Shloka 80
मायामोह-प्रवर्तन, वेदमार्ग-बहिष्कार, तथा पाषण्ड-संसर्ग-दोषः
Māyāmoha’s Delusion, Rejection of the Vedic Path, and the Fault of Heretical Association
नरेन्द्र स्मर्यताम् आत्मा ह्य् अलं ते गृध्रचेष्टया पाषण्डालापजातो ऽयं दोषो यद् गृध्रतां गतः
narendra smaryatām ātmā hy alaṃ te gṛdhraceṣṭayā pāṣaṇḍālāpajāto 'yaṃ doṣo yad gṛdhratāṃ gataḥ
王よ、汝の高き自己を想起せよ。禿鷲のごとき振る舞いはもう足りる。この過ちは異端の饒舌から生じ、汝を屍肉を貪る者の境へと引きずり込んだ—正しく得るべきでないものを掴み裂く者へ。
A moral admonisher within the dynastic narrative (as recounted by Sage Parāśara to Maitreya); the verse is addressed to a king (narendra).
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: How wrong association/teachings (pāṣaṇḍa-ālāpa) corrupt dharma and lead to degradation; need to remember the higher self.
Teaching: Ethical
Quality: compassionate
Concept: Remember the true self aligned to dharma; avoid corrupting speech and views that erode devotion and right conduct, which precipitate degradation.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Choose satsanga and disciplined media/learning; regularly ‘recollect the self’ through prayer and ethical audit of habits.
Vishishtadvaita: The ‘higher self’ is the jīva as a śeṣa (dependent) meant for Bhagavat-sevā; deviation through false doctrines distorts that natural dependence and yields karmic bondage.
Vishnu Form: Hari
Bhakti Type: Shanta
Antaryamin: Yes
FAQs
It is a sharp metaphor for rapacity and unjust appropriation—warning that a ruler who governs by greed falls from dharma and becomes morally ‘carrion-minded’ rather than protective.
Through the dynastic narration, the correction begins with ātmā-smaraṇa—remembering one’s true duty and inner self—followed by rejecting corrupting influences that normalize adharma.
Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Purana’s framework assumes kingship is accountable to Vishnu’s cosmic order; the king’s dharma is meaningful because sovereignty ultimately rests in the Supreme Reality who sustains righteousness.