Shloka 42
स्वर्गगमनम्, अदितिस्तुतिः-मायातत्त्वम्, तथा पारिजात-प्रसङ्गे इन्द्रयुद्धम्
तद् अलं सकलैर् देवैर् विग्रहेण तवाच्युत विपाककटु यत् कर्म तन् न शंसन्ति पण्डिताः
tad alaṃ sakalair devair vigraheṇa tavācyuta vipākakaṭu yat karma tan na śaṃsanti paṇḍitāḥ
Therefore, O Acyuta, let there be no quarrel with all the gods. The wise do not praise a deed whose ripened consequence turns bitter.
Sage Parāśara (narrating a royally instructive episode within the dynastic account, addressed to a ruler/hero styled 'Acyuta')
Avatara: Krishna
Purpose: Kṛṣṇa is urged to avoid a needless quarrel with the devas, highlighting the moral calculus of action and consequence even amid divine play.
Leela: Dharma-upadesa
Dharma Restored: Prudence (nīti) and restraint; avoidance of actions with harmful ripened results
Concept: Wise persons reject deeds whose long-term fruition is bitter, even if they seem advantageous in the moment.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Before acting, evaluate downstream consequences; prefer dharmic restraint over short-term wins.
Vishishtadvaita: Dharma is not merely social order but alignment with Bhagavān’s will; prudence is a form of śeṣatva (servant-like accountability) in action.
Vishnu Form: Hari
Bhakti Type: Shanta
FAQs
This verse frames hostility with the gods as spiritually and politically self-defeating, because it disrupts divine order and leads to bitter karmic results.
He emphasizes that actions must be judged by their final fruition; deeds that mature into suffering or disorder are rejected by the wise, even if they seem advantageous initially.
Addressing 'Acyuta' underscores steadfast sovereignty under dharma: true strength is not reckless aggression but unwavering alignment with righteous order and the long arc of karmic consequence.