Shloka 37
कलिस्वरूप-वर्णनम् एवं कालमान-प्रस्तावना
भैक्ष्यव्रतास् तथा शूद्राः प्रव्रज्यालिङ्गिनो ऽधमाः पाषण्डसंश्रयां वृत्तिम् आश्रयिष्यन्त्य् असंस्कृताः
bhaikṣyavratās tathā śūdrāḥ pravrajyāliṅgino 'dhamāḥ pāṣaṇḍasaṃśrayāṃ vṛttim āśrayiṣyanty asaṃskṛtāḥ
In that age, even Śūdras will take up the vow of living on alms; the lowest of men will wear the outward marks of renunciation, and—without inner refinement or sacred discipline—will seek livelihoods under the shelter of heresy and false doctrine.
Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Corruption of renunciant signs and rise of pāṣaṇḍa as livelihood in Kali
Teaching: Devotional
Quality: revealing
Concept: Without inner saṃskāra and discipline, adopting the marks of renunciation becomes a deceitful livelihood that obscures true devotion and knowledge.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Seek teachers and communities grounded in śāstra and character; prioritize humility, self-control, and sincere God-remembrance over external identity.
Vishishtadvaita: True renunciation is śaraṇāgati—self-surrender to Hari—expressed through purity and service, not merely external insignia.
Vishnu Form: Hari
Bhakti Type: Shanta
FAQs
The verse warns that in Kali Yuga, spiritual authority can be imitated through external signs, while inner discipline (saṃskāra) and true dharma are neglected—creating social and religious confusion.
Parāśara uses pāṣaṇḍa to indicate sectarian or heretical refuge—ways of life that reject or distort Vedic discipline—showing that livelihood and identity may become tied to false doctrines rather than authentic practice.
By depicting the collapse of genuine dharma, the text implicitly points to Vishnu as the supreme sustainer of cosmic order, whose protection and restoration of righteousness become necessary when society turns to mere outward religiosity.