Shloka 38
Śikṣā-nirūpaṇa (Exposition of Discipline): Son’s Marriage, Paternal Duty, and Royal Administration
विष्णुं परित्यज्य वरं सुराणां संपूजयेद्योऽन्यतमं हि देवम् । गच्छेत्सगर्भां युवतीं प्रसूतां दंड्यश्च वध्यश्च स चास्मदीयैः ॥ ३८ ॥
viṣṇuṃ parityajya varaṃ surāṇāṃ saṃpūjayedyo'nyatamaṃ hi devam | gacchetsagarbhāṃ yuvatīṃ prasūtāṃ daṃḍyaśca vadhyaśca sa cāsmadīyaiḥ || 38 ||
ਜੋ ਦੇਵਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਸ਼੍ਰੇਸ਼ਠ ਵਿਸ਼ਨੂ ਨੂੰ ਛੱਡ ਕੇ ਕਿਸੇ ਹੋਰ ਦੇਵਤਾ ਦੀ ਪੂਜਾ ਕਰੇ, ਉਹ ਸਾਡੇ ਰਾਜ ਅਧਿਕਾਰੀਆਂ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਦੰਡਯੋਗ ਹੈ, ਇੱਥੋਂ ਤੱਕ ਕਿ ਵਧਯ ਵੀ; ਜਿਵੇਂ ਗਰਭਵਤੀ ਜਾਂ ਪ੍ਰਸੂਤਾ ਜਵਾਨ ਇਸਤਰੀ ਕੋਲ ਜਾਣਾ ਅਪਰਾਧ ਹੈ।
Narada (teaching in a dharma-śāstric tone within Uttara-Bhaga narration)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
FAQs
It asserts Viṣṇu’s supremacy and frames abandoning Him for other worship as a grave adharma, emphasizing exclusive, steadfast devotion as spiritually and socially consequential.
Bhakti here is presented as niṣṭhā (single-pointed fidelity) to Viṣṇu; shifting devotion away from Him is condemned as a serious breach, underscoring commitment as the core of Vaiṣṇava practice.
Rather than a Vedāṅga technicality, the verse reflects rāja-dharma and smṛti-style legal reasoning—using a strong moral analogy to define a punishable offense and deter transgressive conduct.