Shloka 4
Parīkṣit Confronts Kali; Dharma and Bhūmi Lament Kṛṣṇa’s Departure
निजग्राहौजसा वीर: कलिं दिग्विजये क्वचित् । नृपलिङ्गधरं शूद्रं घ्नन्तं गोमिथुनं पदा ॥ ४ ॥
nijagrāhaujasā vīraḥ kaliṁ digvijaye kvacit nṛpa-liṅga-dharaṁ śūdraṁ ghnantaṁ go-mithunaṁ padā
Pada suatu ketika, ketika Mahārāja Parīkṣit yang gagah pergi menaklukkan seluruh penjuru, baginda melihat penguasa Kali-yuga—lebih hina daripada śūdra—menyamar sebagai raja dan menyakiti kaki seekor lembu betina dan lembu jantan. Raja segera menangkapnya untuk menjatuhkan hukuman yang setimpal.
The purpose of a king’s going out to conquer the world is not for self-aggrandizement. Mahārāja Parīkṣit went out to conquer the world after his ascendance to the throne, but this was not for the purpose of aggression on other states. He was the Emperor of the world, and all small states were already under his regime. His purpose in going out was to see how things were going on in terms of the godly state. The king, being the representative of the Lord, has to execute the will of the Lord duly. There is no question of self-aggrandizement. Thus as soon as Mahārāja Parīkṣit saw that a lower-class man in the dress of a king was hurting the legs of a cow and a bull, at once he arrested and punished him. The king cannot tolerate insults to the most important animal, the cow, nor can he tolerate disrespect for the most important man, the brāhmaṇa. Human civilization means to advance the cause of brahminical culture, and to maintain it, cow protection is essential. There is a miracle in milk, for it contains all the necessary vitamins to sustain human physiological conditions for higher achievements. Brahminical culture can advance only when man is educated to develop the quality of goodness, and for this there is a prime necessity of food prepared with milk, fruits and grains. Mahārāja Parīkṣit was astonished to see that a black śūdra, dressed like a ruler, was mistreating a cow, the most important animal in human society.
FAQs
This verse portrays Kali as beating the cow and bull—showing that in Kali-yuga irreligion manifests as cruelty, especially toward the cow (nourishment and purity) and the bull (dharma).
Parīkṣit, as an ideal king, immediately restrained Kali when he saw him harming the cow and bull, demonstrating that true governance protects dharma and the innocent.
Do not tolerate cruelty and degradation as “normal,” support dharmic living (truthfulness, cleanliness, mercy, austerity), and protect sacred values—beginning with compassion and responsible choices.