Shloka 21

Devanagari script

नानाप्रकारवचनं स तेषां युक्तियोजितम् तथा तथावदद् धर्मं तत्यजुस् ते यथा यथा

Transliteration

nānāprakāravacanaṃ sa teṣāṃ yuktiyojitam tathā tathāvadad dharmaṃ tatyajus te yathā yathā

Translation

他以种种言辞对他们宣说，巧以似是而非之理缀成论辩；他怎样说，他们便怎样随之，一步步舍弃了正法。

Word by Word

• नानाप्रकारवचनम्: speech of various kinds
• नानाप्रकारवचनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाना (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + प्रकार (प्रातिपदिक) + वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (neuter accusative singular)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (masculine nominative singular)

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (genitive plural)

• युक्तियोजितम्: constructed with arguments/reasoning
• युक्तियोजितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + योजित (युज् धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष; विशेषण (neuter accusative singular; qualified as 'arranged with reasoning')

• तथा: so; in that manner
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• तथा: so
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• अवदत्: said; spoke
• अवदत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (imperfect, 3rd person singular, parasmaipada)

• धर्मम्: dharma
• धर्मम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन (masculine accusative singular)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; सर्वनाम-विशेषण (masculine accusative singular; 'that')

• त्यजुः: abandoned
• त्यजुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/परिपूर्ण), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद (perfect, 3rd person plural, parasmaipada)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (masculine nominative plural)

• यथा: as; just as
• यथा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb/correlative)

• यथा: as
• यथा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb/correlative)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Mechanism of adharma’s spread: many-styled speech and seemingly logical argumentation leading to gradual dharma-abandonment

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dharma can be undermined gradually through polished, multi-form rhetoric that mimics genuine reasoning.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Practice intellectual humility and śāstra-aligned reasoning; avoid being swayed by mere cleverness—seek coherence with dharma and sāttvika character.

Vishishtadvaita: Supports the Viśiṣṭādvaita stress on pramāṇa (śruti-smṛti) and disciplined reasoning subordinate to revelation, not free-floating sophistry.

FAQs

What is the significance of ‘specious reasoning’ (yuktiyojitam) in this Vishnu Purana verse?

It highlights how dharma can be undermined not only by force but by convincing, well-structured arguments that appear logical while leading people away from righteous conduct.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the process of dharma’s decline here?

Parāśara presents it as gradual: repeated persuasive speech reshapes people’s choices until they abandon dharma step by step, “as he led them.”

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

By implication, Vishnu stands as the guardian of cosmic order; this verse warns that maintaining dharma requires discernment and fidelity to true spiritual authority aligned with Vishnu’s sustaining sovereignty.