Shloka 54

युगधर्मवर्णनम् — चतुर्युग, गुण, धर्मपाद, तथा वार्तोत्पत्ति

Devanagari script

तदा तु सर्वभूतानां कायक्लेशवशात्क्रमात् लोभो भृतिर्वणिग्युद्धं तत्त्वानामविनिश्चयः

Transliteration

tadā tu sarvabhūtānāṃ kāyakleśavaśātkramāt lobho bhṛtirvaṇigyuddhaṃ tattvānāmaviniścayaḥ

Translation

Dann, für alle Wesen, als körperliche Bedrängnis nach und nach die Oberhand gewann, erhob sich Gier; der Lebensunterhalt wurde zur Last; Kaufleute wandten sich dem Streit zu; und die Entscheidungskraft hinsichtlich der wahren Prinzipien (tattva) ging verloren. So zogen sich, mangels rechten Wissens, die Fesseln (pāśa) enger um den paśu, die Einzelseele.

Word by Word

• tadā: then

• tu: indeed/and

• sarva-bhūtānām: of all beings

• kāya-kleśa-vaśāt: due to the dominance of bodily suffering/strain

• kramāt: gradually/in sequence

• lobhaḥ: greed

• bhṛtiḥ: maintenance/livelihood, hired service, subsistence

• vaṇik-yuddham: conflict among traders/mercantile warfare, commercial strife

• tattvānām: of the principles/reality-categories

• aviniścayaḥ: non-ascertainment, lack of decisive understanding

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It diagnoses the rise of pāśa—greed, harsh subsistence, and social conflict—rooted in bodily identification; Linga worship is implied as the Shaiva remedy that reorients the pashu toward Pati (Shiva) and restores tattva-jñāna.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

By contrast: when tattvas are not ascertained, beings fall into bondage; Shiva-tattva stands as the illuminating Pati-principle through which true discernment and liberation from pāśa become possible.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse points to the need for tattva-viveka and restraint of lobha—core foundations for Pashupata-oriented discipline—supporting practices like japa, vrata, and Linga-puja aimed at reducing body-centered kleśas.