Shloka 58

मायामोह-प्रवर्तन, वेदमार्ग-बहिष्कार, तथा पाषण्ड-संसर्ग-दोषः

Māyāmoha’s Delusion, Rejection of the Vedic Path, and the Fault of Heretical Association

Devanagari script

चापाचार्यस्य तस्यासौ सखा राज्ञो महात्मनः अतस् तद्गौरवात् तेन सहालापम् अथाकरोत्

Transliteration

cāpācāryasya tasyāsau sakhā rājño mahātmanaḥ atas tadgauravāt tena sahālāpam athākarot

Translation

അവൻ ആ മഹാത്മാവായ രാജാവിന്റെ സുഹൃത്തും ധനുര്വിദ്യാചാര്യന്റെ സഹചാരിയും ആയിരുന്നു. അതിനാൽ അവന്റെ ഗൗരവം മാനിച്ച് അപ്പോൾ അവനോട് സംഭാഷണം നടത്തി.

Word by Word

चापाचार्यस्यof the bow-teacher

तस्यof him

असौthat man (he)

सखाfriend

राज्ञःof the king

महात्मनःof the great-souled

अतःtherefore

तद्गौरवात्from/owing to that respect (for him)

तेनwith him

सहtogether with

आलापम्conversation

अथthen

अकरोत्did/made (began)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Characters & Entities

A great-souled king

An archery preceptor (cāpācārya)

A friend/companion (unnamed figure)

FAQs

What is the significance of respectful dialogue in the Vishnu Purana’s royal narratives?

This verse highlights that righteous kingship is expressed not only through power but through decorum—honoring worthy persons and engaging them respectfully, which supports stable and dharmic rule.

How does Sage Parāśara frame governance and sovereignty in this context?

By presenting social hierarchy and personal dignity (gaurava) as reasons for action, Parāśara shows that authority in the dynasty accounts is meant to be guided by dharma and ethical restraint, not mere dominance.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here?

Even when Vishnu is not explicitly named, the Purana’s dynastic episodes model dharma as part of Vishnu’s cosmic order—right conduct in kings and teachers reflects the maintained harmony (ṛta/dharma) under the Supreme Reality.