Shloka 10
मैत्रेयप्रश्नः—पुराणसंहिताप्रतिज्ञा च
Maitreya’s Questions and Parāśara’s Resolve to Teach
धर्मांश् च ब्राह्मणादीनां तथा चाश्रमवासिनाम् श्रोतुम् इच्छाम्य् अहं सर्वं त्वत्तो वासिष्ठनन्दन
dharmāṃś ca brāhmaṇādīnāṃ tathā cāśramavāsinām śrotum icchāmy ahaṃ sarvaṃ tvatto vāsiṣṭhanandana
I desire to hear from you, O beloved descendant of Vasiṣṭha, the whole account of dharma—the duties of the Brāhmaṇas and the rest, and the disciplines of those who dwell in the āśramas.
Maitreya (addressing Sage Parāśara)
Speaker: Maitreya
Topic: Complete account of dharma: varṇa-dharmas (Brāhmaṇa and others) and āśrama disciplines
Teaching: Ethical
Quality: earnest, seeking normative guidance
Concept: Human flourishing and spiritual progress are structured by varṇa duties and āśrama disciplines, to be learned from an authoritative teacher.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Adopt a role-appropriate code of conduct (integrity, service, self-restraint) and a life-stage practice (study, household responsibility, gradual renunciation) suited to one’s capacities.
Vishishtadvaita: Varṇāśrama-dharma functions as a practical support for bhakti as the primary means, harmonizing worldly obligations with God-centered living.
FAQs
This verse frames dharma as a complete system—social duties (varṇa) and life-stage disciplines (āśrama)—setting the ethical order that underlies later teachings on creation, kingship, and devotion.
Maitreya first requests a comprehensive account; Parāśara’s instruction proceeds as an authoritative transmission within a guru–disciple setting, where dharma is treated as a structured, knowable body of teaching.
Even when the verse speaks of dharma, the Vishnu Purana’s larger intent is that universal order is grounded in the Supreme Reality—Vishnu—who sustains the world through law, duty, and righteous conduct.