Shloka 18
कलिस्वरूप-वर्णनम् एवं कालमान-प्रस्तावना
परित्यक्ष्यन्ति भर्तारं वित्तहीनं तथा स्त्रियः भर्ता भविष्यति कलौ वित्तवान् एव योषिताम्
parityakṣyanti bhartāraṃ vittahīnaṃ tathā striyaḥ bhartā bhaviṣyati kalau vittavān eva yoṣitām
In the age of Kali, women too will abandon a husband who is without wealth; for in that era, the ‘husband’ of women will indeed be only the wealthy man.
Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Lakṣaṇas (symptoms) of Kali-yuga moral and social decline
Teaching: Ethical
Quality: authoritative
Concept: In Kali-yuga, relationships become governed by wealth rather than dharma, eroding fidelity and right conduct.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Measure commitments by dharma and character rather than financial advantage; cultivate contentment and integrity in household life.
Vishishtadvaita: Dharma is sustained by devotion to the Lord as inner ruler, not by external wealth; worldly ties should be subordinated to service of Bhagavān.
FAQs
It portrays Kali-yuga as an age where material wealth replaces dharma and virtue as the basis of social bonds and authority.
He uses everyday institutions—like marriage and protection—to show a reversal of values, where fidelity and duty weaken and self-interest dominates.
By mapping the collapse of dharma in Kali-yuga, the text implicitly points to Vishnu as the sustaining Supreme Reality who restores order across yuga cycles.