Shloka 21
मायामोह-प्रवर्तन, वेदमार्ग-बहिष्कार, तथा पाषण्ड-संसर्ग-दोषः
Māyāmoha’s Delusion, Rejection of the Vedic Path, and the Fault of Heretical Association
नानाप्रकारवचनं स तेषां युक्तियोजितम् तथा तथावदद् धर्मं तत्यजुस् ते यथा यथा
nānāprakāravacanaṃ sa teṣāṃ yuktiyojitam tathā tathāvadad dharmaṃ tatyajus te yathā yathā
He spoke to them in many ways—arguments artfully stitched together with seeming logic; and as he kept speaking like that, they, step by step, abandoned dharma as he led them to.
Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Mechanism of adharma’s spread: many-styled speech and seemingly logical argumentation leading to gradual dharma-abandonment
Teaching: Ethical
Quality: authoritative
Concept: Dharma can be undermined gradually through polished, multi-form rhetoric that mimics genuine reasoning.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Practice intellectual humility and śāstra-aligned reasoning; avoid being swayed by mere cleverness—seek coherence with dharma and sāttvika character.
Vishishtadvaita: Supports the Viśiṣṭādvaita stress on pramāṇa (śruti-smṛti) and disciplined reasoning subordinate to revelation, not free-floating sophistry.
FAQs
It highlights how dharma can be undermined not only by force but by convincing, well-structured arguments that appear logical while leading people away from righteous conduct.
Parāśara presents it as gradual: repeated persuasive speech reshapes people’s choices until they abandon dharma step by step, “as he led them.”
By implication, Vishnu stands as the guardian of cosmic order; this verse warns that maintaining dharma requires discernment and fidelity to true spiritual authority aligned with Vishnu’s sustaining sovereignty.