Shloka 7
सदाचार-नियमाः: शील, संयम, संग-निषेध, शुचिता, वाणी-नीति, परोपकारः
तथातिव्ययशीलैश् च परिवादरतैः शठैः बुधो मैत्रीं न कुर्वीत नैकः पन्थानम् आश्रयेत्
tathātivyayaśīlaiś ca parivādarataiḥ śaṭhaiḥ budho maitrīṃ na kurvīta naikaḥ panthānam āśrayet
Do mesmo modo, o sábio não deve fazer intimidade com os que se viciam no desperdício, se deleitam na difamação e são ardilosos. Nem deve tomar um caminho instável, vagando por muitas vias ao mesmo tempo; que siga uma só senda, firme e constante.
Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Practical dharma: whom to associate with and how to maintain steadiness amid Kali-yuga
Teaching: Ethical
Quality: compassionate
Concept: Avoid intimacy with wasteful, slanderous, deceitful people, and follow a single, steady path rather than scattered pursuits.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Limit exposure to gossip and impulsive spending; commit to one coherent sādhana and a stable ethical routine.
Vishishtadvaita: Single-pointedness (ekāgratā) supports bhakti and surrender to the Supreme as the integrating center of life.
Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman
Bhakti Type: Shanta
FAQs
This verse frames association (saṅga) as a direct cause of moral decline: extravagance, slander, and deceit corrupt discernment, so the wise avoid intimacy with such traits to protect dharma and inner steadiness.
Parāśara stresses consistency: one should not scatter oneself across many conflicting ways, but adopt a clear, steady course aligned with dharma—socially and spiritually.
Though Vishnu is not named here, the teaching supports Vaishnava dharma: purity of conduct and disciplined focus are presented as prerequisites for living in harmony with the cosmic order upheld by Vishnu as Supreme Sovereign.