Shloka 38
Rukmāṅgada–Vāmadeva Saṃvāda: Ahimsa, Hunting, and the Fruit of Dvādaśī-Bhakti
विष्णुभक्तिविहीनस्तु द्विजोऽपि श्वपचाधिकः । दुर्लभा भूप राजानो विष्णुभक्ता महीतले ॥ ३८ ॥
viṣṇubhaktivihīnastu dvijo'pi śvapacādhikaḥ | durlabhā bhūpa rājāno viṣṇubhaktā mahītale || 38 ||
विष्णुभक्तीविना द्विजही श्वपचापेक्षा अधिक नीच मानला जातो. हे भूप! या पृथ्वीवर विष्णुभक्त राजे अत्यंत दुर्मिळ आहेत.
Narrator (Purana discourse voice, addressing a king as 'bhūpa')
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It asserts that spiritual worth is measured by Viṣṇu-bhakti, not by social designation; without devotion, even “dvija” status is spiritually hollow, while devotion is the true marker of dharma.
Bhakti is presented as the decisive qualifier: devotion to Viṣṇu elevates one’s inner purity and authority, and even rulers are praised only when their kingship is grounded in Viṣṇu-bhakti.
No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, or Kalpa) is taught in this verse; the practical takeaway is ethical—varna learning or ritual identity without devotion is considered spiritually ineffective.