________________
334
A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYAN
for the parents when their separated sons met them again". The natural affection of the parents gushed forth and they celebrated such occasions with great enthusiasm.
Duties of sons and daughters :--The daughters and sons showed due modesty and obedience to their parents. It was the duty of the sons to keep their parents happy and give them due assistance in their old age. As far as the daughters are concerned, they remained with their parents only up to the time of their marriage and there is no instance that any girl would have disobeyed her parents in marrying the person selected by them. The greatest responsibility lay on the sons and they were always obedient to their parents and elders. Rāvana on being advised by his mother, started acquiring great powers for rejuvenating his ancestral glory. He determined to recapture Laikā as soon as he was advised to do so by his grandfather (7.158-172). Rāma forwent the crown of Ayodhyā because he did not like to cause slightest agony to his father and he did not want to blacken the repute of his father, Laksmana did not interfere because he thought that whatever the elders had done, must he proper (31.109). Pavanañjaya obeyed his father and decided not to refuse his marriage with Añjanā (15.91). Non-obeyance of a father who was considered to be socially and politically a ripe person, brought about adverse results. On that account Indra got humiliated in a battle with Rāvana (12.75-82, 139-140). One who followed his mother's advice won glory and kingdom (77.8288). A loyal son suffered himself than angering even her step-mother (8.143-210). A faithful son never tolerated any undue insult and humiliation of his mother at the hand of even his elders (50.2-14; 99.20-23). It should be noted that in both the cases the sons ultimately pay their due respects to their elders after taking revenge upon them. This is a sign of their due modesty towards their elders. A son duly revenged himself by killing the murderer of his father (39.46). Whenever the sons departed from their home they paid their due respects to their parents and took their due permission. In exchange they received blessings from their parents. It was the sacred duty of the sons to assist their fathers in their old age. When the princes attained full youth, they prevented their fathers from entering the battle and prepared themselves to fight against the enemies (27.16-21;
1.8.206; 18.42; 30.94-95, 97.29-32. v 2. na ya bhogakāraṇam me tujjha akittie logammi, jáeņa suena pahu cinte
yavvam hiyam niyayakālam, jeņa piya na ya sogam gacchai egam pi ya
muhuttam 31.76-77. 3. 31.93-100; 16.35; 19.13; 27 21; 86.14-23; 98.24.
