Shloka 17
Adhyātma-krama: Indriya–Manas–Buddhi–Ātman Hierarchy and Citta-Prasāda (आध्यात्मक्रमः)
अधर्मान्त्हिता वेदा वेदधर्मास्तथा55 श्रमा: । विक्रियन्ते स्वधर्मस्था: स्थावराणि चराणि च
adharmāntarhitā vedā vedadharmās tathāśramāḥ | vikriyante svadharmasthāḥ sthāvarāṇi carāṇi ca ||
ব্যাসে ক’লে—যেতিয়া অধৰ্ম প্ৰবল হয়, তেতিয়া বেদ যেন অন্তৰ্হিত হয়; বৈদিক ধৰ্ম আৰু আশ্ৰমধৰ্মো আচ্ছন্ন হয়। তেতিয়া স্বধৰ্মত স্থিত স্থাৱৰ-জংগম সকলো প্ৰাণীও ধৰ্মৰ পৰা বিকৃত হয়; সৰ্বত্ৰ বিকাৰ বিস্তাৰ পায়।
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
When adharma dominates, not only human ethics but even the foundations of sacred authority (the Vedas), Vedic duties, and the āśrama-based social-spiritual order become obscured; as a result, beings deviate from their svadharma and widespread distortion arises.
Vyāsa is describing the symptoms of an age or condition of moral collapse: dharma-based institutions and teachings lose visibility and force, and the resulting confusion affects all living beings—immobile and mobile—who no longer remain steady in their proper nature and conduct.