Shloka 38

Adhyaya 40: Kali-yuga Lakshana, Yuga-sandhyamsha, and the Re-emergence of Dharma

Devanagari script

दुःखेनाभिप्लुतानां च परमायुः शतं तदा दृश्यन्ते न च दृश्यन्ते वेदाः कलियुगे ऽखिलाः

Transliteration

duḥkhenābhiplutānāṃ ca paramāyuḥ śataṃ tadā dṛśyante na ca dṛśyante vedāḥ kaliyuge 'khilāḥ

Translation

Dans l’âge de Kali, les êtres sont submergés par la souffrance ; même la durée de vie la plus haute n’y atteint que cent ans. Les Veda, dans leur totalité, sont vus—et pourtant non véritablement vus—car leur sens est obscurci.

Word by Word

• दुःखेन (duḥkhena): by suffering

• अभिप्लुतानाम् (abhiplutānām): of those inundated/overwhelmed

• च (ca): and

• परम-आयुः (paramāyuḥ): the maximum lifespan

• शतम् (śatam): a hundred

• तदा (tadā): then/in that time

• दृश्यन्ते (dṛśyante): are seen/appear

• न (na): not

• च (ca): and

• दृश्यन्ते (dṛśyante): are truly perceived/understood

• वेदाः (vedāḥ): the Vedas

• कलियुगे (kaliyuge): in the Kali-yuga

• अखिलाः (akhilāḥ): entire/complete

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Vedas
• Kali-yuga

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It frames Kali-yuga as a time when scriptural vision is weakened; Linga-worship becomes a direct, accessible upāya to approach Pati (Shiva) when Vedic meaning is ‘seen yet not seen’.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

By implying that true sight of the Veda is inner realization, it aligns with Shiva-tattva as the revealer of jñāna: when the Pashu’s cognition is clouded by Pāśa, only Pati’s grace restores right vision.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Not a specific rite is named, but the takeaway supports Kali-yuga practice: steady Shiva-bhakti with Linga-pūjā and Pashupata-oriented discipline to counter sorrow, short life, and loss of discernment.