Shloka 38

The Earth Laughs at World-Conquering Kings; Yuga-Dharma and the Remedy for Kali

Devanagari script

शूद्रा: प्रतिग्रहीष्यन्ति तपोवेषोपजीविन: । धर्मं वक्ष्यन्त्यधर्मज्ञा अधिरुह्योत्तमासनम् ॥ ३८ ॥

Transliteration

śūdrāḥ pratigrahīṣyanti tapo-veṣopajīvinaḥ dharmaṁ vakṣyanty adharma-jñā adhiruhyottamāsanam

Translation

ໃນກາລີຍຸກ ຄົນຫຍາບຊ້າຈະຮັບທານ ແລະຫາລ້ຽງຊີວິດດ້ວຍການສະແດງຕະບະ ນຸ່ງຫົ່ມເຄື່ອງນັກບວດ. ຜູ້ບໍ່ຮູ້ທຳຈະຂຶ້ນນັ່ງອາສນະສູງແລ້ວກ່າວສອນຫຼັກທາງສາສນາ.

Synonyms

• शूद्राः: Śūdras
• शूद्राः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• प्रतिग्रहीष्यन्ति: will accept (gifts)
• प्रतिग्रहीष्यन्ति: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद

• तपोवेषोपजीविनः: those who live by the dress of austerity
• तपोवेषोपजीविनः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक) + वेष (प्रातिपदिक) + उपजीविन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (tapas-veṣa-upajīvin = living by/through the guise of austerity)

• धर्मम्: dharma
• धर्मम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• वक्ष्यन्ति: will speak/teach
• वक्ष्यन्ति: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद

• अधर्मज्ञाः: knowing (only) irreligion
• अधर्मज्ञाः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (knowers of adharma)

• अधिरुह्य: having mounted
• अधिरुह्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Pūrvakāla-kriyā/Anterior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधि-रुह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive)

• उत्तमासनम्: the highest seat
• उत्तमासनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक) + आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारयः (excellent seat)

Purport

The epidemic of bogus gurus, swamis, priests and so forth is explicitly described here.

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Mahārāja Parīkṣit

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Kali-yuga teachers of religion?

This verse warns that in Kali-yuga people who do not truly know dharma will sit on prestigious seats and preach, while living off religious appearance rather than genuine austerity and realization.

Why did Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe these Kali-yuga symptoms to Mahārāja Parīkṣit?

Śukadeva speaks to Parīkṣit about the coming age’s degradation so the king—and listeners—can understand the nature of Kali-yuga and take shelter of authentic bhakti and true dharma rather than external show.

Practical application of this Bhagavatam verse in modern life?

Evaluate spiritual guidance by character, consistency, and service to truth—not by dress, title, platform, or popularity; seek dharma rooted in devotion, integrity, and scriptural understanding.