Shloka 8
Parīkṣit Confronts Kali: Dharma (Bull) and Bhūmi (Cow) at the Dawn of Kali-yuga
न जातु कौरवेन्द्राणां दोर्दण्डपरिरम्भिते । भूतलेऽनुपतन्त्यस्मिन् विना ते प्राणिनां शुच: ॥ ८ ॥
na jātu kauravendrāṇāṁ dordaṇḍa-parirambhite bhū-tale ’nupatanty asmin vinā te prāṇināṁ śucaḥ
In einem Reich, das durch die Arme der Könige aus dem Kuru‑Geschlecht geschützt war, haben die Lebewesen niemals wegen königlicher Nachlässigkeit Tränen vergossen; heute sehe ich dich zum ersten Mal mit tränenvollen Augen trauern.
The protection of the lives of both the human beings and the animals is the first and foremost duty of a government. A government must not discriminate in such principles. It is simply horrible for a purehearted soul to see organized animal killing by the state in this Age of Kali. Mahārāja Parīkṣit was lamenting for the tears in the eyes of the bull, and he was astonished to see such an unprecedented thing in his good kingdom. Men and animals were equally protected as far as life was concerned. That is the way in God’s kingdom.
FAQs
This verse says that when the earth is protected by the strong, dharmic rule of the Kuru kings, ordinary miseries do not overtake people; good governance rooted in dharma restrains societal suffering.
In the context of Kali being confronted, Śukadeva highlights how dharmic rulers historically kept disorder and widespread misery in check—contrasting that stability with Kali’s influence when protection declines.
Support and practice dharma—truthfulness, compassion, self-control, and responsible leadership—so that personal and social life becomes “protected,” reducing avoidable distress and chaos.