Shloka 6

युगधर्मवर्णनम् — चतुर्युग, गुण, धर्मपाद, तथा वार्तोत्पत्ति

Devanagari script

सत्त्वं कृतं रजस्त्रेता द्वापरं च रजस्तमः कलिस्तमश् च विज्ञेयं युगवृत्तिर्युगेषु च

Transliteration

sattvaṃ kṛtaṃ rajastretā dvāparaṃ ca rajastamaḥ kalistamaś ca vijñeyaṃ yugavṛttiryugeṣu ca

Translation

কৃতযুগে সত্ত্বগুণ প্রধান; ত্রেতাযুগ রজোগুণময় বলা হয়। দ্বাপরে রজ-তমের মিশ্রণ, আর কলিযুগে কেবল তম—এভাবেই যুগধর্ম বোঝা উচিত।

Word by Word

• सत्त्वम्: sattva (purity, luminosity)

• कृतम्: Kṛta-yuga

• रजस्: rajas (activity, passion)

• त्रेता: Tretā-yuga

• द्वापरम्: Dvāpara-yuga

• च: and

• रजस्-तमः: rajas mixed with tamas

• कलिः: Kali-yuga

• तमः: tamas (inertia, obscuration)

• च: and

• विज्ञेयम्: should be known/understood

• युग-वृत्तिः: the pattern/nature of the yugas

• युगेषु: in the yugas

• च: and

Speaker

Suta Goswami

FAQs

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

It frames why Kali-yuga practice emphasizes steady, purifying disciplines—Linga-pūjā, mantra, and inner recollection—so the pashu (soul) can overcome tamas and turn toward Pati (Śiva).

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

By mapping the yugas to the guṇas, it implies that guṇic change belongs to prakṛti and the bound pashu; Śiva as Pati is beyond guṇas, the unchanging refuge through all yuga-cycles.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A practical takeaway is guṇa-śuddhi: reducing tamas through daily Śiva-linga worship, japa, and Pāśupata-oriented self-discipline so awareness becomes sattva-pradhāna even in Kali-yuga.