Shloka 43

कलिस्वरूप-वर्णनम् एवं कालमान-प्रस्तावना

Devanagari script

अल्पप्रज्ञा वृथालिङ्गा दुष्टान्तःकरणाः कलौ यतस् ततो विनङ्क्ष्यन्ति कालेनाल्पेन मानवाः

Transliteration

alpaprajñā vṛthāliṅgā duṣṭāntaḥkaraṇāḥ kalau yatas tato vinaṅkṣyanti kālenālpena mānavāḥ

Translation

In the age of Kali, people become small in understanding, wearing hollow marks of religion while their hearts are corrupted; therefore, from every side and for many causes, human beings swiftly fall into ruin in a very short time.

Word by Word

अल्पप्रज्ञाःof little understanding

वृथाvainly, uselessly

लिङ्गाःexternal marks/signs

दुष्टcorrupt, wicked

अन्तःकरणाःinner faculties/minds

कलौin the Kali age

यतःfrom which/therefore

ततःthereupon, therefore

विनङ्क्ष्यन्तिperish, are destroyed

कालेनby time

अल्पेनin a short (time)

मानवाःpeople, humans

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (speaking to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Lakṣaṇas (signs) of Kali-yuga and its effects on human conduct and decline

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kali-yuga is marked by diminished discernment and hypocritical religiosity, leading swiftly to human ruin.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Cultivate inner purity (antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi), avoid performative piety, and seek steady sādhana grounded in śāstra.

Vishishtadvaita: Stresses that dharma must be inwardly aligned (bhāva) rather than mere external marks, consistent with devotion to the personal Lord as the sustaining order.

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

Humankind (mānavāḥ)

FAQs

What is the significance of ‘vṛthā-liṅga’ (false religious marks) in the Vishnu Purana’s Kali Yuga description?

It highlights a key Kali symptom: outward symbols of piety remain, but inner discipline and truthfulness deteriorate, turning religion into mere display.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the rapid decline of people in Kali Yuga?

He links it to diminished discernment and corrupted inner intent; when conscience is impaired, time’s pressures lead to swift social and personal ruin.

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

By portraying Kali’s disorder, the Purana underscores Vishnu as the sustaining sovereign of dharma—whose protection and remembrance become the stabilizing refuge when external norms collapse.