EACH IS GREAT IN HIS OWN PLACE - 4

It is the most difficult thing in this world to work and not care for the result, to
help a man and never think that he ought to be grateful, to do some good work
and at the same time never look to see whether it brings you name or fame, or
nothing at all. Even the most arrant coward becomes brave when the world
praises him. A fool can do heroic deeds when the approbation of society is
upon him, but for a man to constantly do good without caring for the
approbation of his fellow men is indeed the highest sacrifice man can perform.
The great duty of the householder is to earn a living, but he must take care that
he does not do it by telling lies, or by cheating, or by robbing others; and he
must remember that his life is for the service of God, and the poor.
Knowing that mother and father are the visible representatives of God, the householder, always
and by all means, must please them. If the mother is pleased, and the father, God is pleased
with the man. That child is really a good child who never speaks harsh words to his parents.
Before parents one must not utter jokes, must not show restlessness, must not show anger or
temper. Before mother or father, a child must bow down low, and stand up in their presence,
and must not take a seat until they order him to sit.
If the householder has food and drink and clothes without first seeing that his mother and his
father, his children, his wife, and the poor, are supplied, he is committing a sin. The mother and
the father are the causes of this body; so a man must undergo a thousand troubles in order to do
good to them.
Even so is his duty to his wife. No man should scold his wife, and he must always maintain her
as if she were his own mother. And even when he is in the greatest difficulties and troubles, he
must not show anger to his wife.
He who thinks of another woman besides his wife, if he touches her even with his mind — that
man goes to dark hell.
Before women he must not talk improper language, and never brag of his powers. He must not
say, “I have done this, and I have done that.”
The householder must always please his wife with money, clothes, love, faith, and words like
nectar, and never do anything to disturb her. That man who has succeeded in getting the love of
a chaste wife has succeeded in his religion and has all the virtues.
The following are duties towards children:
A son should be lovingly reared up to his fourth year; he should be educated till he is sixteen.
When he is twenty years of age he should be employed in some work; he should then be treated
affectionately by his father as his equal. Exactly in the same manner the daughter should be
brought up, and should be educated with the greatest care. And when she marries, the father
ought to give her jewels and wealth.
Then the duty of the man is towards his brothers and sisters, and towards the children of his
brothers and sisters, if they are poor, and towards his other relatives, his friends and his
servants. Then his duties are towards the people of the same village, and the poor, and any one
that comes to him for help. Having sufficient means, if the householder does not take care to
give to his relatives and to the poor, know him to be only a brute; he is not a human being.
Excessive attachment to food, clothes, and the tending of the body, and dressing of the hair
should be avoided. The householder must be pure in heart and clean in body, always active and
always ready for work.
To his enemies the householder must be a hero. Them he must resist. That is the duty of the
householder. He must not sit down in a corner and weep, and talk nonsense about nonresistance.
If he does not show himself a hero to his enemies he has not done his duty. And to
his friends and relatives he must be as gentle as a lamb.
It is the duty of the householder not to pay reverence to the wicked; because, if he reverences
the wicked people of the world, he patronizes wickedness; and it will be a great mistake if he
disregards those who are worthy of respect, the good people. He must not be gushing in his
friendship; he must not go out of the way making friends everywhere; he must watch the
actions of the men he wants to make friends with, and their dealings with other men, reason
upon them, and then make friends.