Shloka 5
अविद्याबीज-निरूपणं, योगस्वरूप-उपदेशः, मूर्तहरिधारणा-समाधि, जनकवंशीय-राजर्षिसंवादः
जन्मोपभोगलिप्सार्थम् इयं राज्यस्पृहा मम अन्येषां दोषजा नैव धर्मम् एवानुरुध्यते
janmopabhogalipsārtham iyaṃ rājyaspṛhā mama anyeṣāṃ doṣajā naiva dharmam evānurudhyate
Kerinduan aku terhadap kedaulatan timbul semata-mata daripada nafsu menikmati kesenangan hidup berjasad; bukan seperti cita-cita orang lain yang lahir daripada cela, yang kononnya mengikuti dharma.
A king/prince within the dynastic narrative (as recounted by Sage Parāśara to Maitreya); the verse is voiced as a self-reflective confession about royal ambition
Concept: Craving for sovereignty can arise from embodied enjoyment and must not be mistaken as dharma-driven aspiration.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Examine ambitions for hidden bhoga-motives and re-align goals with dharma and inner freedom.
Vishishtadvaita: Discernment of motive supports surrendering egoic claims while orienting action toward the Lord’s order (niyati) rather than personal enjoyment.
Bhakti Type: Shanta
FAQs
In this verse, sovereignty is shown as morally ambiguous when rooted in craving for enjoyment; true legitimacy in rule is implied to rest on alignment with dharma, not appetite.
Through the dynastic speaker’s confession, Parāśara’s narrative contrasts dharma-guided action with doṣa-ja (vice-born) impulses—ambition that does not ‘follow dharma’ is treated as ethically inferior.
Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Purana’s framework assumes dharma as part of Vishnu’s cosmic order; kingship gains meaning when it upholds that order rather than serving personal enjoyment.