Shloka 4

सदाचार-नियमाः: शील, संयम, संग-निषेध, शुचिता, वाणी-नीति, परोपकारः

Devanagari script

किंचित् परस्वं न हरेन् नाल्पम् अप्य् अप्रियं वदेत् प्रियं च नानृतं ब्रूयान् नान्यदोषान् उदीरयेत्

Transliteration

kiṃcit parasvaṃ na haren nālpam apy apriyaṃ vadet priyaṃ ca nānṛtaṃ brūyān nānyadoṣān udīrayet

Translation

不可取他人之物，哪怕微末亦不可。不可出口令人不悦之言，哪怕少许亦不可。然而也不可因其悦耳而妄语；亦不可四处宣扬他人过失。

Word by Word

• किंचित्: anything (even a little)
• किंचित्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किंचित् (अव्यय/सर्वनाम-प्रयोग)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाणवाचक (indefinite particle ‘anything’)

• परस्वम्: another’s property
• परस्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (परस्य स्वम् = another’s property)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• हरेत्: should take/steal
• हरेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• अल्पम्: a small (thing)
• अल्पम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; परिमाणवाचक (even a small thing)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (Modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि-कार (particle: even/also)

• अप्रियम्: what is unpleasant
• अप्रियम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (speech/content)

• वदेत्: should speak
• वदेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• प्रियम्: what is pleasant
• प्रियम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• अनृतम्: falsehood
• अनृतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ब्रूयात्: should say
• ब्रूयात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• अन्य: other
• अन्य: Sambandha (Qualifier/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (in compound)

• दोषान्: faults of others
• दोषान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दोष (प्रातिपदिक) [अन्य-दोष (समास)]
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषार्थे ‘others’ faults’

• उदीरयेत्: should utter/bring up
• उदीरयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-ईरय् (धातु; causative of ईर्/ईरय्)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Moral restraints: non-stealing, truthful and pleasant speech, and avoidance of fault-finding

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dharma requires scrupulous non-stealing, avoidance of hurtful speech, commitment to truth even when unpleasant, and refraining from broadcasting others’ faults.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Practice ‘truth with kindness’: speak what is true and beneficial, avoid gossip, and adopt strict integrity in small matters (time, credit, possessions).

Vishishtadvaita: Ethical restraint expresses the soul’s rightful dependence on the Lord by honoring His order in other beings, who are His body (śarīra-bhāva).

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Parāśara
• Maitreya

FAQs

What is the significance of right speech and non-stealing in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames dharma as everyday restraint—do not take even a little of another’s property, and let speech be both truthful and non-harmful—showing how social order is preserved through personal discipline.

How does Sage Parāśara explain ethical speech in this teaching?

Parāśara sets a balance: avoid unpleasant speech, but do not choose falsehood just because it pleases; he also warns against broadcasting others’ faults, emphasizing truth guided by compassion and restraint.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even when Vishnu is not named, the teaching reflects Vaishnava dharma: conduct aligned with the cosmic order sustained by the Supreme—truthfulness, non-injury, and respect for others uphold the world under Vishnu’s governance.