Shloka 34

Yuga-Dharma, Kalpa Measure, Purāṇa Definitions, and the Kali-Yuga Power of Nāma-Kīrtana

Devanagari script

बहुप्रजाल्पभाग्याश्च भविष्यन्ति कलौ स्त्रियः / शिरः कण्डूयनपरा आज्ञां भेत्स्यन्ति भर्त्सिताः

Transliteration

bahuprajālpabhāgyāśca bhaviṣyanti kalau striyaḥ / śiraḥ kaṇḍūyanaparā ājñāṃ bhetsyanti bhartsitāḥ

Translation

In the Kali age, women will beget many children yet have little good fortune. Intent on scratching their heads, they will break household commands even when reprimanded.

Word by Word

• बहुप्रजाल्पभाग्याः: having many children and little fortune
• बहुप्रजाल्पभाग्याः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु + प्रजा + अल्प + भाग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि-स्वभावार्थे कर्मधारय-समास (बह्वी प्रजा यस्याः, अल्पं भाग्यं यस्याः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• भविष्यन्ति: will be
• भविष्यन्ति: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• कलौ: in Kali age
• कलौ: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• स्त्रियः: women
• स्त्रियः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• शिरः: head
• शिरः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• कण्डूयनपरा: intent on scratching
• कण्डूयनपरा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कण्डूयन + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन (परा-शब्दः स्त्रीलिङ्गे); तत्पुरुष (कण्डूयने परा = scratching-prone/devoted to scratching)

• आज्ञाम्: command, order
• आज्ञाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• भेत्स्यन्ति: will break/violate
• भेत्स्यन्ति: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भिद् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• भर्त्सिताः: being rebuked
• भर्त्सिताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भर्त्सित (कृदन्त; √भर्त्स्, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kali is marked by domestic disorder and diminished saubhāgya; disregard for discipline and counsel erodes household dharma.

Vedantic Theme: When rajas/tamas dominate, buddhi and śama weaken; social harmony depends on self-restraint and mutual respect.

Application: Cultivate household communication, restraint, and shared discipline; avoid turning family life into a field of constant friction.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: hasya

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana Kali-yuga varṇana sequence in 1.223

Characters & Entities

• Kali Yuga

FAQs

What is the importance of Kali Yuga descriptions in the Garuda Purana?

They function as moral warnings: by describing behavioral decline, the text urges adherence to dharma and self-discipline despite adverse times.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it highlights dharmic erosion in Kali Yuga—choices that violate rightful instruction and restraint diminish merit (puṇya), which the Garuda Purana links to one’s post-death outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate attentiveness, self-restraint, and respect for rightful guidance in family and community life, treating correction as a chance to improve conduct rather than resisting it.