Shloka 12

श्राद्ध-योग्य द्रव्य, निषेध, तथा गयाश्राद्ध-माहात्म्य (Śrāddha Materials, Prohibitions, and the Glory of Gayā)

Devanagari script

षण्डापविद्धचण्डालपाषण्ड्युन्मत्तरोगिभिः कृकवाकुश्वनग्नैश् च वानरग्रामसूकरैः

Transliteration

ṣaṇḍāpaviddhacaṇḍālapāṣaṇḍyunmattarogibhiḥ kṛkavākuśvanagnaiś ca vānaragrāmasūkaraiḥ

Translation

Society will be overrun by the impotent and the ruined, by outcastes and heretical sectarians; by the deranged and the diseased; by men who live like scavenging birds, like dogs, and like the shameless naked—indeed, by those who behave like monkeys, village rabble, and swine.

Word by Word

• षण्डापविद्धचण्डालपाषण्ड्युन्मत्तरोगिभिः: by/with eunuchs, outcastes, caṇḍālas, heretics, madmen, and the diseased
• षण्डापविद्धचण्डालपाषण्ड्युन्मत्तरोगिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षण्ड + अपविद्ध + चण्डाल + पाषण्डि + उन्मत्त + रोगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/सह), बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व/समुच्चयार्थक-समास (षण्डाः च अपविद्धाः च ... रोगिणः च)

• कृकवाकुश्वनग्नैः: by/with cocks, dogs, and naked (persons)
• कृकवाकुश्वनग्नैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृकवाकु + श्वन् + नग्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व (कृकवाकवः च श्वानः च नग्नाः च)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• वानरग्रामसूकरैः: by/with monkeys and village pigs
• वानरग्रामसूकरैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर + ग्रामसूकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व (वानरैः च ग्रामसूकरैः च)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya) describing the signs of Kali-yuga

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Signs of social and religious degeneration (Kali-dharma decline) affecting ritual order and conduct

Teaching: Historical

Quality: revealing

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When dharma erodes, society becomes dominated by uncontrolled impulses and anti-normative conduct, mirroring animalistic behavior and spiritual confusion.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Counter social decline through sāttvika discipline: truthful speech, clean habits, steady worship, and careful association (saṅga).

Vishishtadvaita: Even amid Kali’s disorder, the soul remains dependent on the Supreme; reform is pursued through surrender expressed as disciplined conduct and devotion rather than nihilism.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

FAQs

What is the significance of these degrading categories in the Vishnu Purana?

They function as Kali-yuga markers: a poetic catalogue showing how dharma is inverted when social and spiritual discipline collapses.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the decline of society in Kali-yuga here?

He depicts a world dominated by outcaste behavior, heretical disruption of Vedic order, disease and madness—using animal metaphors to stress loss of shame, restraint, and truth.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even as Kali-yuga overwhelms human order, Vishnu remains the sovereign ground of cosmic order; the verse underscores the need to return to dharma and devotion under His supreme governance.