Shloka 18
धर्मोत्कर्षम् अतीवात्र प्राप्नोति पुरुषः कलौ स्वल्पायासेन धर्मज्ञास् तेन तुष्टो ऽस्म्य् अहं कलेः
dharmotkarṣam atīvātra prāpnoti puruṣaḥ kalau svalpāyāsena dharmajñās tena tuṣṭo 'smy ahaṃ kaleḥ
In this very age of Kali, a person attains an extraordinary rise in dharma with only a small effort. Knowing this principle of righteousness, I am therefore satisfied—even with Kali.
Sage Parāśara (speaking to Maitreya)
Yuga: Kali
Manvantara: Vaivasvata
Concept: Even in Kali, extraordinary dharmic elevation is attainable with limited exertion when one understands the appropriate yuga-dharma.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Choose sustainable disciplines—truthfulness, compassion, and especially nāma-bhakti—so progress is steady rather than perfectionistic.
Vishishtadvaita: Kali’s ‘small effort, great fruit’ points to the Lord’s compassionate accessibility: dharma and liberation are not barred by diminished human capacity.
Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman
Bhakti Type: shanta
FAQs
It highlights a paradox of Kali: despite general decline, sincere people can gain exceptional dharmic merit with comparatively little effort.
He states that dharma can be attained with “svalpa-āyāsa” (small exertion), implying that earnest devotion and right conduct become especially potent in this age.
Even when Kali dominates, dharma remains attainable because cosmic order is ultimately upheld by the Supreme Lord (Vishnu), who enables spiritual ascent for the sincere.