Shloka 40

Mahābhārata-saṅkṣepa and Avatāra-kāraṇa

Brahmā’s Synopsis of the Epic and the Logic of Divine Descents

Devanagari script

कल्किर्विष्णुश्च भविता शंभलग्रामके पुनः / अश्वारूढो ऽखिलांल्लोकांस्तदा भस्मीकरिष्यति

Transliteration

kalkirviṣṇuśca bhavitā śaṃbhalagrāmake punaḥ / aśvārūḍho 'khilāṃllokāṃstadā bhasmīkariṣyati

Translation

Kelak, di desa Śambhala, Viṣṇu akan lahir sebagai Kalki. Menunggang kuda, pada saat itu Ia akan membakar habis seluruh alam hingga menjadi abu.

Word by Word

• कल्किः: Kalki
• कल्किः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्कि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Apposition (Samānādhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction: and)

• भविता: will be (will become)
• भविता: Kriya (Predicative verbal sense)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु) + तृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: भवितृ-शब्द (agent noun used predicatively); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भविष्यत्कालार्थे ‘will be/shall become’

• शंभलग्रामके: in the village of Śambhala
• शंभलग्रामके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंभल + ग्रामक (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘शंभल-ग्रामक’ = शंभल-नाम्नि ग्रामके

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्ति-बोधक (adverb)

• अश्वारूढः: mounted on a horse
• अश्वारूढः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अश्व + आरूढ (आ-रुह् धातु + क्त) (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘अश्व-आरूढ’ = अश्वम् आरूढः (mounted on a horse)

• अखिलान्: all
• अखिलान्: Visheshana (Qualifier of लोकान्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• लोकान्: worlds/people
• लोकान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla (Time adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (temporal adverb: then)

• भस्मीकरिष्यति: will reduce to ashes
• भस्मीकरिष्यति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भस्मी-कृ (धातु; नामधातु/कृदन्त-आधारित)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘भस्मीकरोति’ = भस्मं करोति

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue with Garuḍa/Vinātā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When adharma reaches saturation, the Lord manifests to reset the moral order, even through destructive purification.

Vedantic Theme: Cyclic time (yuga-dharma) under Īśvara’s governance; pralaya-like cleansing as part of cosmic rhythm.

Application: Treat dharma as urgent: reform conduct before ‘correction’ arrives; cultivate sattva, truth, and restraint amid societal decline.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: village/settlement

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.145.41 (purpose of avatāra)

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu
• Kalki
• Śambhala

FAQs

What is the importance of Kalki in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Kalki as Viṣṇu’s future manifestation who appears at the end-phase of Kali Yuga to bring a decisive end to adharma and reset the cosmic order.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by describing the culmination of Kali Yuga, it frames individual karma and dharma within a larger moral timeline—actions have consequences, and eras of unrighteousness are not permanent.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Live with dharma even in difficult times: cultivate truthfulness, restraint, and devotion, rather than being swept up by the decline associated with Kali Yuga.