Shloka 59
कलिस्वरूप-वर्णनम् एवं कालमान-प्रस्तावना
तत्राल्पेनैव यत्नेन पुण्यस्कन्धम् अनुत्तमम् करोति यं कृतयुगे क्रियते तपसा हि सः
tatrālpenaiva yatnena puṇyaskandham anuttamam karoti yaṃ kṛtayuge kriyate tapasā hi saḥ
There, with only a small effort, one gathers an unsurpassed treasury of merit—equal to what, in the Kṛta Yuga, was attained only through austerity (tapas).
Sage Parāśara (speaking to Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Comparative efficacy of dharma across yugas: in later ages small effort yields merit comparable to Kṛta-yuga tapas
Teaching: Devotional
Quality: revealing
Concept: In the later age, even modest dharmic practice can yield immense merit comparable to severe Kṛta-yuga austerities.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Adopt consistent, simple disciplines—nāma-japa, pūjā, charity, truthfulness—without waiting for ideal conditions.
Vishishtadvaita: Grace-accessibility: the Lord allows great spiritual fruit through simple, sincere practice suited to the age.
Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman
Bhakti Type: Shanta
FAQs
This verse highlights that spiritual attainment is calibrated to each yuga: what required intense tapas in Kṛta Yuga can be gained with comparatively little effort in other yuga conditions, reflecting dharma’s adaptation to time.
Parāśara presents a comparative principle: the same “measure” of merit can be reached through different means depending on the yuga—here, minimal effort yields the merit that Kṛta Yuga demanded austerity to achieve.
Even when not named explicitly, the verse fits the Purana’s Vaishnava framework: the yuga-order itself is upheld under Vishnu’s sovereignty, and the accessibility of merit across ages reflects the Supreme’s governance of dharma for all beings.