Shloka 36
विष्ण्वाराधन-फलम् तथा वर्णधर्माः
Worship of Vishnu through Varṇa-dharma
मैत्र्य् अस्पृहा तथा तद्वद् अकार्पण्यं नरेश्वर अनसूया च सामान्या वर्णानां कथिता गुणाः
maitry aspṛhā tathā tadvad akārpaṇyaṃ nareśvara anasūyā ca sāmānyā varṇānāṃ kathitā guṇāḥ
O king, I have declared the virtues held in common by all the varṇas: friendliness toward all beings, freedom from craving, a heart untouched by meanness, and the absence of envy.
Sage Parāśara
Concept: Across all social orders, dharma rests on maitri, aspṛhā, akārpaṇya, and anasūyā—universal virtues that prevent social life from degenerating into rivalry and greed.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Practice friendliness as default, reduce acquisitive impulses, give without tight-fistedness, and refrain from comparison-driven envy.
Vishishtadvaita: Universal virtues express the jīva’s proper dependence on the Lord and harmony with other selves as fellow dependents (śeṣatva), supporting a theistic social ethic.
Bhakti Type: Shanta
FAQs
This verse teaches that beyond role-specific duties, certain inner qualities—friendliness, non-craving, generosity of spirit, and non-envy—are mandatory for everyone, preserving social harmony and dharmic order.
Parāśara frames dharma not merely as external ritual or occupation, but as shared moral dispositions (guṇas) that should pervade every varna, especially in a polity led by a king.
Even when Vishnu is not named, the Purana’s ethic implies that these virtues sustain the cosmic order (dharma) governed by Vishnu, aligning personal conduct with the Supreme Lord’s sustaining power.