Shloka 20
Viṣṇv-ekapūjya-nirṇaya; Gaṅgā-Viṣṇupadī-māhātmya; Kali-yuga doṣa; Puṣkara-dharma of Viṣṇu-smaraṇa
सुजीर्णकन्थाजिनमेखलं च यज्ञोपवीतं च कलिप्रियं च / प्रियं गृहं चोर्णविता नकं च समित्कुशैः पूरितं कुत्सितं च
sujīrṇakanthājinamekhalaṃ ca yajñopavītaṃ ca kalipriyaṃ ca / priyaṃ gṛhaṃ corṇavitā nakaṃ ca samitkuśaiḥ pūritaṃ kutsitaṃ ca
Pada zaman Kali, manusia gemar pada tanda-tanda lahiriah—memakai kain compang-camping, kulit rusa dan tali pinggang, bahkan benang suci (yajñopavīta)—namun tetap melekat pada yang dicintai: kehidupan rumah tangga dan selimut bulu. Tangan mereka penuh dengan alat ritual seperti kayu api dan rumput kuśa, tetapi perilaku tetap hina dan tercela.
Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: In Kali, people cling to external ascetic/ritual markers while remaining attached and morally degraded; true dharma requires inner transformation, not costume.
Vedantic Theme: Bāhya-ācāra without antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi is fruitless; authenticity (sattva) over mere saṃskāra-display.
Application: Align symbols (thread, ritual tools, vows) with behavior; reduce identity-signaling; practice integrity audits: ‘Does my conduct match my claimed values?’
Primary Rasa: bibhatsa
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Related Themes: Garuda Purana critiques of Kali-yuga conduct and hypocrisy (contextual)
FAQs
This verse warns that in Kali-yuga, people may adopt sacred markers and ritual paraphernalia while lacking ethical purity; the Purana prioritizes inner dharma over mere appearance.
It depicts a mismatch between external signs (sacred thread, deerskin, kuśa, samit) and inner character (kutsita—base conduct), implying that hypocrisy corrupts religious life and leads away from true merit.
Use rituals and religious symbols as supports for integrity—truthfulness, restraint, and compassion—rather than as substitutes for them.