Shloka 97
मायामोह-प्रवर्तन, वेदमार्ग-बहिष्कार, तथा पाषण्ड-संसर्ग-दोषः
Māyāmoha’s Delusion, Rejection of the Vedic Path, and the Fault of Heretical Association
तस्मात् पाषण्डिभिः पापैर् आलापस्पर्शनं त्यजेत् विशेषतः क्रियाकाले यज्ञादौ चापि दीक्षितः
tasmāt pāṣaṇḍibhiḥ pāpair ālāpasparśanaṃ tyajet viśeṣataḥ kriyākāle yajñādau cāpi dīkṣitaḥ
Therefore, one should avoid conversation and physical contact with sinful heretics—most especially at the time of performing rites; and likewise when engaged in sacrifices and other sacred acts, the initiated must keep themselves unsullied.
Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Practical injunctions for ritual purity: avoiding contact and speech with pāṣaṇḍas especially during rites and dīkṣā
Teaching: Ethical
Quality: authoritative
Concept: During sacred action—especially yajña and while dīkṣita—one must avoid even speech and touch with pāṣaṇḍas to preserve ritual and moral purity.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: When undertaking serious spiritual practice, set clear boundaries around speech, company, and habits that erode integrity and focus.
Vishishtadvaita: Discipline of conduct safeguards sattva, enabling steadier devotion (bhakti) toward the personal Lord rather than being dispersed by contrary influences.
FAQs
This verse frames ritual purity as a dharmic safeguard: the initiated practitioner preserves the sanctity and efficacy of sacred rites by avoiding contaminating influences during consecrated actions.
Parāśara emphasizes heightened restraint at kriyā-kāla—especially in yajña—by instructing the dīkṣita to avoid both speech-interaction and physical contact that could compromise ritual discipline.
Though Vishnu is not named in the verse, the teaching supports Vaishnava cosmology where dharma and sacrificial order uphold the world; maintaining purity in rites aligns the practitioner with the sustaining sovereignty of Vishnu as preserver of cosmic order.