Shloka 24
Parīkṣit Confronts Kali; Dharma and Bhūmi Lament Kṛṣṇa’s Departure
इदं ममाचक्ष्व तवाधिमूलं वसुन्धरे येन विकर्शितासि । कालेन वा ते बलिनां बलीयसा सुरार्चितं किं हृतमम्ब सौभगम् ॥ २४ ॥
idaṁ mamācakṣva tavādhi-mūlaṁ vasundhare yena vikarśitāsi kālena vā te balināṁ balīyasā surārcitaṁ kiṁ hṛtam amba saubhagam
Wahai Ibu Vasundharā, engkau lumbung segala kekayaan. Beritahukan kepadaku akar sebab penderitaanmu hingga engkau menjadi begitu lemah. Apakah Kala—waktu yang menaklukkan para perkasa—telah merampas keberuntunganmu yang bahkan dipuja para dewa?
By the grace of the Lord, each and every planet is created fully equipped. So not only is this earth fully equipped with all the riches for the maintenance of its inhabitants, but also, when the Lord descends to the earth the whole earth becomes so enriched with all kinds of opulences that even the denizens of heaven worship it with all affection. But by the will of the Lord, the whole earth can at once be changed. He can do and undo a thing by His sweet will. Therefore no one should consider himself to be self-sufficient or independent of the Lord.
FAQs
In this verse, Parīkṣit addresses Earth as a mother and asks the root cause of her suffering, implying that her divine prosperity is being diminished—either by a culprit (Kali/adharma) or by the overpowering influence of Time.
Parīkṣit encounters the signs of dharma’s decline and, seeing Earth distressed, inquires compassionately about the cause—seeking to identify the force undermining righteousness and prosperity in his kingdom.
It teaches root-cause inquiry with compassion: when society or one’s life feels “dragged down,” seek the real cause (harmful influences, misuse of power, or time-driven change) and respond by protecting dharma—values, integrity, and spiritual practice.