Shloka 54

Devanagari script

बहुशो वारितो ऽस्माभिर् अयं पापस् तथाप्य् अरेः स्तुतिं करोति दुष्टानां वध एवोपकारकः

Transliteration

bahuśo vārito 'smābhir ayaṃ pāpas tathāpy areḥ stutiṃ karoti duṣṭānāṃ vadha evopakārakaḥ

Translation

ನಾವು ಈ ಪಾಪಿಯನ್ನು ಎಷ್ಟೋ ಬಾರಿ ತಡೆದರೂ, ಇವನು ಶತ್ರುವನ್ನೇ ಸ್ತುತಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾನೆ. ದುಷ್ಟರಿಗೆ ವಧೆಯೇ ಹಿತಕರವಾದುದು.

Word by Word

• बहुशः: many times
• बहुशः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहुशः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb): ‘many times’

• वारितः: (he) has been restrained/warned
• वारितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वारि (√वृ/वार्) (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थः—‘वारितः’ = having been restrained/warned

• अस्माभिः: by us
• अस्माभिः: Kartr-karana (Agent-instrument/कर्ता-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• अयम्: this (man)
• अयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पापः: sinner/wretch
• पापः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• तथापि: nevertheless
• तथापि: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा + अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/विरोधार्थक-अव्यय (concessive: ‘even so/however’)

• अरेः: of the enemy
• अरेः: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• स्तुतिम्: praise
• स्तुतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तुति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• करोति: does/makes
• करोति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदी

• दुष्टानाम्: of the wicked
• दुष्टानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• वधः: killing
• वधः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Avadharana (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• उपकारकः: beneficial
• उपकारकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपकारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; ‘वधः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: For those fixed in wickedness, even well-meant counsel is rejected; only the cessation of their harmful agency can become ‘helpful’ to the world.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Do not enable destructive behavior; set firm boundaries and protect the vulnerable while continuing inner compassion without naïveté.

Vishishtadvaita: Implied theodicy: the Lord’s protection of devotees may entail removal of obstinate adharma that blocks beings from their proper relation to Him.

Prahlada Narrative

Phase: Persecution

Bhakti Quality: Fearless praise of Hari even when ‘enemy’ to asuras

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Characters & Entities

• enemy (ari)
• the wicked (duṣṭa)

FAQs

What is the significance of punishing the wicked in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames punishment as a form of welfare for society: when repeated counsel fails, removing the disruptive wicked person is portrayed as the only effective remedy.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the limits of counsel and restraint?

He implies a graduated response—warning and restraint first, but if the person persists in harmful allegiance (praising the enemy), decisive action becomes necessary.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even when Vishnu is not named, the verse supports a Vaishnava view of cosmic sovereignty: dharma and order must be protected, and righteous governance mirrors the sustaining power associated with Vishnu.