“A smattering of knowledge” means only partial understanding. “Trivial skills” are modest abilities; “small merits” mean minor strengths. “Fine boys” and “worthy sons” both speak of excellent children. Even for minor accomplishments of their sons, such fathers go about praising them to others, eager to show off their fine offspring.
Though the son is no instrument for establishing a household, he is treasured as a jewel upon the feast mat.
An “instrument” here means a vessel fit for use. A “jewel upon the feast‑mat” stands for pearls and fine jade laid out at feasts. It means the son is in truth unfit to sustain and build a family, yet the father treats him like a precious gem, indulging and sparing him from discipline.
Thence they cast off restraints, transgress bounds, violate rites and overstep their proper station.
Restraints refer to supervision over young people’s behaviors. Bounds mean the safeguards set to prevent youngsters from committing faults. Rites stand for rituals that distinguish male and female, inner private quarters and outer public spheres. Proper station refers to status defined by ethical principles and interpersonal moral order. The four verbs: cast off, transgress, violate and overstep, all signify acting in defiance of rules and proprieties.
They contract a frivolous disposition, recklessly seeking carnal rest with nuns and widows.
A nun is a woman who has left household life to enter the Buddhist monastic order. A widow is a woman bereaved of her husband. This means the spoiled youths become steeped in flippant, reckless habits, and willfully seduce nuns and widows, craving the pleasure of lying with them.
They put on a show of muddled speech, and indulge every whim of their hearts in pleasure quarters.
Such libertines feign foolishness, uttering confused, nonsensical words, and roam freely through streets of debauchery, following whatever delights their fancy.
“My father teaches me to walk in rectitude, yet my father himself does not follow the upright path.”