Shloka 6.35.14
माल्यवानुपदेशः — Malyavan’s Counsel, Portents in Laṅkā, and the Proposal of Alliance
धर्मोवैग्रसतेऽधर्मंततःकृतमभूद्युगम् ।।।।अधर्मोग्रसतेधर्मंततस्तिष्यःप्रवर्तते ।
dharmo vai grasate 'dharmaṁ tataḥ kṛtam abhūd yugam | adharmo grasate dharmaṁ tatas tiṣyaḥ pravartate |
When dharma consumes adharma, that age is called the Kṛta Yuga; when adharma overwhelms dharma, then the Tiṣya (Kali) age comes into force.
"When moral merit destroys unrighteousness, it is called Krtayuga. So also, when virtue gets eclipsed by unrighteousness, it is called Kaliyuga."
Collective life is shaped by the balance of dharma and adharma; sustaining dharma uplifts an age, while normalizing adharma degrades it.
A moral-philosophical warning is given to show that Rāvaṇa’s choices contribute to a wider decline, not merely a private fault.
Long-range moral vision—judging actions by their civilizational consequences, not only immediate gain.