The Vishnu Purana presents dharma as both the sustaining principle of the cosmos and the guiding norm for human life. Vishnu is portrayed as the very embodiment and protector of dharma, and ethical conduct is meaningful precisely because it aligns the individual and society with this divine order. This alignment is articulated through the framework of varna-dharma and ashrama-dharma: distinct duties for the four social classes, and for the four stages of life from student to renunciant. Each person is encouraged to fulfill the responsibilities proper to their role, so that social harmony and inner order mirror the larger cosmic harmony upheld by Vishnu.

Within this structure, the text gives considerable attention to personal ethics and character. Truthfulness, non-violence, compassion, purity, self-control, forgiveness, generosity, and freedom from greed and pride are repeatedly emphasized as defining marks of an ideal human being. Ethical discipline extends to speech and thought: gentle words, avoidance of slander, control of anger and lust, and even-mindedness amid success and failure are all treated as expressions of inner refinement. Such virtues are not presented as mere social niceties; they are manifestations of devotion, since a heart turned toward Vishnu naturally seeks to act in a way that reflects divine qualities.

The Purana also speaks in detail about conduct in family and social life, especially the responsibilities of the householder. Supporting dependents, honoring parents and elders, showing hospitality to guests, and practicing charity toward the poor are framed as sacred obligations. Marriage, the nurturing of children, and respect for women are woven into this vision of dharma in the home. In the wider social sphere, honesty in trade, fair treatment of servants and subjects, and the sharing of wealth—particularly through gifts to the learned and to the needy—are held up as essential to a righteous society.

A distinctive emphasis falls on raja-dharma, the dharma of kings and rulers. The ideal ruler is described as Vishnu’s representative on earth, charged with protecting subjects, upholding justice, and maintaining order without cruelty or oppression. Just taxation, protection from internal crime and external threat, and support for learning and sacred practices are all presented as royal duties. When such governance is guided by dharma rather than personal desire, the kingdom flourishes; when rulers become greedy or unjust, social and spiritual decline follow, illustrating the intimate link between political power and moral responsibility.

Underlying all of this is a devotional vision in which dharma and bhakti are inseparable. Ritual obligations, social duties, and ethical disciplines are ultimately oriented toward pleasing Vishnu and purifying the mind. Sincere devotion, expressed through remembrance of Vishnu, chanting of his names, and recognition of his presence in all beings, is said to transform conduct from the inside out. In this way, the text portrays an ideal individual and society in which every role—whether of ruler, householder, or renunciant—is fulfilled as an offering to the divine, and where adherence to dharma becomes both the path to worldly well-being and the means to spiritual liberation.