Sarga-38
Abandoning the sinful son though he is the eldest 1.38.1-22
It may be argued according to Manu: “A person acquires the status of a father by the mere birth of the eldest son. He also frees himself from the debt of the ancestors. Therefore, the eldest deserves everything. He with whose birth one pays off the debt and obtains an immortal abode, is the only son born of dharma. The others are born of kama”. Then how can the eldest son, being instrumental in returning the debt, in acquiring an excellent abode in the world hereafter, in continuation of the race and being the product of dharma abandoned? Yet, it is proper to forsake a son who causes harm, who is sinful and wicked.
Who is a sinner?
Gautama defines a sinner as a person who does not perform the duties enjoined on him and is addicted to sensual enjoyments. Manu advises us to keep off even the wicked guru but not a mother even when fallen, says Gautama. A mother is greater than a guru as she conceives and nourishes the child.
The “Panchagnividya” of Chandogya states, “one who keeps connection with sinners is a sinner”. Manu observes that a king’s primary duty is the welfare of the subjects even if it means abandonment of his eldest son.
Primary duty of a king:
To Manu, Yajnavalkya, Apastamba and Gautama the prime duty of a king is to safeguard his subjects’ interest, which is like performance of a sacrifice.
The “Shantiparva” of the Mahabharata the Brahmandapurana and the Markandeyapurana support this point of view.
Sarga-38
Abandoning the sinful son though he is the eldest 1.38.1-22
It may be argued according to Manu: “A person acquires the status of a father by the mere birth of the eldest son. He also frees himself from the debt of the ancestors. Therefore, the eldest deserves everything. He with whose birth one pays off the debt and obtains an immortal abode, is the only son born of dharma. The others are born of kama”. Then how can the eldest son, being instrumental in returning the debt, in acquiring an excellent abode in the world hereafter, in continuation of the race and being the product of dharma abandoned? Yet, it is proper to forsake a son who causes harm, who is sinful and wicked.
Who is a sinner?
Gautama defines a sinner as a person who does not perform the duties enjoined on him and is addicted to sensual enjoyments. Manu advises us to keep off even the wicked guru but not a mother even when fallen, says Gautama. A mother is greater than a guru as she conceives and nourishes the child.
The “Panchagnividya” of Chandogya states, “one who keeps connection with sinners is a sinner”. Manu observes that a king’s primary duty is the welfare of the subjects even if it means abandonment of his eldest son.
Primary duty of a king:
To Manu, Yajnavalkya, Apastamba and Gautama the prime duty of a king is to safeguard his subjects’ interest, which is like performance of a sacrifice.
The “Shantiparva” of the Mahabharata the Brahmandapurana and the Markandeyapurana support this point of view.