Shloka 12

Munipraśna-varṇana

Description of the Sages’ Inquiry

Devanagari script

प्राप्ते कलियुगे घोरे नराः पुण्यविवर्जिताः । दुराचाररताः सर्वे सत्यवार्तापराङ्मुखाः

Transliteration

prāpte kaliyuge ghore narāḥ puṇyavivarjitāḥ | durācāraratāḥ sarve satyavārtāparāṅmukhāḥ

Translation

Wenn das schreckliche Kali-Yuga eintritt, werden die Menschen des Verdienstes beraubt; alle erfreuen sich an schlechtem Wandel und wenden sich von wahrhaftiger Rede ab.

Word by Word

• प्राप्ते: when (it has) come / upon the arrival
• प्राप्ते: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative absolute)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute)

• कलि-युगे: in the Kali age
• कलि-युगे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलि (प्रातिपदिक) + युग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: कलेः युगे

• घोरे: terrible
• घोरे: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; कलियुगे इत्यस्य विशेषण

• नराः: men / people
• नराः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• पुण्य-विवर्जिताः: devoid of merit
• पुण्य-विवर्जिताः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + विवर्जित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: पुण्येन विवर्जिताः (devoid of merit)

• दुराचार-रताः: engaged in bad conduct
• दुराचार-रताः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुराचार (प्रातिपदिक) + रत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: दुराचारे रताः

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; नराः इत्यस्य विशेषण

• सत्य-वार्ता-पराङ्मुखाः: turned away from truthful speech
• सत्य-वार्ता-पराङ्मुखाः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वार्ता (प्रातिपदिक) + पराङ्मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: सत्यवार्तायाः पराङ्मुखाः (turned away from truthful talk)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: This verse functions as a general Purāṇic diagnosis of Kali-yuga rather than a specific sthala narrative; it motivates turning to Śiva as the remedy for moral and spiritual decline.

Significance: By highlighting loss of puṇya and aversion to satya, it implicitly elevates tīrtha-yātrā, śiva-darśana, and śiva-kathā as corrective disciplines for Kali-yuga.

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Kali-yuga (yuga-dharma decline) explicitly referenced.

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It diagnoses Kali Yuga as an age where virtue and truth decline, implying the urgent need for Shiva-centered discipline—truthfulness, right conduct, and devotion—to restore dharma and move toward liberation.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

When society turns away from truth and merit, the Shiva Purana presents Saguna Shiva—especially Linga worship—as an accessible, stabilizing practice that reorients the mind toward purity, restraint, and सत्य (truth).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with ethical conduct (satya and sadācāra); supporting observances like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa are traditionally recommended in the Vidyeśvara context.