Shloka 67
भुञ्जन् दत्तं तया सो ऽन्नम् अतिमिष्टम् अभीप्सितम् श्वजातिललितं कुर्वन् बहु चाटु चकार वै
bhuñjan dattaṃ tayā so 'nnam atimiṣṭam abhīpsitam śvajātilalitaṃ kurvan bahu cāṭu cakāra vai
Eating the food she had given—exceedingly sweet and exactly to his liking—he began to behave like a pampered pet dog, and indeed uttered many coaxing, flattering words.
Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: How embodiment conditions behavior and taste; the pull of vāsanā even when treated kindly
Teaching: Ethical
Quality: revealing
Concept: Even when given refined gifts, a being shaped by a particular birth expresses the habits (vāsanā) of that embodiment; thus attachment to sense-pleasure is unreliable.
Vedantic Theme: Maya
Application: Notice how environment and habit shape reactions; practice mindful restraint and cultivate higher tastes through sādhana rather than chasing immediate sweetness.
Vishishtadvaita: The self is distinct from the body’s guṇa-driven impulses; by grace and disciplined devotion, the jīva can rise above embodied conditioning while remaining real.
FAQs
The verse uses flattery as a symptom of inner dependence: when one is ruled by taste and desire, dignity collapses into coaxing speech and servile behavior.
By showing a simple sequence—pleasant food, satisfaction of craving, then dog-like pampering and excessive cajoling—Parāśara frames desire as a force that reshapes character and conduct.
Even when Vishnu is not named, the Purana’s Vaishnava ethic is implied: sovereignty belongs to the Supreme, while attachment makes the jīva dependent; self-mastery aligns life with dharma under Vishnu’s order.