Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

त्रेतायुगे त्रिपाद्धर्मः सत्यदानदयात्मकः / नरा यज्ञपरास्तस्मिंस्तथा क्षत्रोद्भवं जगत्

Transliteration

tretāyuge tripāddharmaḥ satyadānadayātmakaḥ / narā yajñaparāstasmiṃstathā kṣatrodbhavaṃ jagat

Translation

Im Tretā-Yuga stand das Dharma auf drei Füßen — Wahrheit, Gabe und Mitgefühl. In jenem Zeitalter waren die Menschen dem yajña ergeben, und die Ordnung der Welt war durch das Aufsteigen und Übergewicht der kṣatriya-Macht geprägt.

Word by Word

• त्रेतायुगे: in the Tretā age
• त्रेतायुगे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रेता-युग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘त्रेतायाः युगे’ (in Tretā-yuga)

• त्रिपात्: three-footed (having three parts)
• त्रिपात्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या) + पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of धर्मः)

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

• सत्यदानदयात्मकः: consisting of truth, charity, and compassion
• सत्यदानदयात्मकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + दान (प्रातिपदिक) + दया (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-समास; विशेषण (of धर्मः)

• नराः: men/people
• नराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• यज्ञपराः: devoted to sacrifice
• यज्ञपराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक) + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of नराः)

• तस्मिन्: in that (age)
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम; ‘in that (age)’

• तथा: thus/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (adverb: thus/likewise)

• क्षत्रोद्भवम्: arising from kṣatra (kṣatriya power)
• क्षत्रोद्भवम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of जगत्)

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tretā-yuga dharma is sustained by satya (truth), dāna (charity), and dayā (compassion), with yajña as the dominant public religious act and kṣatriya power prominent.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as a stabilizing cosmic principle; karma-kāṇḍa (yajña) as a means of loka-saṅgraha within a yuga-specific dispensation.

Application: Cultivate truthfulness, generosity, and compassion; support communal ‘yajña-like’ acts—service, offerings, and shared responsibility—guided by righteous leadership.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana yuga-dharma sequence in 1.223 (preceding/following verses on other yugas and dharma decline)

Characters & Entities

• Tretā Yuga
• Dharma
• Yajña
• Kṣatriya

FAQs

What is the importance of Tretā Yuga dharma being ‘tripāda’ in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that in Tretā Yuga, dharma remained strong on three supports—truth, charity, and compassion—indicating a higher ethical and ritual order than later ages.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana themes of dharma and ritual practice?

It links moral virtues (satya, dāna, dayā) with ritual life (yajña), showing that inner ethics and Vedic sacrifice together uphold cosmic and social order.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate truthfulness, practice regular giving, and act with compassion—these are presented as core supports of dharma regardless of the age.