Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

दुःखेनाभिप्लुतानां च परमायुः शतं तदा दृश्यन्ते न च दृश्यन्ते वेदाः कलियुगे ऽखिलाः

Transliteration

duḥkhenābhiplutānāṃ ca paramāyuḥ śataṃ tadā dṛśyante na ca dṛśyante vedāḥ kaliyuge 'khilāḥ

Translation

Im Kali-Zeitalter werden die Wesen vom Leid überflutet; selbst die höchste Lebensspanne beträgt dann nur hundert Jahre. Die Veden in ihrer Gesamtheit sind zu sehen—und doch nicht wahrhaft gesehen—weil ihr Sinn verhüllt ist.

Word by Word

• दुःखेन (duḥkhena): by suffering

• अभिप्लुतानाम् (abhiplutānām): of those inundated/overwhelmed

• च (ca): and

• परम-आयुः (paramāyuḥ): the maximum lifespan

• शतम् (śatam): a hundred

• तदा (tadā): then/in that time

• दृश्यन्ते (dṛśyante): are seen/appear

• न (na): not

• च (ca): and

• दृश्यन्ते (dṛśyante): are truly perceived/understood

• वेदाः (vedāḥ): the Vedas

• कलियुगे (kaliyuge): in the Kali-yuga

• अखिलाः (akhilāḥ): entire/complete

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Vedas
• Kali-yuga

FAQs

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

It frames Kali-yuga as a time when scriptural vision is weakened; Linga-worship becomes a direct, accessible upāya to approach Pati (Shiva) when Vedic meaning is ‘seen yet not seen’.

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

By implying that true sight of the Veda is inner realization, it aligns with Shiva-tattva as the revealer of jñāna: when the Pashu’s cognition is clouded by Pāśa, only Pati’s grace restores right vision.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Not a specific rite is named, but the takeaway supports Kali-yuga practice: steady Shiva-bhakti with Linga-pūjā and Pashupata-oriented discipline to counter sorrow, short life, and loss of discernment.