Shloka 27
Parīkṣit Confronts Kali: Dharma (Bull) and Bhūmi (Cow) at the Dawn of Kali-yuga
शोचत्यश्रुकला साध्वी दुर्भगेवोज्झिता सती । अब्रह्मण्या नृपव्याजा: शूद्रा भोक्ष्यन्ति मामिति ॥ २७ ॥
śocaty aśru-kalā sādhvī durbhagevojjhitā satī abrahmaṇyā nṛpa-vyājāḥ śūdrā bhokṣyanti mām iti
ឥឡូវនេះ ផែនដីដ៏សុចរិត នាងយំសោកដោយទឹកភ្នែក ព្រោះអកុសលដូចជាត្រូវព្រះភគវានបោះបង់—ថា «ឥឡូវ ពួកទាបថោកដែលស្លៀកពាក់ជាស្តេច ប្រឆាំងនឹងព្រហ្មណ្យធម៌ នឹងមកគ្រប់គ្រង និងប្រើប្រាស់ខ្ញុំ»។
The kṣatriya, or the man who is qualified to protect the sufferers, is meant to rule the state. Untrained lower-class men, or men without ambition to protect the sufferers, cannot be placed on the seat of an administrator. Unfortunately, in the Age of Kali the lower-class men, without training, occupy the post of a ruler by strength of popular votes, and instead of protecting the sufferers, such men create a situation quite intolerable for everyone. Such rulers illegally gratify themselves at the cost of all comforts of the citizens, and thus the chaste mother earth cries to see the pitiable condition of her sons, both men and animals. That is the future of the world in the Age of Kali, when irreligiosity prevails most prominently. And in the absence of a suitable king to curb irreligious tendencies, educating the people systematically in the teaching of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam will clear up the hazy atmosphere of corruption, bribery, blackmail, etc.
FAQs
This verse says the Earth laments that in Kali-yuga there will be “kings only in name,” hostile to brāhmaṇical culture, and that unqualified rulers will exploit the land—signs of dharma’s decline.
The comparison conveys how dharma and protection are withdrawn in Kali-yuga: the Earth, once cared for by righteous kings, feels forsaken and therefore weeps in distress.
Support genuine brāhmaṇical values—truthfulness, self-control, compassion, and spiritual education—and practice bhakti (hearing and chanting) so society and personal life stay anchored in dharma despite corrupt leadership.