Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 6

Kali-yuga’s Degradation, the Advent of Kalki, and the Reset of the Yuga Cycle

Devanagari script

दूरे वार्ययनं तीर्थं लावण्यं केशधारणम् । उदरंभरता स्वार्थ: सत्यत्वे धार्ष्ट्यमेव हि । दाक्ष्यं कुटुम्बभरणं यशोऽर्थे धर्मसेवनम् ॥ ६ ॥

Transliteration

dūre vāry-ayanaṁ tīrthaṁ lāvaṇyaṁ keśa-dhāraṇam udaraṁ-bharatā svārthaḥ satyatve dhārṣṭyam eva hi dākṣyaṁ kuṭumba-bharaṇaṁ yaśo ’rthe dharma-sevanam

Translation

El lugar sagrado será tenido por simple depósito de agua distante, y la belleza se juzgará por el peinado. Llenar el vientre será la meta de la vida, y al audaz se le tomará por veraz. Quien sostenga a su familia será llamado experto, y la práctica del dharma se hará sólo por fama.

Synonyms

• दूरे: far away
• दूरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोग/क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbial locative form)

• वारि-अयनम्: going to water (for bath)
• वारि-अयनम्: Visheshya-predication (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वारि (प्रातिपदिक) + अयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘going to water’

• तीर्थम्: pilgrimage/holy place
• तीर्थम्: Visheshya-predication (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; predicate term

• लावण्यम्: beauty
• लावण्यम्: Visheshya-predication (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लावण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; predicate term

• केशधारणम्: hair-style/keeping hair
• केशधारणम्: Visheshya-predication (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केश (प्रातिपदिक) + धारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘wearing/arranging hair’

• उदरंभरता: living only to fill the belly
• उदरंभरता: Visheshya-predication (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदर (प्रातिपदिक) + भरता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘belly-filling (living)’

• स्वार्थः: self-interest
• स्वार्थः: Visheshya-predication (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वार्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; predicate term

• सत्यत्वे: in truthfulness
• सत्यत्वे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्यत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; locative (‘in truthfulness’)

• धार्ष्ट्यम्: impudence/brazenness
• धार्ष्ट्यम्: Visheshya-predication (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धार्ष्ट्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; predicate term

• एव: alone/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय

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

• दाक्ष्यम्: cleverness/efficiency
• दाक्ष्यम्: Visheshya-predication (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दाक्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; predicate term

• कुटुम्बभरणम्: maintaining the family
• कुटुम्बभरणम्: Visheshya-predication (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुटुम्ब (प्रातिपदिक) + भरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘supporting the family’

• यशः: of fame
• यशः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यशस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; with अर्थे: ‘for the sake of fame’

• अर्थे: for the sake/purpose
• अर्थे: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; locative of purpose (‘for the sake of’)

• धर्मसेवनम्: practice of dharma
• धर्मसेवनम्: Visheshya-predication (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + सेवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘service/practice of dharma’

Purport

In India there are many sacred places through which holy rivers flow. Foolish persons eagerly seek redemption from their sins by bathing in these rivers but do not take instruction from learned devotees of the Lord who reside in such places. One should go to a holy place seeking spiritual enlightenment and not just for ritualistic bathing.

Characters & Entities

• Shukadeva Gosvami
• Maharaja Parikshit

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Kali-yuga symptoms like hypocrisy and show religion?

This verse explains that in Kali-yuga external substitutes replace real virtue: pilgrimage becomes mere travel for necessities, beauty becomes superficial grooming, truth becomes shameless boldness, and dharma is practiced for reputation rather than devotion.

Why did Shukadeva Gosvami describe these Kali-yuga traits to Maharaja Parikshit?

Parikshit Maharaja inquired about the future age of Kali, and Shukadeva Gosvami responded by listing recognizable social and moral distortions so the king (and future listeners) could understand the age’s dangers and seek genuine spiritual shelter.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life according to Srimad Bhagavatam?

Measure spirituality by inner transformation—truthfulness, humility, and devotion—rather than outward display, social image, or religious performance done for fame.