Shloka 18
मैत्रेयप्रश्नः—पुराणसंहिताप्रतिज्ञा च
Maitreya’s Questions and Parāśara’s Resolve to Teach
संचितस्यापि महता वत्स क्लेशेन मानवैः यशसस् तपसश् चैव क्रोधो नाशकरः परः
saṃcitasyāpi mahatā vatsa kleśena mānavaiḥ yaśasas tapasaś caiva krodho nāśakaraḥ paraḥ
Mon enfant, même l’immense trésor de mérite que les hommes amassent au prix de grandes peines—leur renommée et leur ascèse—la colère peut tout le détruire.
Sage Parāśara (addressing Maitreya)
FAQs
This verse presents anger as the most powerful destroyer of hard-earned merit—undermining both tapas (austerity) and yaśas (earned repute/virtue).
By implying that merit is accumulated with great effort, Parāśara stresses that inner discipline—especially control of anger—is essential to protect one’s spiritual gains.
Though Vishnu is not named here, the teaching supports Vaishnava dharma: self-mastery sustains purity and alignment with cosmic order upheld by the Supreme (Vishnu).