Deity

Kalki

कल्कि

verses
94
books
17
chapters
64
Avatar of
Vishnu

What the texts say

In the Vishnu Purana, Vishnu assumes the form of Kalki at the end of the Kali Yuga, and the Lord sets the wicked back upon the path of righteousness. Vishnu Purana 3.2.59 The Skanda Purana says the Lord Kalki will arise in the tenth birth, or incarnation. Skanda Purana 5.3.151.27 The Bhagavata Purana tells that he will appear in the home of Vishnuyashas, the most eminent brahmin of Shambhala village. Bhagavatam 12.2.18 In the same Purana, Kalki will mount his swift horse Devadatta and, sword in hand, travel over the earth, killing by the millions the thieves who have dared dress as kings. Bhagavatam 12.2.19 Once he has appeared as the maintainer of religion, the Bhagavata Purana says, Satya-yuga will begin, and human society will bring forth children in the mode of goodness. Bhagavatam 12.2.23

Where to read

Every verse that names Kalki, book by book.

  1. Skanda Purana

    18 verses · 11 chapters

    • 2.9.18.45

      “At the end of Kali, when the earth is filled with mleccha-like people and great sin prevails, I shall become Kalkī and, roaming upon a divine horse, I will destroy them.”

    • 2.9.27.27

      Then, in the fire-corner (southeast), one should place Kalkin and Paraśurāma. There Kalkin holds a sword in hand, and the other holds an axe.

    • 3.1.3.82

      I bow to Viṣṇu as Narasiṃha, as Vāmana, as Jāmadagnya (Paraśurāma), and as Rāghava (Rāma); to Balabhadra and Kṛṣṇa, and to Kalki as well—I bow to Viṣṇu.

  2. Padma Purana

    10 verses · 9 chapters

    • 1.75.92

      Obeisance again to Kalki, the destroyer of the mlecchas; and again obeisance to Him who bears the body of a boar. For the welfare of the world, in age after age, You assume a form—so that the demons may meet their end.

    • 2.38.29

      When sins have thus accumulated, then again—surely for the destruction of the mlecchas—the Lord Himself will become Kalki; of this there is no doubt.

    • 6.30.13

      Salutations to Lord Varāha; indeed, salutations to Narasiṃha. Salutations be to Lord Buddha, and again and again salutations to Kalki.

  3. Mahabharata

    10 verses · 2 chapters

    Also in the Gita Press edition: 7 verses

    • 3.188.89

      Kalki, a twice-born man named Viṣṇuyaśas, impelled by the force of time, will be born—of great strength, great intellect, and great initiative.

    • 3.189.5

      Praised by leading Brahmins and honoring the foremost twice-born, Kalki will traverse the earth, continually engaged in the suppression of banditry and predatory violence.

    • 3.188.90

      Born in the village of Saṃbhala, in an auspicious Brahmin household, all conveyances and weapons will, by the force of his intention, present themselves to him—along with warriors, armaments, and protective gear.

  4. Varaha Purana

    9 verses · 7 chapters

    • 4.2

      Śrī Varāha said: “Matsya, Kūrma, and Varāha; Narasiṁha, then Vāmana; Rāma, and (Paraśu-)Rāma; Kṛṣṇa; Buddha; and Kalkī—these are your ten.”

    • 15.17

      To remove the fear arising from the arrogance of (foes such as) Cāṇūra, Kaṁsa, and the asuras, and to grant fearlessness to the frightened devas, the Divine one becomes Vāsudeva in each age; in each cosmic cycle he assumes wondrous forms.…

    • 48.2

      Homage be to Kalkin—(to) the feet; to Hṛṣīkeśa, indeed, (to) the waist; as “the destroyer of the mlecchas”—and likewise (homage) to the belly of the one whose form is the universe.

Also named in

Key chapters

The chapters where Kalki matters most.

  1. Adhyāya 188: Mārkaṇḍeya’s Account of Yuga-Decline and the Restoration Motif (Kali-yuga to Kalki)

    Mahabharata 3.188 · 5 verses

    Eschatological restorer

  2. Kali-yuga’s Degradation, the Advent of Kalki, and the Reset of the Yuga Cycle

    Bhagavatam 12.2 · 4 verses

    Eschatological avatāra who terminates Kali’s political-moral…

  3. Yadu Lineage, Vishnu’s Human Descents, Deva-Asura Wars, and Shukra’s Austerity (Dhūma-vrata)

    Matsya Purana 47 · 3 verses

    Eschatological restorer at Kali’s end

  4. Avatāra-kathā: The Puruṣa, the Many Incarnations, and Kṛṣṇa as Svayam Bhagavān

    Bhagavatam 1.3 · 1 verse

    Future avatāra who ends Kali’s degradation and reestablishes…

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