Shloka 32

कृतयुगवर्णनम् तथा राजधर्मोपदेशः

Kṛtayuga Description and Instruction on Royal Dharma

Devanagari script

निवृत्तयज्ञस्वाध्याया दण्डाजिनविवर्जिता:

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | nivṛtta-yajña-svādhyāyā daṇḍājina-vivarjitāḥ | (sahasra-caturyugake antima) kali-yugake antima-bhāge brāhmaṇā yajñaṃ svādhyāyaṃ daṇḍam ajinaṃ ca tyakṣyanti, bhakṣyābhakṣya-vivekaṃ vihāya sarva-bhakṣa-bhojino bhaviṣyanti | tāta! brāhmaṇā japaṃ dūrataḥ parityakṣyanti, śūdrāś ca vaidika-mantra-japeṣu saṃlagnā bhaviṣyanti ||

Translation

വൈശംപായനൻ പറഞ്ഞു—കലിയുഗത്തിന്റെ അന്തിമഭാഗത്തിൽ ബ്രാഹ്മണർ യജ്ഞവും സ്വാധ്യായവും ഉപേക്ഷിക്കും; ദണ്ഡവും മൃഗചർമവും പോലും വിട്ടുകളയും. ഭക്ഷ്യ-അഭക്ഷ്യ വിവേചനം തള്ളിവെച്ച് എല്ലാം തിന്നും കുടിക്കും. പ്രിയവത്സാ! ബ്രാഹ്മണർ ജപത്തിൽ നിന്ന് അകന്നോടും; ശൂദ്രർ വൈദിക മന്ത്രജപത്തിൽ ലീനരാകും.

Word by Word

• निवृत्त: having ceased/turned away
• निवृत्त: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निवृत्त (√वृत् + नि, क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• यज्ञ: in sacrifice; in ritual
• यज्ञ: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• स्वाध्यायाः: self-study/recitation (of Veda)
• स्वाध्यायाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वाध्याय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• दण्ड: with/using a staff
• दण्ड: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• अजिन: with/using a deer-skin
• अजिन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अजिन
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• विवर्जिताः: devoid of; having abandoned
• विवर्जिताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विवर्जित (वि + √वृज्/√वर्ज्, क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Kali-yuga
• Brāhmaṇas
• Śūdras
• yajña
• svādhyāya
• daṇḍa
• ajina
• japa
• Vedic mantras

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames Kali-yuga as a period where dharma weakens: traditional markers of disciplined religious life—sacrifice, Vedic study, ascetic emblems, dietary discernment, and japa—are neglected by those expected to uphold them, indicating ethical and spiritual inversion.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana delivers a future-oriented description (a Kali-yuga sign) in which Brahmins abandon customary Vedic duties and restraints, while Śūdras are depicted as taking up Vedic mantra-recitation—presented as a reversal of expected social-religious roles.