The Five Kinds of Sons

Verse 1 (padma.5.88.1)

सुमनोवाच- ऋणसंबंधिनं पुत्रं प्रवक्ष्यामि तवाग्रतः । ऋणं यस्य गृहीत्वा यः प्रयाति मरणं किल

sumanovāca- ṛṇasaṁbaṁdhinaṁ putraṁ pravakṣyāmi tavāgrataḥ ṛṇaṁ yasya gṛhītvā yaḥ prayāti maraṇaṁ kila

Sumana said: "I shall tell you of the son connected by debt: he who, having taken a debt from someone, then goes to his death —"

Verse 2 (padma.5.88.2)

अर्थदाता सुतो भूत्वा भ्रातावाथ पिता प्रिया । मित्ररूपेण वर्तेत अंतर्दुष्टः सदैव सः

arthadātā suto bhūtvā bhrātāvātha pitā priyā mitrarūpeṇa varteta aṁtarduṣṭaḥ sadaiva saḥ

"becomes, as the giver of that wealth, a son, or else a brother, father, or beloved wife; in the guise of a friend he behaves, but he is ever inwardly wicked."

Verse 3 (padma.5.88.3)

गुणं नैव प्रपश्येत स क्रूरो निष्ठुराकृतिः । जल्पते निष्ठुरं वाक्यं सदैव स्वजनेषु च

guṇaṁ naiva prapaśyeta sa krūro niṣṭhurākṛtiḥ jalpate niṣṭhuraṁ vākyaṁ sadaiva svajaneṣu ca

"He never perceives virtue; he is cruel, of harsh disposition; he ever speaks harsh words, even to his own kin."

Verse 4 (padma.5.88.4)

मिष्टं मिष्टं समश्नाति भोगान्भुंजति नित्यशः । द्यूतकर्मरतो नित्यं चौरकर्मणि सस्पृहः

miṣṭaṁ miṣṭaṁ samaśnāti bhogānbhuṁjati nityaśaḥ dyūtakarmarato nityaṁ caurakarmaṇi saspṛhaḥ

"He eats the sweetest of foods, constantly enjoys pleasures, is ever devoted to gambling, and eager for the deeds of a thief."

Verse 7 (padma.5.88.7)

गृहाद्द्रव्यं चोरयति वार्यमाणः स कुप्यति । पितरं मातरं चैव कुत्सते च दिनेदिने

gṛhāddravyaṁ corayati vāryamāṇaḥ sa kupyati pitaraṁ mātaraṁ caiva kutsate ca dinedine

He steals wealth from the house, and grows angry when restrained; he reviles his father and mother day after day.

Verse 8 (padma.5.88.8)

एवं संक्षीयते द्रव्यमेवमेतद्वदत्यपि । गृहं क्षेत्रादिकं सर्वं ममैव हि न संशयः

evaṁ saṁkṣīyate dravyamevametadvadatyapi gṛhaṁ kṣetrādikaṁ sarvaṁ mamaiva hi na saṁśayaḥ

Thus wealth is diminished, and he even says this: 'The house, the fields, and everything — all of it is mine alone, without doubt.'

Verse 9 (padma.5.88.9)

पितरं मातरं चैव हिनस्त्येव दिने दिने । सुदंडैर्मुशलैश्चैव केशोत्पाटैश्च दारुणैः

pitaraṁ mātaraṁ caiva hinastyeva dine dine sudaṁḍairmuśalaiścaiva keśotpāṭaiśca dāruṇaiḥ

He injures his very father and mother, day by day, with cruel blows, with clubs, and by tearing out their hair.

Verse 10 (padma.5.88.10)

मृते तु तस्मिन्पितरि मातरि चातिनिष्ठुरः । निःस्नेहो निष्ठुरश्चैव जायते नात्र संशयः

mṛte tu tasminpitari mātari cātiniṣṭhuraḥ niḥsneho niṣṭhuraścaiva jāyate nātra saṁśayaḥ

When that father dies, he becomes exceedingly harsh toward the mother; without affection and cruel he becomes, without doubt.

Verse 11 (padma.5.88.11)

श्राद्धकार्याणि दानानि न करोति सदैव सः । एवंविधाः प्रियाः पुत्रा भवंति च महीपते

śrāddhakāryāṇi dānāni na karoti sadaiva saḥ evaṁvidhāḥ priyāḥ putrā bhavaṁti ca mahīpate

He never performs the shraddha rites or gifts — such, O lord of the earth, are the beloved sons that come to be.

Verse 12 (padma.5.88.12)

रिपुं पुत्रं प्रवक्ष्यामि तवाग्रे द्विजसत्तम । बाल्येवयसि संप्राप्ते पुत्रत्वे वर्तते सदा

ripuṁ putraṁ pravakṣyāmi tavāgre dvijasattama bālyevayasi saṁprāpte putratve vartate sadā

"I shall now tell you of the son who is an enemy, O foremost of the twice-born: from the very age of childhood he remains ever in the state of a son —"

Verse 13 (padma.5.88.13)

पितरं मातरं चैव क्रीडमानो हि ताडयेत् । ताडयित्वा प्रयात्येवं प्रहस्यैवं पुनः पुनः

pitaraṁ mātaraṁ caiva krīḍamāno hi tāḍayet tāḍayitvā prayātyevaṁ prahasyaivaṁ punaḥ punaḥ

"he strikes his father and mother while at play; having struck them, he departs, laughing thus, again and again."

Verse 14 (padma.5.88.14)

पुनरायाति तं तत्र पितरं मातरं पुनः । सक्रोधो वर्तते नित्यं कुत्सते च दिनेदिने

punarāyāti taṁ tatra pitaraṁ mātaraṁ punaḥ sakrodho vartate nityaṁ kutsate ca dinedine

"Again he comes to that father and mother; he remains ever full of anger, and reviles them day after day."

Verse 15 (padma.5.88.15)

एवं संवर्तते नित्यं वैरकर्मणि संपदा । पितरं ताडयित्वा च मातरं च ततः पुनः

evaṁ saṁvartate nityaṁ vairakarmaṇi saṁpadā pitaraṁ tāḍayitvā ca mātaraṁ ca tataḥ punaḥ

"Thus he continues constantly in the deed of enmity, even in prosperity; having struck his father, and then his mother again,"

Verse 16 (padma.5.88.16)

प्रयात्येवं स दुष्टात्मा पूर्ववैरानुभावतः । अथातः संप्रवक्ष्यामि यथालभ्यं भवेत्प्रियम्

prayātyevaṁ sa duṣṭātmā pūrvavairānubhāvataḥ athātaḥ saṁpravakṣyāmi yathālabhyaṁ bhavetpriyam

"he departs thus, that wicked soul, following the effect of a former enmity. Now henceforth I shall tell what is pleasing, as far as can be obtained."

Verse 17 (padma.5.88.17)

जातमात्रं प्रियं कुर्याद्बाल्ये क्रीडनताडनैः । वयः प्राप्य प्रियं कुर्यान्मातृपित्रोरनंतरम्

jātamātraṁ priyaṁ kuryādbālye krīḍanatāḍanaiḥ vayaḥ prāpya priyaṁ kuryānmātṛpitroranaṁtaram

"One should treat him with affection from the moment of his birth, with play and light chastisement in childhood; having reached maturity, one should show affection immediately to father and mother."

Verse 18 (padma.5.88.18)

भक्त्या संतोषयेन्नित्यं तावुभौ परितोषयेत् । स्नेहेन वचसा चैव प्रियसंभाषणेन च

bhaktyā saṁtoṣayennityaṁ tāvubhau paritoṣayet snehena vacasā caiva priyasaṁbhāṣaṇena ca

"One should ever satisfy them with devotion, gladden both of them with affection, with words, and with pleasant conversation."

Verse 19 (padma.5.88.19)

मृतौ गुरू समाज्ञाय स्नेहेन रुदते पुनः । श्राद्धकर्माणि सर्वाणि पिंडदानादिकां क्रियाम्

mṛtau gurū samājñāya snehena rudate punaḥ śrāddhakarmāṇi sarvāṇi piṁḍadānādikāṁ kriyām

"When the parents die, having recognized their status as gurus, one weeps again with affection; all the shraddha rites, the offering of pinda and the like,"

Verse 20 (padma.5.88.20)

करोत्येवसुदुःखार्तस्तेभ्यो यात्रां प्रयच्छति । ऋणत्रयान्वितः स्नेहान्मोचयेद्यस्तु निश्चितः

karotyevasuduḥkhārtastebhyo yātrāṁ prayacchati ṛṇatrayānvitaḥ snehānmocayedyastu niścitaḥ

"one performs, afflicted with great sorrow, and gives them the funerary journey-rite. He who, bound by three kinds of debt, resolves to free himself through affection,"

Verse 21 (padma.5.88.21)

यस्माल्लभ्यं भवेत्कांत प्रयच्छति न संशयः । पुत्रो भूत्वा महाप्राज्ञ अनेनविधिना किल

yasmāllabhyaṁ bhavetkāṁta prayacchati na saṁśayaḥ putro bhūtvā mahāprājña anenavidhinā kila

"gives back whatever can be obtained, dear one, without doubt — having become a son, O greatly wise one, by this very method."

Verse 22 (padma.5.88.22)

उदासीनं प्रवक्ष्यामि तवाग्रे प्रिय सांप्रतम् । उदासीनेन भावेन सदैव परिवर्तते

udāsīnaṁ pravakṣyāmi tavāgre priya sāṁpratam udāsīnena bhāvena sadaiva parivartate

"I shall now tell you, dear one, of the indifferent son: he ever conducts himself with an attitude of indifference."

Verse 23 (padma.5.88.23)

ददाति नैव गृह्णाति न च कुप्यति तुष्यति । नो वा प्रयाति संत्यज्य उदासीनो द्विजोत्तम

dadāti naiva gṛhṇāti na ca kupyati tuṣyati no vā prayāti saṁtyajya udāsīno dvijottama

"He neither gives nor takes, neither grows angry nor pleased; nor does he go away, having abandoned his family — such is the indifferent one, O best of the twice-born."

Verse 24 (padma.5.88.24)

भृत्याश्चापि समाख्याताः पशवस्तुरगास्तथा । गजा महिष्यो दास्यश्च ऋणसंबंधिनस्त्वमी

bhṛtyāścāpi samākhyātāḥ paśavasturagāstathā gajā mahiṣyo dāsyaśca ṛṇasaṁbaṁdhinastvamī

"Servants too are thus described, and likewise cattle and horses, elephants, buffalo-cows, and maidservants — these too are connected by debt."

Verse 25 (padma.5.88.25)

गृहीतमाययैकेन आवाभ्यां तु न कस्य हि । न्यासमेवं न कस्यापि कृतं वै पूर्वजन्मनि

gṛhītamāyayaikena āvābhyāṁ tu na kasya hi nyāsamevaṁ na kasyāpi kṛtaṁ vai pūrvajanmani

"Taken by illusion by one from another — but between the two of us, this is true of no one; likewise, no trust has been given to anyone, by either of us, in a former birth."

Verse 26 (padma.5.88.26)

राधयामि न कस्यापि क्षणं कांत शृणुष्व हि । न वैरमस्ति केनापि पूर्वजन्मनि वै कृतम्

rādhayāmi na kasyāpi kṣaṇaṁ kāṁta śṛṇuṣva hi na vairamasti kenāpi pūrvajanmani vai kṛtam

"I bear ill will toward no one for even a moment, dear one — listen indeed. No enmity has been created by me with anyone in a former birth."

Verse 27 (padma.5.88.27)

आबाल्येन तु विप्रेंद्र न च त्यक्तो मया पतिः । एवं ज्ञात्वा शमं गच्छ त्यज चिंतामनर्थिकीम्

ābālyena tu vipreṁdra na ca tyakto mayā patiḥ evaṁ jñātvā śamaṁ gaccha tyaja ciṁtāmanarthikīm

"From my very childhood, O foremost of brahmins, I have never abandoned my husband. Knowing this, attain peace; abandon this pointless anxiety."

Verse 28 (padma.5.88.28)

हृतं नैव च कस्यापि नैव दत्तं त्वया पुनः । कथं ते धनमायाति विस्मयं व्रज मा विभो

hṛtaṁ naiva ca kasyāpi naiva dattaṁ tvayā punaḥ kathaṁ te dhanamāyāti vismayaṁ vraja mā vibho

"Nothing has been stolen by me from anyone, nor has anything been given back by you again — how then does wealth come to you? Do not go into wonder over this, O lord."

Verse 29 (padma.5.88.29)

प्राप्तमेव हि यत्रैव रक्षितुश्च न तिष्ठति । एवं ज्ञात्वा शमं गच्छ त्यज चिंतामनर्थिकीम्

prāptameva hi yatraiva rakṣituśca na tiṣṭhati evaṁ jñātvā śamaṁ gaccha tyaja ciṁtāmanarthikīm

"Whatever is obtained remains only where its guardian permits, nowhere else. Knowing this, attain peace; abandon this pointless anxiety."

Verse 30 (padma.5.88.30)

कस्य पुत्राः प्रिया भार्या कस्य स्वजनबांधवाः । कः कस्य नास्ति संसारे न संबंधो द्विजोत्तम

kasya putrāḥ priyā bhāryā kasya svajanabāṁdhavāḥ kaḥ kasya nāsti saṁsāre na saṁbaṁdho dvijottama

"Whose are the sons, the beloved wife? Whose are one's own kin and relatives? Who has no relation with whom in this worldly existence, O foremost of the twice-born?"

Verse 31 (padma.5.88.31)

मायामोहेन संमूढा मानवाः पापचेतनाः । इदं गृहमयं पुत्र इयं भार्या ममैव हि

māyāmohena saṁmūḍhā mānavāḥ pāpacetanāḥ idaṁ gṛhamayaṁ putra iyaṁ bhāryā mamaiva hi

Deluded by maya's illusion, men of sinful mind think: 'This house is mine, this son is mine, this wife is mine indeed.'

Verse 32 (padma.5.88.32)

अनृतं दृश्यते कांत संसारस्य हि बंधनम्

anṛtaṁ dṛśyate kāṁta saṁsārasya hi baṁdhanam

This is seen to be false, dear one — it is indeed the very bondage of worldly existence.