Shloka 20
ध्रुवस्य तपः — देवमायाविघ्नाः, विष्णोर्दर्शनम्, स्तुतिः, ध्रुवस्थानप्रदानम्
मत्प्रीतिः परमो धर्मो वयोवस्थाक्रियाक्रमम् अनुवर्तस्व मा मोहं निवर्तास्माद् अधर्मतः
matprītiḥ paramo dharmo vayovasthākriyākramam anuvartasva mā mohaṃ nivartāsmād adharmataḥ
‘என் திருப்தியே பரம தர்மம். ஆகவே வயது-அவஸ்தைக்கு ஏற்ற கடமைகளின் ஒழுங்கை பின்பற்று. மயக்கத்தில் விழாதே; இந்த அதர்மப் பாதையிலிருந்து திரும்பு.’
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).
FAQs
It frames dharma as ultimately God-oriented: the highest righteousness is that which pleases the Supreme, not merely social custom or personal preference.
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.
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).