Shloka 38
एते यमाः सनियमाः पञ्च पञ्च प्रकीर्तिताः विशिष्टफलदाः काम्या निष्कामानां विमुक्तिदाः
ete yamāḥ saniyamāḥ pañca pañca prakīrtitāḥ viśiṣṭaphaladāḥ kāmyā niṣkāmānāṃ vimuktidāḥ
Thus the five yamas, together with the five niyamas, have been declared. Pursued with desire they grant specific results; but for those who practice without selfish craving, they become givers of liberation.
Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Distinction between desire-motivated and desireless observance of yama-niyama
Teaching: Philosophical
Quality: authoritative
Concept: The same yamas and niyamas yield limited, specific fruits when practiced with desire, but become liberation-giving when practiced without selfish craving.
Vedantic Theme: Moksha
Application: Before any vow or discipline, set intention: ‘for inner purification and service to the Supreme, not for status or powers’; periodically check for hidden desire for results.
Vishishtadvaita: Liberation is framed as the fruit of niṣkāma-sādhana oriented to the Supreme, aligning with Vishishtadvaita’s emphasis on God-centered means rather than mere technique.
Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman
Bhakti Type: Shanta
FAQs
This verse frames yama and niyama as foundational disciplines whose value depends on intention: pursued for worldly aims they yield specific results, but practiced without desire they become direct supports for liberation.
Parāśara states that the same ethical and devotional disciplines can either produce limited, particular “fruits” when motivated by desire (kāmya), or lead toward freedom (vimukti) when performed without personal craving (niṣkāma).
Within the Vishnu Purana’s moksha teaching, liberation is aligned with turning discipline away from egoic reward toward the Supreme Reality—Vishnu—so that practice becomes a means of release rather than mere merit-making.