Shloka 12

The Greatness of the Kāliṇdī (Yamunā): Merit of Bathing, Charity, and Faith

Devanagari script

कृते तपः परं ज्ञानं त्रेतायां यजनं तथा । द्वापरे च कलौ दानं कालिंदी सर्वदा शुभा

Transliteration

kṛte tapaḥ paraṃ jñānaṃ tretāyāṃ yajanaṃ tathā | dvāpare ca kalau dānaṃ kāliṃdī sarvadā śubhā

Translation

കൃതയുഗത്തിൽ തപസ്സും പരമജ്ഞാനവും ശ്രേഷ്ഠം; ത്രേതായുഗത്തിൽ യജ്ഞം; ദ്വാപരത്തിലും കലിയിലും ദാനം പ്രധാനമാണ്. കാലിന്ദി (യമുന) എപ്പോഴും ശുഭദായിനി.

Word by Word

• कृते: in the Kṛta (age)
• कृते: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; युगविशेषे (in Kṛta-yuga)

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ज्ञानम्)

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• त्रेतायाम्: in the Tretā (age)
• त्रेतायाम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रेता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; युगविशेषे

• यजनम्: sacrifice, worship
• यजनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तथा: likewise; also
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/तुल्यतावाचक-अव्यय (adverb: 'thus/also')

• द्वापरे: in the Dvāpara (age)
• द्वापरे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वापर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; युगविशेषे

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction 'and')

• कलौ: in the Kali (age)
• कलौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; युगविशेषे

• दानम्: giving, charity
• दानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• कालिन्दी: Kālindī (Yamunā)
• कालिन्दी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कालिन्दी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; यमुनानाम (proper noun)

• सर्वदा: always
• सर्वदा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: 'always')

• शुभा: auspicious
• शुभा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying कालिन्दी)

Speaker

Unspecified (narrative voice not provided in the excerpt)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: river

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: (No major external sandhi requiring split beyond standard pada separation.)

Characters & Entities

• Kṛta-yuga
• Tretā-yuga
• Dvāpara-yuga
• Kali-yuga
• Kāliṇdī (Yamunā)

FAQs

What does this verse teach about yuga-dharma (the appropriate practice for each age)?

It summarizes a graded emphasis: in Kṛta, austerity and liberating knowledge; in Tretā, yajña (sacrificial worship); and in Dvāpara and Kali, dāna (charitable giving) as a primary accessible virtue.

Why is Kāliṇdī (the Yamunā) called “always auspicious” here?

The verse affirms the Yamunā’s perennial sacredness as a tīrtha—its sanctifying power is presented as constant, regardless of the changing spiritual capacities of the yugas.

What ethical lesson can a reader apply in Kali-yuga based on this verse?

It highlights practical righteousness through generosity—supporting others, sharing resources, and cultivating non-attachment—presented as especially fitting and effective in Kali-yuga.