Shloka 42
Citraketu’s Detachment, Nārada’s Mantra, and the Darśana of Anantadeva
क: क्षेमो निजपरयो: कियान्वार्थ: स्वपरद्रुहा धर्मेण । स्वद्रोहात्तव कोप: परसम्पीडया च तथाधर्म: ॥ ४२ ॥
kaḥ kṣemo nija-parayoḥ kiyān vārthaḥ sva-para-druhā dharmeṇa sva-drohāt tava kopaḥ para-sampīḍayā ca tathādharmaḥ
സ്വയത്തോടും മറ്റുള്ളവരോടും അസൂയയും ദ്വേഷവും ജനിപ്പിക്കുന്ന ധർമ്മം എങ്ങനെ ക്ഷേമം നൽകും? അതിൽ എന്ത് ശുഭം, എന്ത് നേട്ടം? സ്വദ്രോഹംകൊണ്ട് സ്വയം വേദനിപ്പിക്കുകയും മറ്റുള്ളവരെ പീഡിപ്പിക്കുകയും ചെയ്ത് മനുഷ്യൻ നിന്റെ കോപം ഉണർത്തി അധർമ്മം ആചരിക്കുന്നു.
Any religious system but the process of bhāgavata-dharma — service as an eternal servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead — is a system of envy of one’s own self and of others. For example, there are many systems of religion in which animal sacrifices are recommended. Such animal sacrifices are inauspicious both for the performer and for the animal. Although one is sometimes permitted to sacrifice an animal before the goddess Kālī and eat it instead of purchasing meat from a slaughterhouse, permission to eat meat after a sacrifice in the presence of the goddess Kālī is not the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is simply a concession for the miserable person who will not give up eating meat. It is meant to restrict his desire for unrestricted meat-eating. Such a religious system is condemned. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says, sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja: “Give up all other duties and surrender unto Me.” That is the last word in religion.
FAQs
This verse teaches that anger rooted in self-harm and expressed by oppressing others turns even “religious” action into adharma, because it destroys welfare for both oneself and others.
In the narrative, Śiva instructs Citraketu to look beyond reactive judgment and hostility, emphasizing that righteousness cannot be based on harming oneself or others.
Before acting in the name of “being right,” check whether the impulse is anger and whether it causes harm—choose restraint, compassion, and truthful speech that supports real welfare.