Shloka 29
राज्ञ: प्रमाददोषेण दस्युभि: परिमुष्यताम् | अशरण्य: प्रजानां यः स राजा कलिरुच्यते,राजाके प्रमाददोषसे लुटेरे प्रबल होकर प्रजाको लूटने लगते हैं, उस अवस्थामें यदि राजाने प्रजाको शरण नहीं दी तो उसे मूर्तिमान् कलियुग कहा जाता है
rājñaḥ pramādadoṣeṇa dasyubhiḥ parimuṣyatām | aśaraṇyaḥ prajānāṃ yaḥ sa rājā kalir ucyate ||
When, through a king’s negligent fault, robbers grow bold and plunder the people, and the king fails to provide them refuge and protection, such a ruler is called ‘Kali’ embodied—an age of moral decline made manifest in the person of the king.
नकुल उवाच
Educational Q&A
A king’s primary dharma is protection: if, due to his negligence, bandits plunder the people and he does not act as their refuge, he becomes the very embodiment of Kali—moral collapse expressed through failed governance.
Nakula is describing a condition of misrule: the ruler’s carelessness enables criminals to prey on the populace. When the king does not provide shelter and security to his subjects in such a crisis, he is condemned as ‘Kali’ personified.