Shloka 30
यमस्य अधिकारभङ्गः — वैष्णवस्य लक्षणम्
Freedom from Yama through Hari-śaraṇāgati
परमसुहृदि बान्धवे कलत्रे सुततनयापितृमातृभृत्यवर्गे शठमतिर् उपयाति यो ऽर्थतृष्णां तम् अधमचेष्टम् अवैहि नास्य भक्तम्
paramasuhṛdi bāndhave kalatre sutatanayāpitṛmātṛbhṛtyavarge śaṭhamatir upayāti yo 'rthatṛṣṇāṃ tam adhamaceṣṭam avaihi nāsya bhaktam
Know as base in conduct—and not a true devotee—that deceitful-minded man who, even toward his dearest friend, family, spouse, children, parents, and servants, approaches with a thirst for wealth.
Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: How greed and deceit within intimate relationships disqualify one from being considered a true bhakta
Teaching: Ethical
Quality: direct and admonitory
Concept: Artha-tṛṣṇā (thirst for wealth) that turns even one’s closest relations into objects of exploitation is a mark of adhama-caryā and is incompatible with genuine devotion.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Audit motives in dealings with family and dependents; practice transparent generosity and treat relationships as seva rather than gain.
Vishishtadvaita: Bhakti in Viśiṣṭādvaita is inseparable from dharmic conduct toward God’s embodied selves (jīvas) who belong to Him (śeṣa-śeṣi-bhāva).
Vishnu Form: Vasudeva
Bhakti Type: Dasya
FAQs
This verse frames greed as a moral and spiritual corruption that turns even sacred relationships into transactions, marking such a person as unfit to be called a true devotee.
Parāśara defines the hypocrite by inner motive: if one approaches even loved ones with deceit and acquisitiveness, their conduct is ‘adhama’ and their claim to devotion is rejected.
By tying devotion to ethical purity and non-exploitative relationships, the Purana presents bhakti to Vishnu as inseparable from dharma—devotion is proven by character, not merely by profession or ritual.