Shloka 77
Jñāna-hetu-nirūpaṇa
On the Causes/Means of Knowledge
कलौ संति कल्पमानं कलेरन्ते संति च / तस्मिन्दिने ब्रह्मरूपे गच्छन्ति च तमोन्तिकम्
kalau saṃti kalpamānaṃ kalerante saṃti ca / tasmindine brahmarūpe gacchanti ca tamontikam
En la era de Kali hay períodos que se computan como un kalpa; y también al final de Kali ocurre tal cómputo. En ese día, asumiendo la forma de Brahman, parten—pero se acercan a la oscuridad (tamas).
Lord Vishnu (in dialogue to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Even when assuming a ‘Brahman-form’ at a critical time-juncture, beings may still gravitate toward tamas—suggesting unresolved karmic/guṇic conditioning.
Vedantic Theme: Guṇa-bandha and the danger of mistaking appearance/attainment for liberation; proximity to Brahman-language without sattva/knowledge can still end in darkness.
Application: Do not equate lofty concepts or altered states with liberation; cultivate sattva through ethics, devotion, and discernment to avoid tamasic relapse.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: yuga and kāla discussions (general); Garuda Purana: teachings on guṇas and karmic bondage (general)
FAQs
This verse links Kali Yuga with proximity to tamas—spiritual obscuration—suggesting that even lofty states or forms can be accompanied by darkness if discernment and dharma decline.
It implies that at certain cosmic junctures (especially toward Kali’s end), beings may “depart” in an exalted identification (brahmarūpa) yet still remain near tamas—highlighting that inner purity and clarity, not merely status or form, shape the soul’s trajectory.
Cultivate sattva through dharma, truthfulness, restraint, and devotional remembrance so that spiritual practice does not become merely external, and one does not drift toward tamas despite religious identity.