Shloka 49

कलिस्वरूप-वर्णनम् एवं कालमान-प्रस्तावना

Devanagari script

कलौ जगत्पतिं विष्णुं सर्वस्रष्टारम् ईश्वरम् नार्चयिष्यन्ति मैत्रेय पाषण्डोपहता नराः

Transliteration

kalau jagatpatiṃ viṣṇuṃ sarvasraṣṭāram īśvaram nārcayiṣyanti maitreya pāṣaṇḍopahatā narāḥ

Translation

In the age of Kali, O Maitreya, men—struck and led astray by heretical delusions—will no longer worship Vishnu, Lord of the universe, supreme Ruler and source of all creation.

Word by Word

• kalau: in the Kali (age)
• kalau: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• jagatpatim: lord of the world
• jagatpatim: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat-pati (प्रातिपदिक; जगत् + पति)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (जगतः पतिः)

• viṣṇum: Vishnu
• viṣṇum: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• sarvasraṣṭāram: creator of all
• sarvasraṣṭāram: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva-sraṣṭṛ (प्रातिपदिक; सर्व + स्रष्टृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सर्वस्य स्रष्टा)

• īśvaram: the Lord
• īśvaram: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (Discourse/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय; ‘न + अर्चयिष्यन्ति’ इत्यत्र सन्धौ ‘नार्चयिष्यन्ति’

• arcayiṣyanti: will worship
• arcayiṣyanti: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arc (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• maitreya: O Maitreya
• maitreya: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maitreya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• pāṣaṇḍopahatāḥ: struck/afflicted by heresy
• pāṣaṇḍopahatāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāṣaṇḍa-upahata (प्रातिपदिक; पाषण्ड + उपहत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः (पाषण्डेन उपहताः)

• narāḥ: men, people
• narāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (speaking to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Kali-yuga’s effect on worship and the loss of devotion to Viṣṇu.

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: revealing

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kali is marked by delusion that turns people away from worship of Viṣṇu, the sovereign Lord and the source of creation.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Stabilize daily īśvara-smaraṇa (nāma-japa, pūjā, stotra) so social currents do not displace devotion to the जगत्पति.

Vishishtadvaita: Affirms Viṣṇu as both ruler and creator-cause; devotion is directed to the personal Supreme who grounds the world-order.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Maitreya

FAQs

What is the significance of Kali-yuga in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames Kali-yuga as an era where people, confused by false views, abandon the worship of Vishnu—marking a sharp decline in dharma and spiritual clarity.

How does Sage Parāśara explain spiritual decline in Kali-yuga?

Parāśara describes it as a doctrinal and devotional collapse: people become “pāṣaṇḍopahatāḥ” (overpowered by heretical delusions) and therefore cease honoring Vishnu as the supreme Lord.

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

Vishnu is identified as Jagatpati, Sarvasraṣṭā, and Īśvara—emphasizing Vaishnava theology where the Supreme Reality is the sovereign source of creation, and neglect of His worship signals cosmic-moral disorder.