Thirukkural 67 and 70 on PARENTS AND CHILDREN OBLIGATIONS.

Parents and Children obligations. 

What is the responsibility of parents towards their children ? Thiruvalluvar says-

Parents should bring up their children in such a way that they sit in the front row in any assembly of wise ( kural 67 )

தந்தை மகற்கு ஆற்றும் நன்றி அவையத்து
முந்தி இருப்பச் செயல

To achieve  this,  the children should be given right education according to their aptitude. Along with the education, care should be taken to develop leadership qualities, communication skills , etc.

The quality of children's education depends up on the quantity of sacrifice that the parents do.There are parents in India who had become paupers after spending their entire savings for the higher medical education of their children.Some educated mothers remained home  for the sake of the all round development of their children sacrificing  their employments.

Apart from the formal education, children should be trained to live within the law of the land,earn within the ethical parameters, spend within the prescribed norms etc. Disciplined children with good education and proper socialization will be highly respected by the people and made to sit in the front row and honoured. Wherever they go, they will be recognised.

Another KURAL 68 says-

If the children's intelligence is more than that of parents

It will be a joy to all the living beings on the earth.

தம்மின்தம் மக்கள் அறிவுடைமை மாநிலத்து
மன்னுயிர்க் கெல்லாம் இனிது.( 68)

Thiruvalluvar says, it will be a joy to all the living beings on the earth, why ? Why , he uses the word joy to the entire living beings ? Increased intelligence from generation to generation will lead to many innovations which will bring joy to all the living beings.

Edition, Edward Jenner, Einstein and others who excelled their parents brought joy to the entire living beings through their inventions and theories. Intelligent children who become veterinary doctors relieve the sufferings of the sickly animals. Intelligent children who become eminent teachers develop in students a compassion towards other living beings. It is joy not only to the parents but also to all living beings on the earth. That is the reason why Thiruvalluvar says ' joy to all the living beings on the earth.'

What is the responsibility of children towards their  parents ? 

Children by the virtue of their behaviour, attitude, knowledge, nobility, obedience,duty towards parents, compassion towards poor and needy, broader human outlook, etc, should make others  to wonder or exclaim,

What penance the parents performed to beget these children.

If the parents hear this saying of others, it will be the greatest joy to them.

Any right thinking parent will be very happy if the children are educated higher than them, command more respect than them and earn more than them. In simple terms, if the children had excelled the parents in every thing, it is the greatest pleasure to them. If people watch the excelled children, they will wonder, what penance the parents had performed to beget these children. The essence of Kural 70 is-

The duty of the son ( children ) to father ( parents ) is to make others to wonder

" What penance the father ( parents ) had done to beget him "

மகன் தந்தைக்கு ஆற்றும் உதவி இவன் தந்தை
என் நோற்றான்கொல் எனும் சொல் (70)



மகன் தந்தைக்கு ஆற்றும் உதவி = The duty of the son to father.
இவன் தந்தை = This boy's  father        
என் நோற்றான்கொல் எனும் சொல் = what penance he  done to beget him.

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