Shloka 10

Yuga-Dharma, Kalpa Measure, Purāṇa Definitions, and the Kali-Yuga Power of Nāma-Kīrtana

Devanagari script

द्विपादविग्रो धर्मः पीताञ्चाच्युते गते / चतुः शतायुषो लोका द्विजक्षत्रोद्भवाः प्रजाः

Transliteration

dvipādavigro dharmaḥ pītāñcācyute gate / catuḥ śatāyuṣo lokā dvijakṣatrodbhavāḥ prajāḥ

Translation

Als der unfehlbare Acyuta fortgegangen war, wurde das Dharma beeinträchtigt, als stünde es nur noch auf zwei Beinen. Da wurden die Menschen aus brāhmaṇas und kṣatriyas geboren, und die Lebensspanne in der Welt betrug vierhundert Jahre.

Word by Word

• द्विपादविग्रः: having two parts/feet (diminished)
• द्विपादविग्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्या) + पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + विग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of धर्मः); पाठभेद-संभावना: ‘द्विपाद-विग्रः/विगलः’

• धर्मः: dharma
• धर्मः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पीतान्: yellow (ones)/yellowed
• पीतान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (understood object; or color-state)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• अच्युते: when/with Acyuta (Viṣṇu)
• अच्युते: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अच्युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विष्णोः नाम; ‘when Acyuta…’

• गते: having gone/when (he) had departed
• गते: Adhikarana (Locative absolute/सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) + त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, सप्तमी, एकवचन; लोके ‘सप्तमी-absolute’ (locative absolute)

• चतुः: four
• चतुः: Sambandha (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या)
• Form: संख्यावाचक, अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (numeral used in compound)

• शतायुषः: having a hundred-year lifespan
• शतायुषः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक) + आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of लोकाः); ‘शतं आयुः येषाम्’ (having 100-year lifespan)

• लोकाः: worlds/people
• लोकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• द्विजक्षत्रोद्भवाः: arising from brāhmaṇas and kṣatra
• द्विजक्षत्रोद्भवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of प्रजाः)

• प्रजाः: creatures/subjects
• प्रजाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Acyuta) speaking to Garuda (Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: As dharma diminishes across yugas, human capacities and lifespans contract; collective karma and adherence to dharma shape societal vitality.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa- and yuga-conditioned embodiment (upādhi-bheda) affects human longevity and clarity; impermanence of worldly conditions encourages dharmic living.

Application: Treat time and vitality as limited; prioritize dharma, self-discipline, and spiritual practice rather than complacency based on ‘better ages’.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana yuga decline sequence in 1.223 (dharma legs and lifespan measures)

Characters & Entities

• Acyuta (Vishnu)
• Dharma
• Dvija (Brahmanas)
• Kshatriyas

FAQs

What does it mean that Dharma is 'two-legged' in this verse?

It indicates a decline of righteousness—Dharma is portrayed as losing two of its supports, a common Purāṇic image for decreasing virtue across cosmic ages.

How does this verse relate to yuga-based changes in human life?

It links a phase of dharma’s weakening with a specific human condition: people’s lifespans becoming four hundred years, reflecting age-based shifts in strength, virtue, and longevity.

Practical application of this teaching today?

Treat moral discipline as something that can weaken or strengthen: uphold truthfulness, restraint, and duty so that dharma is supported in personal and social life.