Shloka 17
Brahmavākya
Brahmā’s Pronouncement on Hari-nāma and the Non-punishability of Viṣṇu’s Devotees
तैः कृते अवमाने तु तव नाहं सहायवान् । कृते सहाये तव सूर्यसूनो भवेदनीतिर्मम देहघातिनी । विपर्ययो ब्रह्मपदात्सुपुण्यात्कृतेव मार्गे सह विष्णुभक्तैः ॥ १७ ॥
taiḥ kṛte avamāne tu tava nāhaṃ sahāyavān | kṛte sahāye tava sūryasūno bhavedanītirmama dehaghātinī | viparyayo brahmapadātsupuṇyātkṛteva mārge saha viṣṇubhaktaiḥ || 17 ||
Si, à cause de ce qu’ils ont fait, tu es déshonoré, je ne puis être ton soutien. Mais si je te portais secours, ô fils de Sūrya, cela deviendrait adharma, frappant mon propre corps; ce serait un renversement, m’écartant de l’état de mérite suprême qui mène au Brahman, et du chemin du Kṛta-yuga, parcouru avec les dévots de Viṣṇu.
Sanatkumara (addressing Narada/another interlocutor in the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue frame)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It teaches that even well-intended “help” becomes spiritually harmful if it violates dharma; such an act causes a fall from puṇya and from the liberating orientation toward brahma-pada.
It links Viṣṇu-bhakti with sādhācāra (right conduct): the devotee’s path is not merely emotional devotion but a dharmic way of life aligned with the pure standard associated with the Kṛta-yuga ideal.
The verse primarily stresses dharma-nīti (ethical discernment) rather than a specific Vedāṅga; practically, it reflects the nīti-logic used in Dharmaśāstra-style reasoning—evaluating actions by their righteousness and karmic consequence.