Shloka 79

Adhyaya 40: Kali-yuga Lakshana, Yuga-sandhyamsha, and the Re-emergence of Dharma

Devanagari script

वर्णाश्रमाचारयुतं श्रौतं स्मार्तं द्विधा तु यम् ततस्तेषु क्रियावत्सु वर्धन्ते वै प्रजाः कृते

Transliteration

varṇāśramācārayutaṃ śrautaṃ smārtaṃ dvidhā tu yam tatasteṣu kriyāvatsu vardhante vai prajāḥ kṛte

Translation

वर्णाश्रम-आचारांनी युक्त असा धर्म दोन प्रकारचा आहे—श्रौत आणि स्मार्त। कृतयुगात, जेव्हा लोक त्या क्रियाकर्मांत दृढ असतात, तेव्हा प्रजा निश्चयाने वाढते व फुलते।

Word by Word

• वर्ण (varṇa): social class order

• आश्रम (āśrama): stage of life discipline

• आचार (ācāra): conduct/observance

• युतम् (yutam): endowed with/connected to

• श्रौत (śrauta): śruti-based Vedic ritual system

• स्मार्त (smārta): smṛti-based dharma/ritual system

• द्विधा (dvidhā): twofold

• तु (tu): indeed/but

• यम् (yam): which/that

• ततः (tataḥ): therefore/thereupon

• तेषु (teṣu): in those (duties)

• क्रियावत्सु (kriyāvatsu): among those engaged in rites/actions

• वर्धन्ते (vardhante): grow/prosper

• वै (vai): certainly

• प्रजाः (prajāḥ): creatures/subjects/offspring

• कृते (kṛte): in the Kṛta Yuga

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It grounds Śiva-bhakti in Vaidika order: prosperity and harmony arise when devotees uphold Śrauta and Smārta duties within varṇa-āśrama, creating a stable field for Śiva-pūjā and Linga-pratiṣṭhā to bear fruit.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Indirectly, it presents Śiva as Pati who upholds ṛta/dharma: when pashus (souls) align conduct and rites with sacred law, the world flourishes—reflecting Śiva’s governance through dharma rather than mere force.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Śrauta yajñas and Smārta observances are highlighted; the verse emphasizes kriyā (disciplined ritual action) as the practical foundation that supports higher Śaiva sādhanā, including Pāśupata-oriented purification.