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 ||
凡舍弃毗湿奴——诸天之上最尊者——而转去礼拜他神者，当由我之王权加以惩治，甚至处以死刑；正如那胆敢亲近怀孕或新近产后的年轻女子之人。
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.