Shloka 47

Adhyaya 40: Kali-yuga Lakshana, Yuga-sandhyamsha, and the Re-emergence of Dharma

Devanagari script

त्रेतायां वार्षिको धर्मो द्वापरे मासिकः स्मृतः यथाक्लेशं चरन्प्राज्ञस् तदह्ना प्राप्नुते कलौ

Transliteration

tretāyāṃ vārṣiko dharmo dvāpare māsikaḥ smṛtaḥ yathākleśaṃ caranprājñas tadahnā prāpnute kalau

Translation

في تريتا-يوغا يثمر الدارما بمراسم تُداوَم سنةً كاملة، وفي دفابارا-يوغا يُذكَر أنه يثمر في شهر. أمّا في كالي-يوغا فإن الحكيم الذي يمارس بحسب طاقته—من غير عنتٍ ولا تكلّف—ينال الثمرة نفسها في يوم واحد. وهكذا، لأجل الباشو المقيَّد، يجعل باتي، الرب شيفا، الاستحقاق المتجه إلى التحرّر قريب المنال، رغم ضعف القوة واشتداد الباشا (pāśa).

Word by Word

• त्रेतायाम्: in the Tretā-yuga

• वार्षिकः: lasting a year/annual

• धर्मः: dharma, righteous observance

• द्वापरे: in the Dvāpara-yuga

• मासिकः: lasting a month/monthly

• स्मृतः: is remembered/declared

• यथा-क्लेशम्: according to (one’s) hardship/without excessive strain

• चरन्: practicing, performing

• प्राज्ञः: the wise person

• तत्: that (same)

• अह्ना: in a day

• प्राप्नुते: attains, obtains

• कलौ: in the Kali-yuga

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It teaches that in Kali-yuga even short, capacity-based Shiva-sadhana—such as Linga-puja done without strain—can yield the same merit that required far longer observances in earlier yugas.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Shiva is implied as Pati, the compassionate Lord who adjusts the efficacy of practice across yugas so the bound soul (pashu) can still progress toward freedom despite stronger bonds (pasha) in Kali.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The emphasis is on sustainable, non-torturous discipline—regular Shiva-oriented dharma (puja, japa, vrata) performed yathākleśam, aligning with Pashupata temperance and steady practice rather than extreme austerity.