Shloka 16

The Appearance of Śrī Nārada and Vyāsa’s Dissatisfaction

Veda-vibhāga and the Need for Bhakti

Devanagari script

परावरज्ञ: स ऋषि: कालेनाव्यक्तरंहसा । युगधर्मव्यतिकरं प्राप्तं भुवि युगे युगे ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

parāvara-jñaḥ sa ṛṣiḥ kālenāvyakta-raṁhasā yuga-dharma-vyatikaraṁ prāptaṁ bhuvi yuge yuge

Translation

Der große Weise, der Höheres und Niedrigeres kennt, sah, wie durch die unsichtbare Macht der Zeit in jedem Zeitalter auf Erden die Pflichten des jeweiligen Yuga in Unordnung geraten.

Synonyms

• परावरज्ञः: knower of the higher and the lower
• परावरज्ञः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर + अवर + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative: ‘knower of higher and lower’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘ऋषिः/सः’)

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• ऋषिः: the sage
• ऋषिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject—apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कालेन: by time
• कालेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd case/instrumental), एकवचन

• अव्यक्तरंहसा: with unperceived swiftness
• अव्यक्तरंहसा: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अव्यक्त + रंहस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (descriptive: ‘unmanifest-swiftness’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (रंहस् नपुंसक), तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘कालेन’)

• युगधर्मव्यतिकरम्: the intermixture of duties of the ages
• युगधर्मव्यतिकरम्: कर्म (Karma/Object—of ‘saw/understood’ implied)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युग + धर्म + व्यतिकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative: ‘confusion/mixture of the yuga-dharmas’), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्राप्तम्: that had come about
• प्राप्तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object—predicate qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √प्राप् (धातु) + प्राप्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘having occurred/arrived’ (agreeing with ‘व्यतिकरम्’)

• भुवि: on earth
• भुवि: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• युगे: in an age
• युगे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• युगे: in each age
• युगे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (repetition for distributive sense)

Purport

The great sages like Vyāsadeva are liberated souls, and therefore they can see clearly past and future. Thus he could see the future anomalies in the Kali age, and accordingly he made arrangement for the people in general so that they can execute a progressive life in this age, which is full of darkness. The people in general in this Age of Kali are too much interested in matter, which is temporary. Because of ignorance they are unable to evaluate the assets of life and be enlightened in spiritual knowledge.

Characters & Entities

• Vyāsa (Kṛṣṇa-dvaipāyana Vyāsa)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the decline of dharma in different yugas?

This verse states that, propelled by the unseen force of time, dharma becomes disturbed in every age—indicating a recurring need for spiritual clarification and restoration.

Why is time (kāla) described as ‘unseen’ and irresistible in the Bhagavatam?

Because kāla works subtly yet powerfully, shaping collective conditions and moral strength; its influence is not always directly perceived, but its effects—like dharma’s disruption—become evident.

Practical application: how should a devotee respond when dharma feels confused in modern life?

Recognize the influence of time and yuga-conditions, and seek steadiness through śāstra, sādhana, and devotion—using Bhagavatam wisdom as a clear guide amid mixed values.