Shloka 9
उपसंहारः, वैष्णवपुराण-प्रशंसा, फलश्रुति, परम्परा-प्रवहः (पाठ-श्रवण-फलम्)
कृतार्थो ऽस्म्य् अपसंदेहस् त्वत्प्रसादान् महामुने वर्णधर्मादयो धर्मा विदिता यद् अशेषतः
kṛtārtho 'smy apasaṃdehas tvatprasādān mahāmune varṇadharmādayo dharmā viditā yad aśeṣataḥ
Through your grace, O great sage, I am fulfilled and free from doubt—for the dharmas beginning with the duties of the social orders have been made known to me completely, without remainder.
Maitreya (addressing Sage Parāśara)
Speaker: Maitreya
Topic: Completion of instruction on varṇa-dharma and allied duties; removal of doubt
Teaching: Ethical
Quality: compassionate
Concept: Dharma—beginning with the duties of the social orders—becomes fully intelligible through proper instruction, yielding inner certainty and steadiness.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Adopt role-appropriate responsibilities with integrity, while keeping them aligned to devotion and liberation as the ultimate aim.
Vishishtadvaita: Varṇa-āśrama duties are upheld as real, God-oriented disciplines that prepare the self (jīva) for surrender to the Lord who is the inner ruler.
Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman
Bhakti Type: Dasya
FAQs
This verse frames varṇa-dharma as a foundational expression of dharma—knowledge of which brings clarity and steadiness, supporting social harmony and the wider cosmic order upheld under Vishnu’s sovereignty.
The dialogue structure shows Parāśara as the authoritative teacher and Maitreya as the sincere inquirer; Maitreya’s statement here confirms that Parāśara has presented the duties systematically and completely, resolving doubts.
Even when the verse speaks of social duties, the Vishnu Purana’s underlying theology treats dharma as meaningful because it aligns life with the supreme ordering reality—Vishnu—who sustains the world’s moral and cosmic balance.