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Shloka 7

Yuga-Dharma, Kalpa Measure, Purāṇa Definitions, and the Kali-Yuga Power of Nāma-Kīrtana

Devanagari script

कृतान्ते क्षत्त्रियैर्विप्रा विट्शूद्राश्च जिता द्विजैः / शूरश्चातिबलो विष्णू रक्षांसि च जघान ह

Transliteration

kṛtānte kṣattriyairviprā viṭśūdrāśca jitā dvijaiḥ / śūraścātibalo viṣṇū rakṣāṃsi ca jaghāna ha

Translation

കൃതാന്തകാലത്ത് ക്ഷത്രിയർ വിപ്ര ഋഷിമാരെ കീഴടക്കി; വൈശ്യ-ശൂദ്രർ ദ്വിജന്മാർക്കാൽ വശപ്പെട്ടു. അപ്പോൾ അതിവീരനും മഹാബലനും ആയ ഭഗവാൻ വിഷ്ണു രാക്ഷസരെ സംഹരിച്ചു.

Word by Word
कृतान्तेin (the domain/time of) Kṛtānta (Yama/death)
कृतान्ते:
Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootकृतान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; स्थान/काले (in the realm/time of Yama)
क्षत्त्रियैःby the kṣatriyas
क्षत्त्रियैः:
Karana (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootक्षत्त्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन
विप्राःthe brāhmaṇas
विप्राः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootविप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन
विट्vaiśyas
विट्:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootविट् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचनार्थे (collective; paired with शूद्राः)
शूद्राःśūdras
शूद्राः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootशूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन
चand
च:
Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)
जिताःconquered
जिताः:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeVerb
Rootजि (धातु) + त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
Formभूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘जित’ = conquered
द्विजैःby the twice-born
द्विजैः:
Karana (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootद्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन
शूरःheroic
शूरः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootशूर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of विष्णुः)
चand
च:
Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)
अतिबलःvery strong
अतिबलः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootअति (अव्यय) + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of विष्णुः)
विष्णुःViṣṇu
विष्णुः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootविष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
रक्षांसिdemons (rākṣasas)
रक्षांसि:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootरक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन
चand
च:
Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)
जघानslew
जघान:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootहन् (धातु)
Formलिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन
हindeed
ह:
Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootह (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (emphatic particle)
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narration to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When varṇa-order and social balance are overturned and rākṣasic forces dominate, Viṣṇu intervenes to re-establish dharma.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara as dharma-saṃsthāpaka; preservation of loka-saṅgraha through divine governance.

Application: In times of disorder, uphold dharma through righteous leadership and restraint; seek refuge in Viṣṇu and resist ‘rākṣasa’ tendencies (cruelty, exploitation) in society and self.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Purva-khanda) yuga-varnana passages around 1.223; Garuda Purana dharma-protection and Viṣṇu avatāra motifs elsewhere in Purva-khanda

Characters & Entities
V
Vishnu
R
Rakshasas
K
Kritanta
K
Kshatriyas
V
Vipras
V
Vaishyas
S
Shudras
D
Dvijas

FAQs

In this verse, Kṛtānta marks a crisis-point where social and moral order collapses, serving as a narrative trigger for divine intervention to restore dharma.

Indirectly: by depicting Kṛtānta (Death/End) as a governing power over worldly order, it frames death as a decisive transition—after which dharma and adharma determine consequences described elsewhere in the Garuda Purana.

Maintain dharma—self-restraint, truthfulness, and duty—especially in times of social conflict; the verse emphasizes that adharma ultimately invites correction and suffering.

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