Shloka 101
मायामोह-प्रवर्तन, वेदमार्ग-बहिष्कार, तथा पाषण्ड-संसर्ग-दोषः
Māyāmoha’s Delusion, Rejection of the Vedic Path, and the Fault of Heretical Association
दूराद् अपास्तः संपर्कस् सहास्यापि च पापिभिः पाषण्डिभिर् दुराचारैस् तस्मात् तान् परिवर्जयेत्
dūrād apāstaḥ saṃparkas sahāsyāpi ca pāpibhiḥ pāṣaṇḍibhir durācārais tasmāt tān parivarjayet
Therefore one should keep far away all contact—even casual familiarity and joking—with sinners, heretics, and those of corrupt conduct; thus they should be avoided.
Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Extent of avoidance required regarding sinners/heretics—reject even casual joking familiarity.
Teaching: Ethical
Quality: protective, cautionary
Concept: Association (saṅga) with pāpa and pāṣaṇḍa is spiritually contaminating; therefore one should avoid even light social intimacy with them.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Choose company that strengthens values; set boundaries with harmful influences, especially where ridicule of dharma or manipulation is normalized.
Vishishtadvaita: Saṅga shapes the jīva’s dispositions; guarding one’s ācāra preserves the jīva’s orientation toward the Lord’s niyama and service.
Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman
Bhakti Type: Shanta
FAQs
This verse teaches that even light, friendly association with sinful or corrupt influences can erode dharma; spiritual life is protected by deliberate distance and careful companionship.
Parāśara frames dharma as lived discipline: not only avoiding wrong actions, but also avoiding environments and relationships that normalize them—even in seemingly harmless forms like joking familiarity.
By guarding conduct and association, one remains aligned with the divine order upheld by Vishnu; ethical purity supports steady devotion and keeps the mind oriented toward the Supreme Reality rather than toward adharma.