Shloka 77

Jñāna-hetu-nirūpaṇa

On the Causes/Means of Knowledge

कलौ संति कल्पमानं कलेरन्ते संति च / तस्मिन्दिने ब्रह्मरूपे गच्छन्ति च तमोन्तिकम्

kalau saṃti kalpamānaṃ kalerante saṃti ca / tasmindine brahmarūpe gacchanti ca tamontikam

ក្នុងយុគកលិ មានកាលៈទេសៈដែលត្រូវបានរាប់ថា ជាកល្ប; ហើយនៅចុងកលិ ក៏មានការរាប់បែបនោះដែរ។ នៅថ្ងៃនោះ ពួកគេយករូបជាព្រហ្ម (Brahman) ហើយចាកចេញ—តែប៉ុន្តែពួកគេក៏ទៅជិតភាពងងឹត (តមស) ផងដែរ។

कलौin Kali (age)
कलौ:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootकलि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; काल-अधिकरण (locative of time)
सन्तिare/exist
सन्ति:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootअस् (धातु)
Formलट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद
कल्प-मानम्a kalpa-measure/extent
कल्प-मानम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootकल्प (प्रातिपदिक) + मान (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म—‘a measure/extent of a kalpa’ (kalpa-māna)
कलेःof Kali
कलेः:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootकलि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)
अन्तेat the end
अन्ते:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootअन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; अधिकरण—‘at the end’
सन्तिare/exist
सन्ति:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootअस् (धातु)
Formलट्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद
and
:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयबोधक अव्यय
तस्मिन्in that
तस्मिन्:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी, एकवचन; निर्देश/अधिकरण—‘in that’
दिनेon that day
दिने:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootदिन (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; काल-अधिकरण
ब्रह्म-रूपेin Brahmā-form
ब्रह्म-रूपे:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; अधिकरण; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष—‘in the form of Brahmā/Brahman’
गच्छन्तिgo
गच्छन्ति:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootगम् (धातु)
Formलट्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद
and
:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयबोधक अव्यय
तमः-अन्तिकम्to the vicinity of darkness
तमः-अन्तिकम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootतमस् (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष—‘near/into the vicinity of darkness’

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Concept: Even when assuming a ‘Brahman-form’ at a critical time-juncture, beings may still gravitate toward tamas—suggesting unresolved karmic/guṇic conditioning.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa-bandha and the danger of mistaking appearance/attainment for liberation; proximity to Brahman-language without sattva/knowledge can still end in darkness.

Application: Do not equate lofty concepts or altered states with liberation; cultivate sattva through ethics, devotion, and discernment to avoid tamasic relapse.

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: yuga and kāla discussions (general); Garuda Purana: teachings on guṇas and karmic bondage (general)

B
Brahman
K
Kali Yuga
T
Tamas

FAQs

This verse links Kali Yuga with proximity to tamas—spiritual obscuration—suggesting that even lofty states or forms can be accompanied by darkness if discernment and dharma decline.

It implies that at certain cosmic junctures (especially toward Kali’s end), beings may “depart” in an exalted identification (brahmarūpa) yet still remain near tamas—highlighting that inner purity and clarity, not merely status or form, shape the soul’s trajectory.

Cultivate sattva through dharma, truthfulness, restraint, and devotional remembrance so that spiritual practice does not become merely external, and one does not drift toward tamas despite religious identity.