Shloka 37

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

Devanagari script

द्वापरे परिचर्यायां कलौ तद्धरिकीर्तनात् / तस्माद्ध्येयो हरिर्नित्यं गेयः पूज्यश्च शौनक

Transliteration

dvāpare paricaryāyāṃ kalau taddharikīrtanāt / tasmāddhyeyo harirnityaṃ geyaḥ pūjyaśca śaunaka

Translation

Im Dvāpara-Zeitalter wird Befreiung durch rituellen Dienst und Verehrung erlangt; im Kali-Zeitalter durch Kīrtana, das Singen der Namen Haris. Darum soll Hari stets betrachtet, besungen und verehrt werden—o Śaunaka.

Word by Word

• द्वापरे: in the Dvāpara (age)
• द्वापरे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वापर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (locative of time)

• परिचर्यायाम्: in (ritual) service/worship
• परिचर्यायाम्: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिचर्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• कलौ: in the Kali (age)
• कलौ: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (time)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (deictic)

• हरि-कीर्तनात्: from the chanting/praise of Hari
• हरि-कीर्तनात्: Apadana (Ablative/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक) + कीर्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; अपादान (cause/source)

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Sambandha/Discourse particle (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (particle); हेत्वर्थे/तस्मात् = 'therefore'

• ध्येयः: to be meditated upon
• ध्येयः: Vidheyavisheshana (Predicate adjective/विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्यै (धातु) + यत् (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligatory), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

• हरिः: Hari (Vishnu)
• हरिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्ता

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverbial accusative); क्रियाविशेषण

• गेयः: to be sung
• गेयः: Vidheyavisheshana (Predicate adjective/विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गै (धातु) + यत् (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

• पूज्यः: to be worshipped
• पूज्यः: Vidheyavisheshana (Predicate adjective/विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूज् (धातु) + यत् (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (निपात)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction/समुच्चय)

• शौनक: O Śaunaka
• शौनक: Sambodhana (Vocative/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; संबोधन

Speaker

Suta (narrator) addressing the sages, specifically Śaunaka

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: In Kali-yuga, Hari-nāma-kīrtana is the principal means; therefore constant dhyāna, gāna, and pūjā of Hari are enjoined.

Vedantic Theme: Bhakti as an efficacious upāya; nāma as a direct support for smaraṇa leading to purification and God-realization.

Application: Adopt daily japa/kīrtana of Hari’s names; keep a routine of meditation, devotional singing, and simple worship regardless of elaborate ritual capacity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Kali-yuga emphasis on nāma-kīrtana and Viṣṇu-smaraṇa (general bhakti sections)

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Śaunaka

FAQs

What is the importance of Hari-kirtana in the Garuda Purana for Kali Yuga?

This verse states that in Kali Yuga the effective spiritual means is Hari-kīrtana—chanting and glorifying Vishnu—making it a primary, accessible practice for purification and devotion.

How does this verse explain the right spiritual path across different yugas?

It contrasts yuga-dharma: Dvāpara emphasizes paricaryā (formal ritual service), while Kali emphasizes nāma-kīrtana; yet it concludes that Hari should always be meditated on, sung, and worshipped in every age.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain a simple daily routine of Hari-smaraṇa (meditation), nāma-japa/kīrtana (chanting), and basic pūjā—prioritizing sincere remembrance over complex ritual dependence.