Shloka 16
सप्तद्वीप-समुद्र-प्रमाणम्: प्लक्षादि-द्वीपवर्णनं, लोकालोक-सीमा, चन्द्र-समुद्र-वृद्धिक्षयः
वर्णाश् च तत्र चत्वारस् तान् निबोध वदामि ते
varṇāś ca tatra catvāras tān nibodha vadāmi te
ਉਸ ਨਿਯਤ ਵਿਵਸਥਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਚਾਰ ਵਰਣ ਹਨ; ਉਹਨਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਚੰਗੀ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਸਮਝ—ਹੁਣ ਮੈਂ ਤੈਨੂੰ ਦੱਸਦਾ ਹਾਂ।
Sage Parāśara
FAQs
This verse introduces the four varnas as an intentional ordering within dharma, implying that social duties are meant to support stability and righteous living.
Parāśara frames dharma as something to be systematically understood; here he signals a structured explanation, beginning with the four varnas.
Even when discussing social order, the Vishnu Purana treats dharma as part of the larger cosmic governance ultimately rooted in the Supreme Reality—Vishnu—as the sustaining principle.