Shloka 20
वैष्णवीमायावितानम्, उग्रसेनाभिषेकः, सुधर्मासभा, सांदीपनिगमनम्, पाञ्चजन्य-प्राप्तिः, गुरुदक्षिणा
तस्य शिष्यत्वम् अभ्येत्य गुरुवृत्तिपरौ हि तौ दर्शयां चक्रतुर् वीराव् आचारम् अखिले जने
tasya śiṣyatvam abhyetya guruvṛttiparau hi tau darśayāṃ cakratur vīrāv ācāram akhile jane
അവന്റെ ശിഷ്യത്വം സ്വീകരിച്ച് ആ രണ്ടു വീരരും ഗുരുസേവയുടെ കടമകളിൽ നിരന്തരം തത്പരരായി. സ്വന്തം ആചരണത്തിലൂടെ അവർ എല്ലാവർക്കും യഥാർത്ഥ ശീലധർമ്മം ദൃശ്യമായി കാണിച്ചു.
Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: How Krishna and Balarāma conducted themselves as disciples and what that taught society.
Teaching: Ethical
Quality: compassionate
Avatara: Krishna
Purpose: Krishna descends to teach dharma by embodying ideal conduct, including perfect guru-sevā and disciplined studentship.
Leela: Dharma-upadesa
Dharma Restored: Ācāra (right conduct) and guru-dharma as the backbone of śāstric civilization.
Concept: True learning is completed by guru-sevā and right conduct, not merely by acquiring information or power.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Practice gratitude, service, and integrity toward teachers/mentors; let learning transform behavior visible to society.
Vishishtadvaita: Devotion expresses itself as service (kainkarya) within ordained relationships; the Lord’s līlā sanctifies such relational dharma as spiritually meaningful.
Vishnu Form: Krishna
Bhakti Type: Dasya
FAQs
This verse presents discipleship as a lived ethic: true learning is shown by serving the guru’s way of life and making dharma visible to society through one’s conduct.
Parāśara emphasizes that dharma is not merely taught but demonstrated; when exemplary figures embody proper behavior, it becomes a standard for the wider community.
Though Vishnu is not named here, the Purana’s underlying view is that dharma and rightful conduct ultimately reflect and uphold Vishnu’s cosmic sovereignty (ṛta/dharma) within the world.