Shloka 47
Adhyaya 40: Kali-yuga Lakshana, Yuga-sandhyamsha, and the Re-emergence of Dharma
त्रेतायां वार्षिको धर्मो द्वापरे मासिकः स्मृतः यथाक्लेशं चरन्प्राज्ञस् तदह्ना प्राप्नुते कलौ
tretāyāṃ vārṣiko dharmo dvāpare māsikaḥ smṛtaḥ yathākleśaṃ caranprājñas tadahnā prāpnute kalau
In the Tretā-yuga, Dharma bears fruit through observances pursued for a year; in the Dvāpara-yuga it is remembered as bearing fruit through a month. But in the Kali-yuga, the wise person who practices according to his capacity—without strain—attains that very fruit in a single day. Thus, for the bound soul (paśu), Pati, Lord Śiva, makes liberation-oriented merit accessible even amid diminished strength and increased pāśa.
Suta Goswami
FAQs
It teaches that in Kali-yuga even short, capacity-based Shiva-sadhana—such as Linga-puja done without strain—can yield the same merit that required far longer observances in earlier yugas.
Shiva is implied as Pati, the compassionate Lord who adjusts the efficacy of practice across yugas so the bound soul (pashu) can still progress toward freedom despite stronger bonds (pasha) in Kali.
The emphasis is on sustainable, non-torturous discipline—regular Shiva-oriented dharma (puja, japa, vrata) performed yathākleśam, aligning with Pashupata temperance and steady practice rather than extreme austerity.