Shloka 37

Yuga-Dharma, Kalpa Measure, Purāṇa Definitions, and the Kali-Yuga Power of Nāma-Kīrtana

Devanagari script

द्वापरे परिचर्यायां कलौ तद्धरिकीर्तनात् / तस्माद्ध्येयो हरिर्नित्यं गेयः पूज्यश्च शौनक

Transliteration

dvāpare paricaryāyāṃ kalau taddharikīrtanāt / tasmāddhyeyo harirnityaṃ geyaḥ pūjyaśca śaunaka

Translation

في عصر دڤاپارا تُنال النجاة بخدمة الطقوس والعبادة؛ وفي عصر كالي تُنال بترتيل أسماء هاري المقدّسة (كيرتن). لذلك فليُتأمَّل هاري دائمًا، ولْيُنشَدْ ذكرُه، ولْيُعبَدْ—يا شَوْنَكَ.

Word by Word

• द्वापरे: in the Dvāpara (age)
• द्वापरे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वापर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative of time)

• परिचर्यायाम्: in (ritual) service/worship
• परिचर्यायाम्: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिचर्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• कलौ: in the Kali (age)
• कलौ: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (time)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (deictic)

• हरि-कीर्तनात्: from the chanting/praise of Hari
• हरि-कीर्तनात्: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक) + कीर्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; अपादान (cause/source)

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Sambandha/Discourse particle (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (particle); हेत्वर्थे/तस्मात् = 'therefore'

• ध्येयः: to be meditated upon
• ध्येयः: Vidheyavisheshana (Predicate adjective/विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्यै (धातु) + यत् (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligatory), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

• हरिः: Hari (Vishnu)
• हरिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्ता

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverbial accusative); क्रियाविशेषण

• गेयः: to be sung
• गेयः: Vidheyavisheshana (Predicate adjective/विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गै (धातु) + यत् (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

• पूज्यः: to be worshipped
• पूज्यः: Vidheyavisheshana (Predicate adjective/विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूज् (धातु) + यत् (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (निपात)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction/समुच्चय)

• शौनक: O Śaunaka
• शौनक: Sambodhana (Vocative/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; संबोधन

Speaker

Suta (narrator) addressing the sages, specifically Śaunaka

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: In Kali-yuga, Hari-nāma-kīrtana is the principal means; therefore constant dhyāna, gāna, and pūjā of Hari are enjoined.

Vedantic Theme: Bhakti as an efficacious upāya; nāma as a direct support for smaraṇa leading to purification and God-realization.

Application: Adopt daily japa/kīrtana of Hari’s names; keep a routine of meditation, devotional singing, and simple worship regardless of elaborate ritual capacity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Kali-yuga emphasis on nāma-kīrtana and Viṣṇu-smaraṇa (general bhakti sections)

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Śaunaka

FAQs

What is the importance of Hari-kirtana in the Garuda Purana for Kali Yuga?

This verse states that in Kali Yuga the effective spiritual means is Hari-kīrtana—chanting and glorifying Vishnu—making it a primary, accessible practice for purification and devotion.

How does this verse explain the right spiritual path across different yugas?

It contrasts yuga-dharma: Dvāpara emphasizes paricaryā (formal ritual service), while Kali emphasizes nāma-kīrtana; yet it concludes that Hari should always be meditated on, sung, and worshipped in every age.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain a simple daily routine of Hari-smaraṇa (meditation), nāma-japa/kīrtana (chanting), and basic pūjā—prioritizing sincere remembrance over complex ritual dependence.