In plain words
We must strive wholeheartedly for a mother's love. A mother's love stays always in our home, at our heels, by our side and before our eyes, and keeps guarding us. But we are unable to perceive it.
Man falls into hardships only because he forgets a mother's love
We did not spring up from the earth; we did not drop from the sky; we were born from none other than a mother's womb. So we must show gratitude to the mother. There are sons who hate a mother, but there are no mothers who hate a son. A mother always wishes for nothing but the son's welfare. At times differences of opinion may arise between mother and son. Merely for that, the mother does not hate the son. Even when they go to court, the mother says, “He is my son,” and the son says, “She is my mother.” So deep is the bond of love between mother and children. A mother labours ceaselessly for nothing but the welfare of her children. Man falls into many hardships only because he forgets such a mother's love. Win a mother's love; you can win the love of all. Do not sink into the narrow thought, “It is enough to give that old woman a bit of food.” It is a mistake to think our duty is done once we give the mother a bit to eat. We must serve the mother. We must make her happy. Even if God appears before us in person, we must not give up the service of the parents.
Puṇḍarīka's example
Puṇḍarīka held the service of his aged parents alone to be the chief thing for him. One day he was pressing his parents' feet in service. Wishing to test the love Puṇḍarīka bore his parents, Pāṇḍuraṅga appeared in person. But Puṇḍarīka did not look towards Him and stayed absorbed in serving his parents. Pāṇḍuraṅga: “My child! I have come to give you darśan, and without looking at Me, whom are you serving?” He asked.