Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 20

The Earth Laughs at World-Conquering Kings; Yuga-Dharma and the Remedy for Kali

Devanagari script

त्रेतायां धर्मपादानां तुर्यांशो हीयते शनै: । अधर्मपादैरनृतहिंसासन्तोषविग्रहै: ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

tretāyāṁ dharma-pādānāṁ turyāṁśo hīyate śanaiḥ adharma-pādair anṛta- hiṁṣāsantoṣa-vigrahaiḥ

Translation

En Tretā-yuga, cada pata del dharma se reduce gradualmente en una cuarta parte por la influencia de los cuatro pilares de la irreligión: mentira, violencia, insatisfacción y discordia.

Synonyms

• त्रेतायाम्: in Tretā (yuga)
• त्रेतायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रेता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘त्रेतायुगे’ (locative of time)

• धर्म-पादानाम्: of the quarters of dharma
• धर्म-पादानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘धर्मस्य पादाः’

• तुर्य-अंशः: a fourth part
• तुर्य-अंशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘चतुर्थः अंशः’

• हीयते: is diminished / declines
• हीयते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (passive sense)

• शनैः: gradually
• शनैः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शनैः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• अधर्म-पादैः: by the quarters of adharma
• अधर्म-पादैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; ‘अधर्मस्य पादैः’ (instrumental of cause/means)

• अनृत-हिंसा-सन्तोष-विग्रहैः: by (the factors of) falsehood, violence, dissatisfaction, and quarrel
• अनृत-हिंसा-सन्तोष-विग्रहैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनृत (प्रातिपदिक) + हिंसा (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्तोष (प्रातिपदिक) + विग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः—‘अनृतं च हिंसा च सन्तोषः च विग्रहः च’

Purport

By falsity truth is diminished, by violence mercy is diminished, by dissatisfaction austerity is diminished, and by quarrel charity and cleanliness are diminished.

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the decline of dharma in Tretā-yuga?

Bhāgavatam 12.3.20 states that in Tretā-yuga one quarter of dharma gradually diminishes, while adharma rises through falsehood, violence, discontent, and quarrel.

Why did Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe yuga-dharma to King Parīkṣit?

He was answering Parīkṣit’s questions about time, the changing ages, and how righteousness and irreligion manifest differently across the yugas.

What is the practical application of this verse in modern life?

It encourages vigilance against the roots of adharma—lying, harm, chronic dissatisfaction, and needless conflict—and motivates cultivating truthfulness, nonviolence, contentment, and harmony as supports of dharma.