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Shloka 27

Yuga-Dharma, Kalpa Measure, Purāṇa Definitions, and the Kali-Yuga Power of Nāma-Kīrtana

Devanagari script

यदा सदानृतं नन्द्रा निद्रा हिंसादिसाधनम् / शोकमोहौ भयं दैन्यं स कलिस्तमसि स्मृतः

Transliteration

yadā sadānṛtaṃ nandrā nidrā hiṃsādisādhanam / śokamohau bhayaṃ dainyaṃ sa kalistamasi smṛtaḥ

Translation

Cuando la falsedad constante prevalece, y el sueño y la indolencia se vuelven instrumentos de violencia y otros males, y dominan el duelo, el engaño, el temor y la miseria—entonces esa era es llamada Kali, sumergida en la oscuridad (tamas).

Word by Word
यदाwhen
यदा:
Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण-काल)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयदा (अव्यय)
Formकालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb: 'when')
सदाalways
सदा:
Visheshana (Adverbial qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसदा (अव्यय)
Formनित्यत्ववाचक-अव्यय (adverb: 'always')
अनृतम्falsehood, untruth
अनृतम्:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootअनृत (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom./Acc., Sg.)
नन्द्राdrowsiness, sloth
नन्द्रा:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootनन्द्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Feminine, Nom., Sg.)
निद्राsleep
निद्रा:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootनिद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Feminine, Nom., Sg.)
हिंसा-आदि-साधनम्means of violence and the like
हिंसा-आदि-साधनम्:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootहिंसा (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + साधन (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Neuter, Nom./Acc., Sg.; 'instrument/means of violence etc.')
शोक-मोहौgrief and delusion
शोक-मोहौ:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootशोक (प्रातिपदिक) + मोह (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन (Masculine, Nom., Dual; copulative)
भयम्fear
भयम्:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootभय (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom./Acc., Sg.)
दैन्यम्wretchedness, misery
दैन्यम्:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootदैन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom./Acc., Sg.)
सःhe/that (one)
सः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Masculine pronoun, Nom., Sg.)
कलिःKali (age/personification)
कलिः:
Samanaadhikarana (Predicate nominative/समानााधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootकलि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Masculine, Nom., Sg.)
तमसिin darkness
तमसि:
Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootतमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (Neuter, Loc., Sg.)
स्मृतःis considered/called
स्मृतः:
Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootस्मृ (धातु) → स्मृत (कृदन्त)
Formभूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगार्थः (Past passive participle: 'is called/considered')
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kali-yuga is marked by tamas: untruth, inertia, and the rise of fear, delusion, and harm.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa-doṣa (tamas predominance) obscures sattva and right discernment (viveka), leading to adharma.

Application: Cultivate satya, wakefulness/discipline (apramāda), and non-violence; reduce tamasic habits that enable harm and confusion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: Kali-yuga/adharma descriptions in adjacent yuga-dharma passages (same adhyaya context)

Characters & Entities
K
Kali
T
Tamas

FAQs

This verse defines Kali by observable moral symptoms—untruth, tamas-driven inertia, and the rise of fear and misery—helping practitioners recognize decline in dharma and correct their conduct.

By linking tamas, violence, and falsehood, the verse points to behaviors that generate negative karma, which the Garuda Purana later connects to suffering after death and consequences in Yama’s realm.

Reduce tamas by practicing truthfulness, conscious restraint from harm, and disciplined daily conduct; these directly counter the Kali traits of delusion, fear, and wretchedness.

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