Shloka 15
Maitreya’s Inquiry into Prahlāda: The Logic of Bhakti’s Invincibility
प्रहरन्ति महात्मानो विपक्षे चापि नेदृशे गुणैः समन्विते साधौ किं पुनर् यः स्वपक्षजः
praharanti mahātmāno vipakṣe cāpi nedṛśe guṇaiḥ samanvite sādhau kiṃ punar yaḥ svapakṣajaḥ
Great-souled men do not strike even an opponent when he is a person of such character—endowed with virtues and truly righteous; how much less, then, would they harm one who belongs to their own side?
Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)
Speaker: Maitreya
Topic: Ethical paradox: why would anyone strike a virtuous person, especially one of their own party/kin
Teaching: Ethical
Quality: probing, reflective
Concept: True greatness (mahātmatā) expresses as restraint: one should not harm a virtuous person—even an opponent—much less a member of one’s own side.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Adopt ahiṃsā and restraint in speech/action, especially within family or ideological groups, where harm is easiest to justify.
Vishishtadvaita: Dharma is grounded in recognizing all beings as belonging to Bhagavān (śeṣa-śeṣi-bhāva); harming the virtuous violates the Lord’s order and the community of His dependents.
Phase: Persecution
Bhakti Quality: sādhutva and guṇa-sampatti (virtue-endowed saintliness)
FAQs
This verse frames true greatness as self-control: even in opposition, a virtuous person is not to be harmed, revealing dharma as higher than mere factional victory.
Parāśara uses genealogical storytelling to teach standards of kingship and character, presenting ethical maxims—like non-injury toward the righteous—as the measure of noble rule.
Though Vishnu is not named here, the ethic reflects Vishnu Purana’s core idea that dharma sustains cosmic order under Vishnu’s sovereignty; righteous action aligns society with that divine order.