Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 21

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

Transition to Vedānta Inquiry

Devanagari script

कलिस्थितिं प्रवक्ष्यामि तच्छृणुष्व समाहितः । धर्मः कलियुगे प्राप्ते पादेनैकेन वर्तते ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

kalisthitiṃ pravakṣyāmi tacchṛṇuṣva samāhitaḥ | dharmaḥ kaliyuge prāpte pādenaikena vartate || 21 ||

Translation

ಕಲಿಯುಗದ ಸ್ಥಿತಿಯನ್ನು ನಾನು ಹೇಳುವೆನು—ನೀನು ಸಮಾಹಿತಚಿತ್ತದಿಂದ ಕೇಳು. ಕಲಿಯುಗೆ ಬಂದಾಗ ಧರ್ಮವು ಒಂದೇ ಪಾದದಲ್ಲಿ (ಚತುರ್ಥಾಂಶದಲ್ಲಿ) ನಿಲ್ಲುತ್ತದೆ॥

Word by Word

• कलि-स्थितिम्: the condition/state of Kali (age)
• कलि-स्थितिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलि (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive determinative): ‘कलिस्य स्थितिः’

• प्रवक्ष्यामि: I will explain/tell
• प्रवक्ष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकारः (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (sg.); उपसर्गः प्र-

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.); सर्वनाम

• शृणुष्व: listen
• शृणुष्व: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकारः (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (sg.); आत्मनेपदम्

• समाहितः: composed/attentive
• समाहितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-आ-धा (धातु) → समाहित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्तः (past passive participle), पुल्लिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषणम् (qualifier)

• धर्मः: dharma/righteousness
• धर्मः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.)

• कलि-युगे: in the Kali age
• कलि-युगे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलि (प्रातिपदिक) + युग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), सप्तमी विभक्ति (Loc. 7), एकवचन (sg.); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘कलिस्य युगम्’

• प्राप्ते: when (it) has come/arrived
• प्राप्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु) → प्राप्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्तः (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), सप्तमी विभक्ति (Loc. 7), एकवचन (sg.); सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute) with ‘कलियुगे’

• पादेन: with a quarter/one part
• पादेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instr. 3), एकवचन (sg.)

• एकेन: with one
• एकेन: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (m.), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instr. 3), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘पादेन’)

• वर्तते: exists/continues
• वर्तते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (sg.); आत्मनेपदम्

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Dharma
• Kali-yuga

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It frames Kali-yuga as an age where righteousness is greatly diminished, urging the listener to be mentally disciplined and discerning because spiritual and ethical clarity becomes harder when Dharma survives only in a quarter measure.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

By announcing the weakened state of Dharma in Kali-yuga, the verse prepares the ground for Kali-yuga remedies emphasized in Purāṇic teaching—especially accessible, heart-centered devotion and remembrance of the Divine as dependable supports when broader social Dharma declines.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse uses the technical yuga framework (a time-cycle doctrine aligned with Purāṇic chronology), a practical lens for applying dharma appropriately to changing times—an essential interpretive principle for ritual and conduct even when specific Vedāṅga procedures are not directly discussed.