Shloka 21

Adhyaya 40: Kali-yuga Lakshana, Yuga-sandhyamsha, and the Re-emergence of Dharma

Devanagari script

प्रकाशते प्रतिष्ठार्थं धर्मस्य विकृताकृतिः ये तं विप्रा निषेवन्ते येन केनापि शङ्करम्

Transliteration

prakāśate pratiṣṭhārthaṃ dharmasya vikṛtākṛtiḥ ye taṃ viprā niṣevante yena kenāpi śaṅkaram

Translation

Um das wahre Dharma zu begründen, erscheint eine Gestalt—scheinbar verändert, doch dem Wesen nicht entgegen. Jene Brahmanen, die sich daran halten und darin Zuflucht nehmen, gelangen, auf welche Weise auch immer, zu Śaṅkara selbst.

Word by Word

• प्रकाशते: shines forth/appears

• प्रतिष्ठार्थम्: for the purpose of establishment/firm grounding

• धर्मस्य: of dharma (right order, sacred duty)

• विकृत-आकृतिः: a modified/atypical manifestation (a transformed appearance)

• ये: those who

• तम्: that (manifestation/principle)

• विप्राः: brahmins/learned ritualists

• निषेवन्ते: practice/serve/seek refuge in

• येन केन अपि: by any means whatsoever/in whatever manner

• शङ्करम्: Śaṅkara (Shiva, the auspicious Lord)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)