Shloka 20

यमस्य अधिकारभङ्गः — वैष्णवस्य लक्षणम्

Freedom from Yama through Hari-śaraṇāgati

Devanagari script

न चलति निजवर्णधर्मतो यः सममतिर् आत्मसुहृद्विपक्षपक्षे न हरति न च हन्ति किंचिद् उच्चैः सितमनसं तम् अवैहि विष्णुभक्तम्

Transliteration

na calati nijavarṇadharmato yaḥ samamatir ātmasuhṛdvipakṣapakṣe na harati na ca hanti kiṃcid uccaiḥ sitamanasaṃ tam avaihi viṣṇubhaktam

Translation

Reconoce como devoto de Viṣṇu a quien no se aparta del dharma propio de su condición, cuya mente es ecuánime ante amigo y enemigo, que no roba ni hiere, y que, de corazón puro, no estalla en pasiones dañinas.

Word by Word

नnot

चलतिdeviates / moves

निज-वर्ण-धर्मतःfrom his own varṇa-duty

यःwho

सम-मतिःof equal-mindedness

आत्म-सुहृत्-विपक्ष-पक्षेtoward friends and opponents alike

नnot

हरतिtakes away / steals

नnot

चand

हन्तिkills / harms

किञ्चित्anything

उच्चैःloudly / violently

सित-मनसम्pure-minded

तम्him

अवैहिknow / recognize

विष्णु-भक्तम्a devotee of Vishnu

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: A Viṣṇu-bhakta is recognized by unwavering adherence to one’s proper dharma, impartiality toward friend and foe, non-stealing, non-killing, and a calm, pure mind free from violent outbursts.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Practice steadiness in duties, cultivate even-mindedness in conflict, and adopt strict ahiṃsā/asteya as devotional disciplines.

Vishishtadvaita: Devotion is inseparable from dharma: ethical virtues are not optional but constitute bhakti’s embodied expression toward the Lord.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of equanimity toward friend and enemy in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents sama-mati (equal-mindedness) as a defining sign of Viṣṇu-bhakti: devotion is proven not by display, but by steady, impartial conduct rooted in dharma.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the conduct of a true devotee here?

Parāśara frames devotion as ethical steadfastness: remaining within one’s rightful dharma, avoiding theft and violence, and maintaining a purified, restrained mind rather than aggressive outward behavior.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Viṣṇu is treated as the Supreme Reality whose worship naturally manifests as dharmic self-mastery—purity, non-harm, and inner steadiness are portrayed as the lived expression of devotion to Him.