne and killed him, pulling him along the ground with great strength."

Srila Prabhupada says: The Lord proved to be a worthy son of His parents even at the age of sixteen years. Both brothers, Lord Krsna and Lord Baladeva, went to Mathura from Vrndavana and killed Their maternal uncle, who had given so much trouble to Their parents, Vasudeva and Devaki.

There are very many examples of a worthy son in Srimad Bhagavatam like Prahlada Maharaj, Dhruva Maharaj, Puru, etc.

Maharaja Yayati wanted his son Puru to exchange his youth with his oldage and invalidity. In Srimad Bhagavatam, 9.18.44, while accepting his father's request,

Puru says
uttamas cintitam kuryaat
prokta-kaari tu madhyamah
adhamo 'sraddhayaa kuryaad
akartoccaritam pituh

1) A son who acts by anticipating what his father wants him to do is a first class son.
2) One who acts upon receiving his father's order is a second class son.
3) A son who executes his father's order irreverently is a third class son.

But a son who refuses his father's order is like his father's stool.
However, one must understand that for your son to be worth(y) (of value) to you, one must act and behave as worthy sons of their parents as well. Because children are always observing the activities of their parents and will imbibe the same qualities as they grow. Let us show to the children and to the world that we can become worthy sons of our parents and Lord Krishna who is our Supreme Father.

I therefore seek the mercy of my spiritual master, the Supreme Lord and Srila Prabhupad to ingrain in me the qualities for being a worthy son.

Chant,

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna

Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama

Rama Rama

Hare Hare

and be happy.