Shloka 31

मानवसर्गः, चातुर्वर्ण्य-गुणकर्म, यज्ञ-प्रतिपादनम्, आश्रमधर्म-फल, नरकवर्णनम्

Devanagari script

प्रवृत्तिमार्गव्युच्छित्तिकारिणो वेदनिन्दकाः दुरात्मानो दुराचारा बभूवुः कुटिलाशयाः

Transliteration

pravṛttimārgavyucchittikāriṇo vedanindakāḥ durātmāno durācārā babhūvuḥ kuṭilāśayāḥ

Translation

They arose as cutters-off of the path of pravṛtti, revilers of the Veda—evil-souled, corrupt in conduct, and crooked in intent.

Word by Word

• प्रवृत्तिमार्गव्युच्छित्तिकारिणः: makers of the cessation of the path of worldly activity
• प्रवृत्तिमार्गव्युच्छित्तिकारिणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रवृत्ति + मार्ग + व्युच्छित्ति + कारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—प्रवृत्तेः मार्गस्य व्युच्छित्तिः (विच्छेदः) तां कुर्वन्ति इति (तत्पुरुष)

• वेदनिन्दकाः: revilers of the Vedas
• वेदनिन्दकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद + निन्दक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—वेदान् निन्दन्ति इति (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

• दुरात्मानः: evil-souled
• दुरात्मानः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर् + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—दुष्ट आत्मा यस्य (कर्मधारय-प्रायः)

• दुराचाराः: of bad conduct
• दुराचाराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर् + आचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—दुष्टः आचारः (कर्मधारय)

• बभूवुः: became
• बभूवुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• कुटिलाशयाः: having crooked intentions
• कुटिलाशयाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुटिल + आशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—कुटिलः आशयः (कर्मधारय)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Character and social effect of Veda-revilers who sever the path of duty

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: warning

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: To attack pravṛtti-mārga—right action within the world—through Veda-nindā is to cultivate inner crookedness and social decay.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Examine motives behind ‘anti-dharma’ rhetoric; cultivate straightforwardness (ārjava) and accountability in conduct.

Vishishtadvaita: Worldly duty (pravṛtti) is meaningful as ordered service within the Lord’s governance, not an obstacle when aligned with śāstra.

Characters & Entities

• Veda
• Kali Yuga (implied)
• Adharma (implied)

FAQs

What is the significance of condemning the Veda in the Vishnu Purana’s Kali Yuga description?

This verse treats Veda-reviling as a hallmark of Kali: when scriptural authority is rejected, the norms that sustain dharma and social order collapse, accelerating moral and spiritual decline.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the disruption of pravṛtti-mārga?

Parāśara frames it as an active “cutting off” of the dharmic path of rightful action—people not only fall into bad conduct but also undermine the very standards (Veda and duty) that guide society.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

By depicting Kali’s anti-dharmic tendencies, the text implicitly points to Vishnu as the stable Supreme refuge and restorer of order, reminding devotees that dharma ultimately stands under Vishnu’s sovereignty.