Shloka 4
भारतवर्षमहात्म्यम् — कर्मभूमित्वम्, नवभेदाः, कुलपर्वताः-नद्यः-जनपदाः, युगचक्रविशेषः, यज्ञपुरुषविष्णुपूजा
अतः संप्राप्यते स्वर्गो मुक्तिम् अस्मात् प्रयान्ति च तिर्यक्त्वं नरकं चापि यान्त्य् अतः पुरुषा मुने
ataḥ saṃprāpyate svargo muktim asmāt prayānti ca tiryaktvaṃ narakaṃ cāpi yānty ataḥ puruṣā mune
From this very law of conduct and action, heaven is attained; and from it, too, some depart into liberation (moksha). From this same cause, O sage, men also go to the state of animals—and to hell as well.
Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Merit and demerit arising from conduct/karma in Bhārata and their destinations (svarga, naraka, tiryaktva, mokṣa).
Teaching: Ethical
Quality: authoritative
Concept: Human conduct (dharma/adharma as karma) is the direct cause of ascent to heaven, descent to hell/animality, or even liberation for some.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Treat choices as destiny-shaping: cultivate dharma, restrain harmful impulses, and orient action toward liberation rather than mere pleasure.
Vishishtadvaita: Mokṣa is presented as a real attainable end through rightly oriented life in the Lord’s order (niyati), consistent with the soul’s dependence on Bhagavān.
Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman
Bhakti Type: Shanta
FAQs
This verse distinguishes svarga as a reachable result of action, while moksha is a higher departure beyond ordinary rebirth—both arising from one’s conduct and inner orientation.
Parāśara states that the same moral causality (karma shaped by dharma or adharma) can lead a person upward to heaven or downward into animal birth and hell.
Though not named in this line, the Vishnu Purana frames cosmic justice and liberation under Vishnu’s sovereign order—where karma governs outcomes and moksha is the supreme release aligned with the Highest Reality.