Shloka 6

सदाचार-नियमाः: शील, संयम, संग-निषेध, शुचिता, वाणी-नीति, परोपकारः

Devanagari script

विद्विष्टपतितोन्मत्तबहुवैरादिकीटकैः बन्धकीबन्धकीभर्तृक्षुद्रानृतकथैः सह

Transliteration

vidviṣṭapatitonmattabahuvairādikīṭakaiḥ bandhakībandhakībhartṛkṣudrānṛtakathaiḥ saha

Translation

Along with the vermin of the age—men hateful, fallen, and deranged, nursing many enmities and base impulses—there will also be those who live by bondage and disgrace: keepers and husbands of courtesans, petty-minded persons, and speakers of false tales.

Word by Word

• विद्विष्ट: with the hostile/haters
• विद्विष्ट: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विद्विष्ट (कृदन्त; √द्विष् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘विद्विष्ट’ = hated/hostile

• पतित: with the fallen
• पतित: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पतित (कृदन्त; √पत् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया, बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) = fallen/depraved

• उन्मत्त: with the mad
• उन्मत्त: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उन्मत्त (कृदन्त; √मद् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया, बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) = mad/insane

• बहु: many
• बहु: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे/विशेषणरूपे, प्रथमा/अव्ययवत्; समासपूर्वपद (many)

• वैर: enmity
• वैर: Viśeṣya (Head/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, समासपूर्वपद; ‘enmity’

• आदि: etc.
• आदि: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; ‘etc., and the like’ (समासान्त)

• कीटकैः: with insects/vermin (i.e., low persons)
• कीटकैः: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कीटक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• बन्धकी: with courtesans
• बन्धकी: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बन्धकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, तृतीया, बहुवचन; ‘courtesan/prostitute’ (समासपूर्वपद)

• बन्धकीभर्तृ: with the husbands/keepers of courtesans
• बन्धकीभर्तृ: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बन्धकी (प्रातिपदिक) + भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘बन्धक्याः भर्ता’ = husband/keeper of a courtesan

• क्षुद्र: petty, base
• क्षुद्र: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया, बहुवचन; समासपूर्वपद = petty/base

• अनृत: false
• अनृत: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, समासपूर्वपद; ‘falsehood’

• कथैः: with talks/stories
• कथैः: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahārtha (Accompaniment/सहार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सह-योगे (with)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Marks of Kali-yuga and the conduct to be avoided/observed in degenerate times

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kali-yuga is characterized by base, hostile, and deceitful social types; the wise should recognize such decline and guard their conduct.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Choose companions and communities carefully; avoid gossip, falsehood, and exploitative relationships that erode character.

Vishishtadvaita: Dharma is meaningful because it is upheld under the sovereignty of the Supreme; ethical order is ultimately grounded in Viṣṇu.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Parāśara
• Maitreya

FAQs

What is the significance of describing such degraded people in the Vishnu Purana?

It functions as a Kali-yuga diagnostic: by listing traits like hostility, falsehood, and petty-minded living, the text marks the erosion of dharma that undermines social order and righteous rule.

How does Sage Parāśara explain Kali-yuga decline in this chapter?

Through a cumulative catalogue of behaviors—enmity, delusion, dependence on disgraceful livelihoods, and habitual lying—Parāśara shows how inner vice becomes public disorder.

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

Against the backdrop of Kali-yuga confusion, Vishnu remains the stable supreme reality and sustainer of cosmic order; the verse highlights the need to re-anchor life in dharma and devotion amid degeneration.