Shloka 83

सप्तद्वीप-समुद्र-प्रमाणम्: प्लक्षादि-द्वीपवर्णनं, लोकालोक-सीमा, चन्द्र-समुद्र-वृद्धिक्षयः

Devanagari script

वर्णाश्रमाचारहीनं धर्माचरणवर्जितम् त्रयीवार्तादण्डनीतिशुश्रूषारहितं च यत्

Transliteration

varṇāśramācārahīnaṃ dharmācaraṇavarjitam trayīvārtādaṇḍanītiśuśrūṣārahitaṃ ca yat

Translation

That state is truly deficient: where the disciplines of varṇa and āśrama are absent, where the practice of dharma is forsaken, and where there is no reverent regard for the threefold Vedic way, for livelihood (vārttā), and for dandanīti—the principles of governance and punishment that uphold society.

Word by Word

• वर्णाश्रमाचारहीनम्: devoid of varṇa and āśrama duties
• वर्णाश्रमाचारहीनम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक) + आचार (प्रातिपदिक) + हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (वर्ण-आश्रम-आचार-हीन = ‘devoid of varṇa-āśrama conduct’)

• धर्माचरणवर्जितम्: lacking the practice of dharma
• धर्माचरणवर्जितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + आचरण (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्जित (कृदन्त, √वृज्/वर्ज्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (धर्म-आचरण-वर्जित = ‘deprived of practice of dharma’)

• त्रयीवार्तादण्डनीतिशुश्रूषारहितम्: without Vedic learning, livelihood, polity, and service
• त्रयीवार्तादण्डनीतिशुश्रूषारहितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रयी (प्रातिपदिक) + वार्ता (प्रातिपदिक) + दण्डनीति (प्रातिपदिक) + शुश्रूषा (प्रातिपदिक) + रहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमासः (त्रयी-वार्ता-दण्डनीति-शुश्रूषा-रहित = ‘without Vedic study, livelihood/commerce, polity, and service’)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• यत्: which / that (thing)
• यत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Criteria for a well-ordered human condition: varṇāśrama, dharma, Vedic disciplines, economy, and governance

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: normative and admonitory

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: A society that abandons varṇāśrama-dharma, Vedic discipline, rightful livelihood, and just governance becomes deficient and unstable.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Sustain personal and civic dharma: disciplined daily conduct, honest livelihood, respect for learning, and support of fair institutions that restrain harm.

Vishishtadvaita: Dharma is a real, divinely grounded order within the Lord’s body (jagat); social ethics are not optional conventions but part of cosmic harmony.

Characters & Entities

• Parāśara
• Maitreya
• Veda (Trayī)
• Dharma
• Varṇa
• Āśrama
• Daṇḍanīti

FAQs

What is the significance of varṇa-āśrama conduct in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse treats varṇa and āśrama discipline as a practical framework for dharma; when it collapses, society loses moral and spiritual direction.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the supports of a well-ordered society here?

He points to three essential supports—Vedic guidance (trayī), productive livelihood (vārtā), and governance with just punishment (daṇḍanīti)—and says their neglect signals decline.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Though not named in the verse, the Vishnu Purana frames dharma and rightful rule as expressions of Vishnu’s sustaining sovereignty; order in society mirrors the cosmic order upheld by the Supreme.