Shloka 100
Pracetās, Māriṣā, Dakṣa’s Re-manifestation, and the Brahma-parastava; Cyclic Creation and Genealogies
ततः प्रभृति वै भ्राता भ्रातुर् अन्वेषणे द्विज प्रयातो नश्यति तथा तन् न कार्यं विजानता
tataḥ prabhṛti vai bhrātā bhrātur anveṣaṇe dvija prayāto naśyati tathā tan na kāryaṃ vijānatā
From that time onward, O brāhmaṇa, a brother who sets out in search of his brother is lost as well; therefore, one who understands should not undertake that course of action.
Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Moral inference drawn from the fate of those who followed their brothers’ path.
Teaching: Ethical
Quality: compassionate
Concept: Wisdom includes restraint: do not repeat actions known to lead to ruin, even when motivated by attachment or duty to kin.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: When helping others, avoid ‘rescue impulses’ that replicate the same risk; choose effective support (planning, counsel, safeguards) over reactive pursuit.
Vishishtadvaita: Dharma is not blind attachment; right action is guided by knowledge and responsibility within the Lord’s moral order (niyati), aligning compassion with discernment.
Dharma Exemplar: Viveka (discernment)
FAQs
This verse frames restraint as dharma: when an action predictably leads to loss, wisdom lies in refusing it, even if motivated by familial attachment.
He states a clear cause-and-effect rule—pursuit leads to disappearance—then concludes that knowledge (vijñāna) should govern choice, not impulse.
Even without naming Vishnu, the verse reflects Vaishnava order: right action aligns with dharma under the Supreme’s governance, and wisdom is shown by acting in harmony with that order.