Shloka 53
प्रह्लादस्य अव्यभिचारिणी भक्ति, मायाविनाशः, तथा विष्णोः विश्वरूप-स्तुतिः
अन्यथा सकला लोकास् तथा दैतेयदानवाः अनुयास्यन्ति मूढस्य मतम् अस्य दुरात्मनः
anyathā sakalā lokās tathā daiteyadānavāḥ anuyāsyanti mūḍhasya matam asya durātmanaḥ
Otherwise, all the worlds—and likewise the Daityas and Dānavas—will end up following the opinion of this deluded, wicked-souled one, taking his crooked resolve as their own.
Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Teaching: Devotional
Quality: revealing
Concept: When a wicked, deluded will becomes socially dominant, even whole worlds can be dragged into adharma by imitation and fear.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Resist collective misinformation and coercive leadership; align conduct with dharma rather than popularity or power.
Vishishtadvaita: Implied contrast between asuric delusion and true orientation toward the Supreme Lord as the proper end of all beings.
Phase: Persecution
Bhakti Quality: Clarity of devotion contrasted with asuric delusion
Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman
Bhakti Type: Shanta
FAQs
This verse warns that a single deluded, immoral figure can influence not only people but even hostile powers (Daityas and Danavas), causing widespread drift from dharma across the worlds.
He frames adharma as contagious through imitation: when the “mūḍha” sets a doctrine or policy, many “anuyāsyanti”—they follow it—so restraint and correction become urgent.
Implicitly, Vishnu stands as the upholder of ṛta/dharma; the verse highlights why divine order and righteous governance are necessary to prevent the worlds from falling under asuric, delusive influence.