Shloka 80
नरेन्द्र स्मर्यताम् आत्मा ह्य् अलं ते गृध्रचेष्टया पाषण्डालापजातो ऽयं दोषो यद् गृध्रतां गतः
narendra smaryatām ātmā hy alaṃ te gṛdhraceṣṭayā pāṣaṇḍālāpajāto 'yaṃ doṣo yad gṛdhratāṃ gataḥ
O king, recollect your higher self. Enough of this vulture-like conduct. This fault has been bred from the chatter of heretics and has dragged you into the state of a carrion-eater—one who grasps and tears at what is not rightfully his.
A moral admonisher within the dynastic narrative (as recounted by Sage Parāśara to Maitreya); the verse is addressed to a king (narendra).
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: How wrong association/teachings (pāṣaṇḍa-ālāpa) corrupt dharma and lead to degradation; need to remember the higher self.
Teaching: Ethical
Quality: compassionate
Concept: Remember the true self aligned to dharma; avoid corrupting speech and views that erode devotion and right conduct, which precipitate degradation.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Choose satsanga and disciplined media/learning; regularly ‘recollect the self’ through prayer and ethical audit of habits.
Vishishtadvaita: The ‘higher self’ is the jīva as a śeṣa (dependent) meant for Bhagavat-sevā; deviation through false doctrines distorts that natural dependence and yields karmic bondage.
Vishnu Form: Hari
Bhakti Type: Shanta
Antaryamin: Yes
FAQs
It is a sharp metaphor for rapacity and unjust appropriation—warning that a ruler who governs by greed falls from dharma and becomes morally ‘carrion-minded’ rather than protective.
Through the dynastic narration, the correction begins with ātmā-smaraṇa—remembering one’s true duty and inner self—followed by rejecting corrupting influences that normalize adharma.
Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Purana’s framework assumes kingship is accountable to Vishnu’s cosmic order; the king’s dharma is meaningful because sovereignty ultimately rests in the Supreme Reality who sustains righteousness.