Shloka 20

ध्रुवस्य तपः — देवमायाविघ्नाः, विष्णोर्दर्शनम्, स्तुतिः, ध्रुवस्थानप्रदानम्

Devanagari script

मत्प्रीतिः परमो धर्मो वयोवस्थाक्रियाक्रमम् अनुवर्तस्व मा मोहं निवर्तास्माद् अधर्मतः

Transliteration

matprītiḥ paramo dharmo vayovasthākriyākramam anuvartasva mā mohaṃ nivartāsmād adharmataḥ

Translation

‘ମୋର ପ୍ରୀତି ହିଁ ପରମ ଧର୍ମ। ତେଣୁ ବୟସ ଓ ଆଶ୍ରମଅନୁସାରେ କର୍ତ୍ତବ୍ୟକ୍ରମକୁ ଅନୁସର। ମୋହରେ ପଡ଼ନି; ଏହି ଅଧର୍ମପଥରୁ ଫେରିଆ।’

Word by Word

मत्प्रीतिःmy pleasure (being pleased)

परमःsupreme

धर्मःduty, dharma

वयोवस्थाक्रियाक्रमम्the order of duties according to age and stage

अनुवर्तस्वfollow

माdo not

मोहम्delusion

निवर्तturn back, desist

अस्मात्from this

अधर्मतःfrom unrighteousness

Speaker

A senior authority figure instructing a dependent (contextually within Parāśara’s narration to Maitreya; the verse itself is direct speech of an elder admonishing proper dharma).

Characters & Entities

Dharma

Moha (delusion)

FAQs

What is the significance of “matprītiḥ paramo dharmaḥ” in the Vishnu Purana?

It frames dharma as ultimately God-oriented: the highest righteousness is that which pleases the Supreme, not merely social custom or personal preference.

How does the Vishnu Purana connect life-stages with dharma in this verse?

It emphasizes vayo-avasthā-kriyā-krama—duties must be performed in their proper order according to one’s age and stage, so conduct remains aligned with the larger moral and cosmic order.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here?

By defining the highest dharma as that which pleases the Supreme, the verse reflects a Vaishnava principle: righteousness culminates in devotion and obedience to divine order, with adharma arising from moha (delusion).