In plain words
When needs arise, when they are hungry, they turn to these women. Once the need is met, they look on them as if they were mad. 'Like burning the raft once the river is crossed, ...... deceits,' they said. We need the raft until we cross the river. Once the river is crossed, they throw the raft into the water. In the same way, you need your parents until your hardships are over. Once you have gone abroad, once they have won a great job, their very parents no longer come to mind. I will finish by telling one small example. In Madras, as you all must know, there was one V. Rāmakṛṣṇa who studied for the ICS. There was no IAS then; it was called ICS. He sent his son to America to study. Not even a month had gone by. As soon as he got there, the mother telephoned. Durgamma was her name. She does not know English. "Bābu, how are you, dear? Are you studying well? Is your health good?" she kept asking. He said, 'I have forgotten Telugu.' 'I have to speak only in English. Telugu does not come to me,' he said. That mother came happily and told Me. 'Swami! It is a month since our boy went to America. He has forgotten Telugu itself,' she said. Then I, 'Amma! When that son, whom you have raised from childhood and called fondly in your own language and so enjoyed Ānanda, has forgotten the language itself, will he not forget you as well?' I asked her. There are many such people in the world. As soon as they go abroad, their parents are not remembered at all. There was once a pandit of the old school. He did not like the idea of sending his son abroad. He feared this boy might pick up foreign habits and behaviour. He made his son repeat the Gāyatrī mantra constantly. He told the boy. 'Even when you go there, keep remembering the Gāyatrī at the three times of day,' he said. Thinking the son would prosper, under pressure he sent him abroad. Before the son went abroad, "If you forget the Gāyatrī, I will not keep you in mind at all"; I shall think no son was ever born to me. He told him to make a vow to that effect. The son went there.