Shloka 17

Yuga-Dharma: The Four Ages, Decline of Dharma, and the Rise of Social Order

Devanagari script

ध्यानं परं कृतयुगे त्रेतायां ज्ञानमुच्यते / द्वापरे यज्ञमेवाहुर्दानमेव कलौ युगे

Transliteration

dhyānaṃ paraṃ kṛtayuge tretāyāṃ jñānamucyate / dvāpare yajñamevāhurdānameva kalau yuge

Translation

കൃതയുഗത്തിൽ പരമസാധന ധ്യാനം; ത്രേതായുഗത്തിൽ ജ്ഞാനം എന്നു പറയുന്നു. ദ്വാപരത്തിൽ യജ്ഞം ശ്രേഷ്ഠമെന്നു പ്രഖ്യാപിക്കുന്നു; കലിയുഗത്തിൽ ദാനം മാത്രമേ മുഖ്യധർമ്മസാധനമെന്നു ഉപദേശിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു.

Word by Word

• dhyānam: meditation
• dhyānam: Karta (कर्ता) / subject (topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhyāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• param: supreme
• param: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana; agrees with dhyānam

• kṛta-yuge: in the Kṛta-yuga
• kṛta-yuge: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛta (प्रातिपदिक) + yuga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Saptamī (7th/सप्तमी), Ekavacana; locative of time

• tretāyām: in the Tretā(-yuga)
• tretāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tretā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Saptamī, Ekavacana; (yuge understood) locative of time

• jñānam: knowledge
• jñānam: Karta (कर्ता) / subject of ucyate
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• ucyate: is said (to be)
• ucyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ, 3rd person, singular; passive (कर्मणि)

• dvāpare: in the Dvāpara(-yuga)
• dvāpare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvāpara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Saptamī, Ekavacana; (yuge understood) locative of time

• yajñam: sacrifice
• yajñam: Karma (कर्म) of āhuḥ
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana

• eva: indeed/alone
• eva: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphatic particle (निश्चय/अवधारण)

• āhuḥ: they say
• āhuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ah (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Bahuvacana; Parasmaipada

• dānam: giving/charity
• dānam: Karma (कर्म) (elliptic: [āhuḥ])
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• eva: indeed/alone
• eva: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphatic particle

• kalau: in Kali(-yuga)
• kalau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana; locative of time

• yuge: in the age
• yuge: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Saptamī, Ekavacana; apposition with kalau

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing sages/seekers on yuga-dharma

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Kūrma (Vishnu)
• Kṛta Yuga
• Tretā Yuga
• Dvāpara Yuga
• Kali Yuga
• Dhyāna
• Jñāna
• Yajña
• Dāna

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

How does this verse explain the nature of the Supreme Self (Atman)?

By ranking dhyāna and jñāna as the highest disciplines in earlier yugas, the verse implies that liberation is rooted in inner realization—direct contemplative absorption (dhyāna) and liberating insight (jñāna) into the Self beyond ritual identity.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds dhyāna as the supreme sādhana in Kṛta Yuga—pointing to steady meditative absorption, mental restraint, and inward worship. In the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis, such dhyāna is supported by ethical discipline and devotion, aligning with Yoga-śāstra ideals while remaining compatible with Shaiva–Vaishnava theism.

How does this verse depict the relationship between Shiva and Vishnu?

Rather than separating sectarian paths, it presents a unified dharma framework: meditation, knowledge, sacrifice, and charity are all valid means depending on time and capacity—reflecting the Kurma Purana’s integrative approach where devotion and discipline can be oriented to Īśvara (whether spoken of as Hari or Hara).