Shloka 13

विष्ण्वाराधन-फलम् तथा वर्णधर्माः

Worship of Vishnu through Varṇa-dharma

Devanagari script

परापवादं पैशुन्यम् अनृतं च न भाषते अन्योद्वेगकरं वापि तोष्यते तेन केशवः

Transliteration

parāpavādaṃ paiśunyam anṛtaṃ ca na bhāṣate anyodvegakaraṃ vāpi toṣyate tena keśavaḥ

Translation

One who speaks no slander, no malicious tale-bearing, and no falsehood—and who avoids even words that disturb another’s mind—by such self-governed speech, Keśava is truly pleased.

Word by Word

• parāpavādam: slander of others
• parāpavādam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para + apavāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्गः; द्वितीया एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (parasya apavādaḥ)

• paiśunyam: malice/backbiting
• paiśunyam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paiśunya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः; द्वितीया एकवचनम्

• anṛtam: falsehood
• anṛtam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः; द्वितीया एकवचनम्

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चयार्थकः

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; निषेधार्थकः

• bhāṣate: speaks
• bhāṣate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhāṣ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमानकालः); आत्मनेपदम्; प्रथमपुरुषः; एकवचनम्

• anya-udvega-karam: causing distress to others
• anya-udvega-karam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya + udvega + kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः; द्वितीया एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्; तत्पुरुषः (anyasya udvegaṃ karoti)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; विकल्पार्थकः (or)

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अपि-शब्दः (even/also)

• toṣyate: is pleased
• toṣyate: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tuṣ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमानकालः); आत्मनेपदम्; प्रथमपुरुषः; एकवचनम्; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (passive)

• tena: by him/thereby
• tena: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्गः/नपुंसकलिङ्गः; तृतीया एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• keśavaḥ: Keśava (Vishnu)
• keśavaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: keśava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्गः; प्रथमा एकवचनम्

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya on dharma and conduct pleasing to Viṣṇu)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: What ethical restraints please Keśava in daily life

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: compassionate

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Keśava is pleased by speech that avoids slander, malice, falsehood, and even words that disturb another’s mind.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Adopt a daily discipline of truthful and kind speech: pause before speaking, avoid gossip, and choose words that reduce agitation.

Vishishtadvaita: Ethics is not external morality alone but direct service to the personal Lord (Keśava) who is pleased by sattvic conduct.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Keśava

FAQs

What is the significance of controlling speech in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents speech-restraint—avoiding slander, gossip, lies, and distressing words—as a direct form of dharma that pleases Keśava, showing devotion expressed through ethical discipline.

How does Sage Parāśara explain conduct that pleases Lord Vishnu?

In this teaching, Parāśara links devotion to practical virtues: a devotee pleases Vishnu not only by ritual, but by refusing harmful speech that disrupts others and violates truth.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here?

Keśava is portrayed as the supreme moral center: pleasing Vishnu aligns one’s speech with dharma, implying that ethical truth and non-harm are expressions of surrender to the Supreme Reality.