Yavajjivam Cha Shushrusha Karya Matuha Piturguroha |
Rogartasya Manushasya Yathashakti Cha Mamkauha ||139||
One should offer life long service to their mother - Matuha (who gives birth to them), their stepmother, their father - Pitura and their Guru/Acharya. Manu explains, ‘The pains suffered by a mother and father through the birth of a child cannot be repaid in even a hundred years. Therefore service to one’s parents and Acharya should be performed readily with affection. The happiness of these three persons fulfills all penance and austerities. Indeed service to them is the greatest of austerities. They are worthy of service, as they are Veda-Rupa and Agni-Rupa.’
Bhagwat Purana explains, ‘Those who do not serve or look after their elders, parents, righteous women, young children, Guru, Brahmin and one who comes to them for shelter, though they have the wealth and ability to do so, are considered as corpses though they are living.’
The Devas have explained - Putranaam Hi Paro Dharmaha Pitrushushrushanam Sataam - ‘A child’s highest duty is to serve his mother, father and Sat Purusha (righteous people).’ Skanda Purana further explains the consequences of not serving, ‘One should serve their mother, father and Guru daily with great faith according to their means. Those who do not are sent to Rairav Narak (a hell).’
One should also serve those who are ill or downtrodden. Parashar Smruti explains, ‘One should always have compassion for those inflicted by pain through illness, fire or weapons. They should be served daily according to their ability by offering food, water, medicine etc.’ Yagnavalkya adds, ‘To serve the sick is equivalent to donating a cow (Godana)’. ‘To massage the feet of the tired, to serve the sick, to worship the Devas, to wash the feet of Brahmins and to pick up the plate used by a Brahmin after he has eaten, results in the Punya derived from donating a cow.’
This is a very important Shloka of the Shikshapatri. It is one of the pillars of our Hindu Sanatan Dharma. To serve ones parents until that day when they breathe their last breath is one of the most important duties of man. This is the essence of our Hindu Dharma that preaches service and compassion.
Shastras explain that all righteous acts are rendered futile if one does not ultimately serve their parents. Serving one’s parents is a way in which we can also serve God, as one of the nine types of Bhakti - ‘Pada Sevanam’ is quite simply service to one’s parents, elders, Guru and saints. It is said that service to one’s parents is alone service to the 330 million Devtas (Tentris Karore Devta). Furthermore it is written that God is unwilling to accept the worship offered by those who fail to worship their parents.
Lord Shree Krishna has said, ‘This human body which is able to realize the four Purusharthas, who have been brought into this world, looked after, cherished and cared for by the love and devotion of their mother and father; such love by parents should never be forgotten. Those who have been blessed by their parents through service unto them receive the favour of God.’ Therefore we should be ever grateful to such loving parents.
We only have to look at the life of Lord Shree Rama to understand the duties of a son, who was willing to leave the kingdom without question due to mother Kaikeyi’s wishes. Not forgetting Lord Swaminarayan himself who was so eager to leave his home and take up asceticism but would not do so until he completed his service to his parents.
Lord Swaminarayan here specifically mentions parents, Guru and the ill. Why we should serve our parents is obvious but why service to one’s Guru? A Guru is considered as our second mother. The first mother gives birth to our physical self, where as a Guru gives birth to our mental self. The Guru is the guiding hand that sees us through a spiritual and righteous life by developing the soul, mind and intellect. It is he who develops our true self and instills faith and devotion to God within us. For this reason, life long service to one’s Guru is also necessary.
Similarly to serve the ill bears great fruits and is a sign of great compassion which suits a person – as the saying goes, Daya Dharma Ka Mula Hai. To serve somebody in need or suffering will undoubtedly bring peace and happiness to both the server and served.
I conclude by mentioning that very famous Shloka:
Matru Devo Bhava - Pitru Devo Bhava |
Acharya Devo Bhava - Atithi Devo Bhava ||
- The Upanishads command, ‘Mother, father, Acharya and stranger (or guest) should be served and honored as Gods.’
It is disheartening to see that many children do not serve their parents in this manner and often fall out into arguments resulting in children renouncing their parents or even being abusive towards their parents. The debt owed to parents is so great that it is cannot be repaid and so we should strive to serve them as much as we can - without question or excuse. The joy of one’s parents is ultimately the joy of God.