Srimad Bhagavatam — Prathama Skandha, Shloka 7
Parīkṣit Confronts Kali: Dharma (Bull) and Bhūmi (Cow) at the Dawn of Kali-yuga
त्वं वा मृणालधवल: पादैर्न्यून: पदा चरन् । वृषरूपेण किं कश्चिद् देवो न: परिखेदयन् ॥ ७ ॥
tvaṁ vā mṛṇāla-dhavalaḥ pādair nyūnaḥ padā caran vṛṣa-rūpeṇa kiṁ kaścid devo naḥ parikhedayan
Then he [Mahārāja Parīkṣit] asked the bull: Oh, who are you? Are you a bull as white as a white lotus, or are you a demigod? You have lost three of your legs and are moving on only one. Are you some demigod causing us grief in the form of a bull?
At least up to the time of Mahārāja Parīkṣit, no one could imagine the wretched conditions of the cow and the bull. Mahārāja Parīkṣit, therefore, was astonished to see such a horrible scene. He inquired whether the bull was not a demigod assuming such a wretched condition to indicate the future of the cow and the bull.
FAQs
This verse depicts Dharma as a bull who is limping—symbolizing that righteousness becomes weakened in Kali Yuga, prompting the king to inquire into the cause of this suffering.
Parikshit, seeing a bull moving as if missing a leg, questions him compassionately, suspecting he may be a divine personage and seeking to understand who has caused such distress.
Like Parikshit, one should notice where truth, cleanliness, mercy, and austerity are being harmed and take responsible action—personally and socially—to support these pillars of dharma.