Shloka 17
कलौ धर्मसुलभता — व्यासोपाख्यानम् एवं संकीर्तन-प्रधानता
ध्यायन् कृते यजन् यज्ञैस् त्रेतायां द्वापरे ऽर्चयन् यद् आप्नोति तद् आप्नोति कलौ संकीर्त्य केशवम्
dhyāyan kṛte yajan yajñais tretāyāṃ dvāpare 'rcayan yad āpnoti tad āpnoti kalau saṃkīrtya keśavam
That very fruit attained in the Kṛta age by meditation, in the Tretā age by sacrifice, and in the Dvāpara age by worship, is attained in the Kali age simply by saṅkīrtana—singing the sacred praises of Keśava.
Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)
Yuga: Krita/Treta/Dvapara/Kali
Concept: The spiritual fruit of Kṛta’s meditation, Tretā’s yajña, and Dvāpara’s arcana is obtained in Kali through Keśava-saṅkīrtana.
Vedantic Theme: Moksha
Application: Adopt regular nāma-saṅkīrtana (congregational or personal), treating it as complete sādhana rather than a mere accessory.
Vishishtadvaita: Affirms a grace-centered, personalist soteriology: the Lord (Keśava) is approached directly through loving sound (nāma), accessible to all varṇas/āśramas in principle.
Vishnu Form: Hari
Bhakti Type: shanta
FAQs
This verse teaches that the same spiritual attainment gained by meditation in Satya, sacrifice in Treta, and formal worship in Dvapara can be reached in Kali through the chanting and glorification of Keśava, making bhakti accessible amid Kali’s limitations.
He presents a yuga-wise progression of primary disciplines—dhyāna, yajña, arcana—and then emphasizes that in Kali the Lord grants the equivalent fruit through saṅkīrtana, reflecting dharma’s adaptation to human capacity in each age.
Keśava is affirmed as the supreme object of attainment: regardless of method, the goal is communion with Vishnu, and in Kali His grace is highlighted by making remembrance and praise a complete means to the highest fruit.