Shloka 36

विष्ण्वाराधन-फलम् तथा वर्णधर्माः

Worship of Vishnu through Varṇa-dharma

Devanagari script

मैत्र्य् अस्पृहा तथा तद्वद् अकार्पण्यं नरेश्वर अनसूया च सामान्या वर्णानां कथिता गुणाः

Transliteration

maitry aspṛhā tathā tadvad akārpaṇyaṃ nareśvara anasūyā ca sāmānyā varṇānāṃ kathitā guṇāḥ

Translation

اے نریشور! میں نے وہ اوصاف بیان کیے جو تمام ورنوں میں مشترک مانے گئے ہیں: سب کے ساتھ دوستی، خواہش و لالچ سے آزادی، بخل سے پاک فراخ دل، اور حسد سے بے نیازی۔

Word by Word

मैत्रीfriendliness

अस्पृहाnon-covetousness

तथाand likewise

तद्वत्similarly

अकार्पण्यंnon-miserliness / generosity

नरेश्वरO lord of men (king)

अनसूयाnon-envy / freedom from malice

चand

सामान्याःcommon (to all)

वर्णानाम्of the varṇas (social classes)

कथिताःare said/declared

गुणाःqualities

Speaker

Sage Parāśara

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Across all social orders, dharma rests on maitri, aspṛhā, akārpaṇya, and anasūyā—universal virtues that prevent social life from degenerating into rivalry and greed.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Practice friendliness as default, reduce acquisitive impulses, give without tight-fistedness, and refrain from comparison-driven envy.

Vishishtadvaita: Universal virtues express the jīva’s proper dependence on the Lord and harmony with other selves as fellow dependents (śeṣatva), supporting a theistic social ethic.

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

King (Nareśvara)

Varnas (social orders)

FAQs

What is the significance of universal virtues across the varnas in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse teaches that beyond role-specific duties, certain inner qualities—friendliness, non-craving, generosity of spirit, and non-envy—are mandatory for everyone, preserving social harmony and dharmic order.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the ethical foundation of dharma here?

Parāśara frames dharma not merely as external ritual or occupation, but as shared moral dispositions (guṇas) that should pervade every varna, especially in a polity led by a king.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even when Vishnu is not named, the Purana’s ethic implies that these virtues sustain the cosmic order (dharma) governed by Vishnu, aligning personal conduct with the Supreme Lord’s sustaining power.