Shloka 55
Kardama Muni’s Penance, Viṣṇu’s Darśana, and the Arrangement of Devahūti’s Marriage
अधर्मश्च समेधेत लोलुपैर्व्यङ्कुशैर्नृभि: । शयाने त्वयि लोकोऽयं दस्युग्रस्तो विनङ्क्ष्यति ॥ ५५ ॥
adharmaś ca samedheta lolupair vyaṅkuśair nṛbhiḥ śayāne tvayi loko ’yaṁ dasyu-grasto vinaṅkṣyati
നിങ്ങൾ ലോകസ്ഥിതിയെക്കുറിച്ചുള്ള ചിന്ത ഉപേക്ഷിച്ച് ശയിച്ചാൽ, ധനലോഭികളും നിയന്ത്രണമില്ലാത്തവരും തടസ്സമില്ലാതെ അധർമ്മം വളർത്തും; ദസ്യുക്കളുടെ ആക്രമണത്തിൽ ഈ ലോകം നശിക്കും।
Because the scientific division of four varṇas and four āśramas is now being extinguished, the entire world is being governed by unwanted men who have no training in religion, politics or social order, and it is in a very deplorable condition. In the institution of four varṇas and four āśramas there are regular training principles for the different classes of men. Just as, in the modern age, there is a necessity for engineers, medical practitioners and electricians, and they are properly trained in different scientific institutions, similarly, in former times, the higher social orders, namely the intelligent class (the brāhmaṇas ), the ruling class (the kṣatriyas ) and the mercantile class (the vaiśyas ), were properly trained. Bhagavad-gītā describes the duties of the brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas and śūdras. When there is no such training, one simply claims that because he is born in a brāhmaṇa or kṣatriya family, he is therefore a brāhmaṇa or a kṣatriya, even though he performs the duties of a śūdra. Such undue claims to being a higher-caste man make the system of scientific social orders into a caste system, completely degrading the original system. Thus society is now in chaos, and there is neither peace nor prosperity. It is clearly stated herein that unless there is the vigilance of a strong king, impious, unqualified men will claim a certain status in society, and that will make the social order perish.
FAQs
This verse warns that when divine protection is not invoked and people become greedy and undisciplined, adharma grows and society becomes overrun by “dasyus” (lawless plunderers), leading to widespread decline.
Manu is appealing to the Lord not to withdraw His protective presence, expressing that without the Lord’s sustaining oversight, greedy and uncontrolled men will empower irreligion and destabilize the world.
Cultivate self-control and integrity, support dharmic leadership and conduct, and keep spiritual practice strong—because greed and lack of restraint quickly erode ethics in families, communities, and institutions.