Shloka 125

गृहस्थस्य सदाचारः: शौच, तर্পण, वैश्वदेव, अतिथिधर्म, भोजन-विधि, संध्योपासन, ऋतु-धर्मः

Devanagari script

मृतो नरकम् अभ्येति हीयते ऽत्रापि चायुषः परदाररतिः पुंसाम् उभयत्रापि भीतिदा

Transliteration

mṛto narakam abhyeti hīyate 'trāpi cāyuṣaḥ paradāraratiḥ puṃsām ubhayatrāpi bhītidā

Translation

A man who delights in another’s wife falls into hell after death; and even here, in this very life, his span of years is diminished. Desire for another’s spouse becomes a giver of fear in both worlds—now and hereafter.

Word by Word

• mṛtaḥ: (when) dead / a dead man
• mṛtaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mṛta (कृदन्त, √mṛ/मृ ‘to die’ + kta)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तृविशेषणम् (implicit ‘saḥ’)

• narakam: hell
• narakam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: naraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• abhyeti: goes to, reaches
• abhyeti: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√i (इ)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd/प्रथम), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• hīyate: is diminished
• hīyate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √hā (हा)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd/प्रथम), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः (is diminished)

• atra: here (in this world)
• atra: Desha (Place/देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘here/in this world’)

• api: also
• api: Emphasis (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अपि-कार (also/even)

• ca: and
• ca: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction ‘and’)

• āyuṣaḥ: of life-span
• āyuṣaḥ: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āyus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; ‘hīyate’ इत्यस्य सम्बन्धः (of lifespan)

• para-dāra-ratiḥ: desire for others’ wives
• para-dāra-ratiḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक) + dāra (प्रातिपदिक) + rati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; ‘others’ wives’ + ‘delight/attachment’

• puṃsām: of men
• puṃsām: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pumān (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• ubhayatra: in both (worlds)
• ubhayatra: Scope (व्याप्ति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ubhayatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/अवस्थावाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘in both places/ways’, i.e., here and hereafter)

• api: also
• api: Emphasis (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अपि-कार (also)

• bhīti-dā: fear-giving, causing fear
• bhīti-dā: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhīti (प्रातिपदिक) + dā (प्रातिपदिक; from √dā/दा ‘to give’)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; ‘bhītiṃ dadāti’ इति उपपद-तत्पुरुषः; ‘paradāraratiḥ’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Karmic consequences of adultery: hell after death and loss of lifespan/fear in this life.

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: warning

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Illicit desire brings suffering in both worlds: post-mortem torment (naraka) and present-life consequences such as fear and diminished vitality.

Vedantic Theme: Karma

Application: Consider long-range consequences of choices; cultivate fidelity and self-restraint to reduce anxiety, harm, and karmic burden.

Vishishtadvaita: Moral order is upheld under Bhagavān’s governance; karmic fruits operate within His righteous sovereignty, guiding souls toward dharma.

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: Shanta

FAQs

What is the significance of avoiding paradāra (another’s spouse) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames paradāra-rati as a direct violation of dharma that produces immediate harm (loss of longevity and constant fear) and future suffering (hell after death).

How does Sage Parāśara explain the karmic consequence of sexual misconduct here?

He presents a twofold karmic result: visible worldly consequence (āyuḥ-kṣaya—diminished life and fear) and post-mortem consequence (naraka—hell), emphasizing that adharma ripens across both realms.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named, the teaching assumes dharma as part of Vishnu’s cosmic governance—ethical order is a manifestation of the Supreme’s sustaining power, and violating it destabilizes one’s life and destiny.