Shloka 37

The Earth Laughs at World-Conquering Kings; Yuga-Dharma and the Remedy for Kali

Devanagari script

पितृभ्रातृसुहृज्ज्ञातीन् हित्वा सौरतसौहृदा: । ननान्‍द‍ृश्यालसंवादा दीना: स्त्रैणा: कलौ नरा: ॥ ३७ ॥

Transliteration

pitṛ-bhrātṛ-suhṛj-jñātīn hitvā saurata-sauhṛdāḥ nanāndṛ-śyāla-saṁvādā dīnāḥ straiṇāḥ kalau narāḥ

Translation

カリ・ユガには男たちは哀れで女に支配され、父や兄弟、友や親族を捨てて、妻方の姻族と交わる。友誼の観念はただ欲情の結びつきにのみ依る。

Synonyms

• पितृभ्रातृसुहृज्ज्ञातीन्: fathers, brothers, friends, and relatives
• पितृभ्रातृसुहृज्ज्ञातीन्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ + भ्रातृ + सुहृद् + ज्ञाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (पितरं च भ्रातरं च सुहृदं च ज्ञातीन् च)

• हित्वा: having abandoned
• हित्वा: पूर्वकालक्रिया (prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), ‘having abandoned’

• सौरतसौहृदाः: bound by sexual attachment and (mere) affection
• सौरतसौहृदाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सौरत + सौहृद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः/समाहारप्रायः (सौरतं च सौहृदं च येषाम्)

• ननान्दृश्यालसंवादाः: those whose dealings are with sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law
• ननान्दृश्यालसंवादाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ननान्दृ + श्याल + संवाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ननान्दृ-श्यालयोः संवादाः/तैः सह संवादाः)

• दीनाः: wretched, miserable
• दीनाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• स्त्रैणाः: woman-chasing, henpecked
• स्त्रैणाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्त्रैण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; स्त्री-परायण/स्त्रीवश विशेषणम्

• कलौ: in the age of Kali
• कलौ: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘कलियुगे’

• नराः: men
• नराः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Kali Yuga symptoms in relationships?

This verse says that in Kali-yuga people abandon natural duties toward fathers, brothers, friends, and relatives, and instead base their closest bonds on sexual attraction and gossip-centered social ties.

Why did Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe men as straiṇa (henpecked) in Kali-yuga?

Śukadeva is listing Kali-yuga’s social symptoms—men become weakened in character and guided by sensual attachment rather than dharma, so their priorities shift away from principled family responsibility.

Practical application of this Bhagavatam verse in modern life?

Strengthen dharmic relationships—honor elders, maintain responsibility to family, and avoid letting sensual fixation and gossip define one’s friendships and daily conversations.