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Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 36

Yuga-Dharma Framework, Kali-Yuga Diagnosis, and the Hari-Nāma Remedy

Transition to Vedānta Inquiry

शूद्रतुल्या भविष्यंति सर्वे वर्णा कलौ युगे । उत्तमा नीचतां यांति नीचाश्चोत्तमतां तथा ॥ ३६ ॥

śūdratulyā bhaviṣyaṃti sarve varṇā kalau yuge | uttamā nīcatāṃ yāṃti nīcāścottamatāṃ tathā || 36 ||

カリの世には、あらゆるヴァルナがシュードラのごとくなり、高貴なる者は卑しき境へ沈み、卑しき者もまた高き位へと上る。

śūdra-tulyāḥequal to śūdras
śūdra-tulyāḥ:
Kartṛ (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootśūdra (प्रातिपदिक) + tulya (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅgaḥ (Masculine), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/1st), Bahuvacanam (Plural); विशेषण (adjective) of varṇāḥ; समासः: तत्पुरुष (śūdrasya tulyāḥ = equal to śūdras)
bhaviṣyantiwill become
bhaviṣyanti:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootbhū (धातु)
FormLaṭ? (No) — Lṛṭ lakāra (Future/लृट्), Prathama puruṣa (3rd person), Bahuvacanam (Plural), Parasmaipada
sarveall
sarve:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootsarva (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅgaḥ, Prathamā vibhakti, Bahuvacanam; विशेषण of varṇāḥ
varṇāḥsocial classes (varṇas)
varṇāḥ:
Kartṛ (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootvarṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅgaḥ (Masculine), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/1st), Bahuvacanam (Plural)
kalauin Kali (age)
kalau:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootkali (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅgaḥ, Saptamī vibhakti (Locative/7th), Ekavacanam (Singular)
yugein the age
yuge:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootyuga (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNapुंसakaliṅgaḥ (Neuter), Saptamī vibhakti (Locative/7th), Ekavacanam (Singular)
uttamāḥthe superior (people)
uttamāḥ:
Kartṛ (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootuttama (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅgaḥ, Prathamā vibhakti, Bahuvacanam; used substantively = “the best (people)”
nīcatāmlowness, low status
nīcatām:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootnīcatā (प्रातिपदिक)
FormStrīliṅgaḥ (Feminine), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/2nd), Ekavacanam (Singular)
yāntigo, attain
yānti:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootyā (धातु)
FormLaṭ lakāra (Present/लट्), Prathama puruṣa (3rd), Bahuvacanam, Parasmaipada
nīcāḥthe low (people)
nīcāḥ:
Kartṛ (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootnīca (प्रातिपदिक)
FormPuṃliṅgaḥ, Prathamā vibhakti, Bahuvacanam; used substantively = “the low (people)”
caand
ca:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
FormSamuccaya-nipāta (conjunction/particle)
uttamatāmsuperiority, high status
uttamatām:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootuttamatā (प्रातिपदिक)
FormStrīliṅgaḥ, Dvitīyā vibhakti, Ekavacanam
tathālikewise, so
tathā:
Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottathā (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya (adverb)

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Kali-yuga description context)

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

K
Kali Yuga
V
Varna
S
Shudra

FAQs

It warns that Kali-yuga brings confusion of dharma and social roles, urging seekers to rely on inner virtue, self-restraint, and devotion rather than mere birth-based status.

By showing that external rank becomes unstable in Kali-yuga, the verse indirectly elevates bhakti and personal conduct as dependable spiritual measures—devotion and character, not social label, sustain dharma.

It does not teach a specific Vedāṅga technique; the practical takeaway is dharma-nīti: evaluate actions and qualities (ācāra) over formal status when applying scriptural norms in Kali-yuga.