Shloka 6
Kali-yuga’s Degradation, the Advent of Kalki, and the Reset of the Yuga Cycle
दूरे वार्ययनं तीर्थं लावण्यं केशधारणम् । उदरंभरता स्वार्थ: सत्यत्वे धार्ष्ट्यमेव हि । दाक्ष्यं कुटुम्बभरणं यशोऽर्थे धर्मसेवनम् ॥ ६ ॥
dūre vāry-ayanaṁ tīrthaṁ lāvaṇyaṁ keśa-dhāraṇam udaraṁ-bharatā svārthaḥ satyatve dhārṣṭyam eva hi dākṣyaṁ kuṭumba-bharaṇaṁ yaśo ’rthe dharma-sevanam
Ein heiliger Ort wird nur noch als fernes Wasserbecken gelten, und Schönheit wird man an der Frisur messen. Den Bauch zu füllen wird zum Lebensziel, und der Dreiste gilt als wahrhaftig. Wer eine Familie ernähren kann, heißt tüchtig, und Dharma wird nur um des Rufes willen befolgt.
In India there are many sacred places through which holy rivers flow. Foolish persons eagerly seek redemption from their sins by bathing in these rivers but do not take instruction from learned devotees of the Lord who reside in such places. One should go to a holy place seeking spiritual enlightenment and not just for ritualistic bathing.
FAQs
This verse explains that in Kali-yuga external substitutes replace real virtue: pilgrimage becomes mere travel for necessities, beauty becomes superficial grooming, truth becomes shameless boldness, and dharma is practiced for reputation rather than devotion.
Parikshit Maharaja inquired about the future age of Kali, and Shukadeva Gosvami responded by listing recognizable social and moral distortions so the king (and future listeners) could understand the age’s dangers and seek genuine spiritual shelter.
Measure spirituality by inner transformation—truthfulness, humility, and devotion—rather than outward display, social image, or religious performance done for fame.