Shloka 34

कलौ धर्मसुलभता — व्यासोपाख्यानम् एवं संकीर्तन-प्रधानता

Devanagari script

स्वल्पेन हि प्रयत्नेन धर्मः सिध्यति वै कलौ नरैर् आत्मगुणाम्भोभिः क्षालिताखिलकिल्बिषैः

Transliteration

svalpena hi prayatnena dharmaḥ sidhyati vai kalau narair ātmaguṇāmbhobhiḥ kṣālitākhilakilbiṣaiḥ

Translation

In the Kali age, indeed, dharma is accomplished by human beings with but little effort; for those who, with the water of virtues cultivated within, have washed away every stain of sin become fit vessels for the dharmic order upheld by Śrī Viṣṇu.

Word by Word

• स्वल्पेन: with little (effort)
• स्वल्पेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (Instrumental singular neuter used adverbially: 'with little')

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ (indeed/for)

• प्रयत्नेन: by effort
• प्रयत्नेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन (Instrumental singular)

• धर्मः: dharma, righteousness
• धर्मः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• सिध्यति: is accomplished
• सिध्यति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सिध् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद (becomes accomplished)

• वै: certainly
• वै: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle), अव्यय (certainly/indeed)

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

• नरैः: by men, by people
• नरैः: Karana (Agentive instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन (Instrumental plural)

• आत्मगुणाम्भोभिः: with the waters of one’s own virtues
• आत्मगुणाम्भोभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्भस्/अम्भो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (आत्मनः गुणाः = आत्मगुणाः; तैः अम्भोभिः = आत्मगुणाम्भोभिः)

• क्षालिताखिलकिल्बिषैः: by those whose all sins have been washed away
• क्षालिताखिलकिल्बिषैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षालित (कृदन्त; √क्षल् धातु, क्त) + अखिल (प्रातिपदिक) + किल्बिष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण (past passive participle) + कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-समासः (अखिलकिल्बिष = सर्वपापम्)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Relative efficacy of dharma in Kali-yuga and the means by which beings attain merit with minimal effort

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: In Kali-yuga, dharma becomes attainable with comparatively little exertion through inner purification by cultivated virtues that wash away sin.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Prioritize daily self-discipline (truthfulness, compassion, restraint) and regular self-review so that conduct itself becomes the ‘water’ cleansing faults.

Vishishtadvaita: Dharma is meaningful as service within the Lord’s order (niyati), implying the self’s dependence on Vishnu while practicing virtue.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Dharma

FAQs

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

This verse emphasizes that in Kali-yuga dharma can be fulfilled with comparatively little effort, provided one cultivates inner virtues that cleanse sinful tendencies.

How does Sage Parāśara explain purification in Kali-yuga?

He frames purification as an internal process: the ‘waters’ of one’s own virtues wash away all sin, making a person capable of establishing dharma even amid Kali-yuga’s decline.

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

Dharma’s success is ultimately tied to the cosmic order sustained by Vishnu; the verse implies that virtue-based purification aligns the individual with that divine order, making spiritual progress possible even in Kali-yuga.