Shloka 43
भरतचरितम्—मृगासक्ति-हेतुकः समाधिभङ्गः, जातिस्मरत्वं, रहूगण-जाḍभरत-संवादः
तस्माच् चरेत वै योगी सतां धर्मम् अदूषयन् जना यथावमन्येरन् गच्छेयुर् नैव संगतिम्
tasmāc careta vai yogī satāṃ dharmam adūṣayan janā yathāvamanyeran gaccheyur naiva saṃgatim
Therefore, the yogin should move through the world without blemishing the dharma of the good; so that people, finding no occasion to disparage him, do not drift into association and entanglement with him.
Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Proper conduct of a yogin in society: avoiding blame while also avoiding association
Teaching: Ethical
Quality: compassionate
Concept: The yogin should live blamelessly—never tarnishing the dharma of the good—so that people neither disparage him nor cling to him in attachment.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Maintain impeccable ethics while keeping boundaries: avoid scandals and also avoid cultivating followers for validation.
Vishishtadvaita: Social conduct becomes a form of bhagavad-ārādhana: protecting sādhus’ dharma and reducing egoic influence reflects the soul’s service-nature under the Lord.
Bhakti Type: Shanta
FAQs
This verse frames detachment as practical: the yogin lives so cleanly that people find no fault and therefore do not form binding attachments or intrusive associations that disturb contemplation.
Parāśara presents yogic discipline as inseparable from sat-dharma: the yogin’s conduct must not ‘defile’ the standards of the good, meaning inner realization is protected by outward integrity.
Even when Vishnu is not named, the teaching assumes dharma as the order upheld by the Supreme; the yogin’s blamelessness is a lived alignment with that divine governance of the world.