Shloka 24

विष्ण्वाराधन-फलम् तथा वर्णधर्माः

Worship of Vishnu through Varṇa-dharma

Devanagari script

सर्वलोकहितं कुर्यान् नाहितं कस्यचिद् द्विजः मैत्री समस्तभूतेषु ब्राह्मणस्योत्तमं धनम्

Transliteration

sarvalokahitaṃ kuryān nāhitaṃ kasyacid dvijaḥ maitrī samastabhūteṣu brāhmaṇasyottamaṃ dhanam

Translation

A twice-born should act for the welfare of all worlds and never work harm to anyone. Friendship toward all beings—universal amity—is the Brāhmaṇa’s highest treasure.

Word by Word

• sarva-loka-hitām: the welfare of all worlds/people
• sarva-loka-hitām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + loka (प्रातिपदिक) + hita (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: सर्वलोकस्य हितम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• kuryāt: should do
• kuryāt: Kriyā (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (negation particle)

• ahitām: harm, what is not beneficial
• ahitām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ahita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• kasyacit: of anyone
• kasyacit: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kas (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + cit (चित्-निपात)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘चित्’ निपातेन अनिश्चितार्थ (indefinite: of anyone)

• dvijaḥ: the twice-born (brāhmaṇa)
• dvijaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• maitrī: friendliness
• maitrī: Karta/Viśeṣya (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maitrī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• samasta-bhūteṣu: toward/in all beings
• samasta-bhūteṣu: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samasta (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (समस्तानि भूतानि); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• brāhmaṇasya: of a brāhmaṇa
• brāhmaṇasya: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• uttamam: best, highest
• uttamam: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of dhanam)

• dhanam: wealth, treasure
• dhanam: Karta/Viśeṣya (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Varṇa-dharma (brāhmaṇa’s highest ‘wealth’ as universal maitrī)

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: compassionate, elevating

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The brāhmaṇa’s supreme wealth is maitrī toward all beings—active universal welfare and abstention from harm.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Practice non-injury in thought, speech, and action; cultivate goodwill toward all, and choose work that benefits society rather than exploits it.

Vishishtadvaita: Universal maitrī flows from seeing all beings as belonging to the Lord (śeṣa-śeṣin relation): compassion is devotion expressed socially, grounded in God’s indwelling presence.

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Antaryamin: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇa
• Dvija
• All beings (bhūtas)

FAQs

What is the significance of maitri (friendliness) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse elevates maitri toward all beings as the Brāhmaṇa’s supreme wealth, presenting universal goodwill as a core dharmic virtue that preserves harmony in the world.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the practical duty of a dvija here?

Parāśara frames the dvija’s conduct in two direct rules—work for the welfare of all and avoid harming anyone—making ethical restraint and beneficence the visible marks of dharma.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Though Vishnu is not named in the line, the ethic reflects Vaishnava cosmology: dharma and universal order operate under Vishnu’s sustaining power, and non-harmful benevolence aligns the individual with that sustaining reality.