Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 52
The Earth Laughs at World-Conquering Kings; Yuga-Dharma and the Remedy for Kali
कृते यद्ध्यायतो विष्णुं त्रेतायां यजतो मखै: । द्वापरे परिचर्यायां कलौ तद्धरिकीर्तनात् ॥ ५२ ॥
kṛte yad dhyāyato viṣṇuṁ tretāyāṁ yajato makhaiḥ dvāpare paricaryāyāṁ kalau tad dhari-kīrtanāt
ಸತ್ಯಯುಗದಲ್ಲಿ ವಿಷ್ಣುಧ್ಯಾನದಿಂದ, ತ್ರೇತಾಯುಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಯಜ್ಞಗಳಿಂದ, ದ್ವಾಪರಯುಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಭುವಿನ ಪಾದಸೇವೆಯಿಂದ ದೊರಕಿದ ಫಲವೇ ಕಲಿಯುಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಕೇವಲ ಹರಿನಾಮ-ಕೀರ್ತನೆಯಿಂದ—‘ಹರೇ ಕೃಷ್ಣ’ ಮಹಾಮಂತ್ರ ಜಪದಿಂದ—ಸಿಗುತ್ತದೆ।
A similar verse is found in the Viṣṇu Purāṇa (6.2.17), and also in the Padma Purāṇa ( Uttara-khaṇḍa 72.25) and the Bṛhan-nāradīya Purāṇa (38.97):
FAQs
Bhagavatam 12.3.52 teaches that in Kali-yuga the same spiritual perfection gained in earlier ages is attained simply by Hari-kīrtana—chanting the holy names and glories of the Lord.
In the Kali-yuga context described in Canto 12, people lack the longevity, purity, and resources required for Vedic sacrifices and extensive rituals; therefore Śukadeva highlights the accessible, powerful method of chanting Hari’s names as the yuga-dharma.
Make daily time for nāma-japa and kīrtana (chanting and hearing the Lord’s names), and center your routine around remembrance of Hari—this verse presents it as the most effective path for spiritual success in Kali-yuga.