Shloka 20
Parīkṣit Confronts Kali; Dharma and Bhūmi Lament Kṛṣṇa’s Departure
पादैर्न्यूनं शोचसि मैकपाद- मात्मानं वा वृषलैर्भोक्ष्यमाणम् । आहो सुरादीन् हृतयज्ञभागान् प्रजा उत स्विन्मघवत्यवर्षति ॥ २० ॥
pādair nyūnaṁ śocasi maika-pādam ātmānaṁ vā vṛṣalair bhokṣyamāṇam āho surādīn hṛta-yajña-bhāgān prajā uta svin maghavaty avarṣati
ମୋର ତିନି ପାଦ ନଷ୍ଟ ହୋଇ ମୁଁ ଏକ ପାଦରେ ଦାଁଡ଼ିଛି—ଏହି ଅବସ୍ଥା ପାଇଁ କି ତୁମେ ଶୋକ କରୁଛ? କିମ୍ବା ଆଗକୁ ଅଧର୍ମୀ ବୃଷଳ (ମାଂସଭୋଜୀ) ତୁମକୁ ଭୋଗିବେ ବୋଲି ଭୟ? ଯଜ୍ଞ ନ ହେବାରୁ ଦେବତାମାନଙ୍କର ଯଜ୍ଞଭାଗ ହରାଇଗଲା—ତାହା ପାଇଁ ଦୁଃଖ? କିମ୍ବା ଇନ୍ଦ୍ରଙ୍କ ଅନାବୃଷ୍ଟିରେ ଖରା-ଦୁର୍ଭିକ୍ଷ ହୋଇ ପ୍ରଜା ପୀଡ଼ିତ—ସେଥିପାଇଁ ଶୋକ?
With the progress of the Age of Kali, four things particularly, namely the duration of life, mercy, the power of recollection, and moral or religious principles will gradually diminish. Since Dharma, or the principles of religion, would be lost in the proportion of three out of four, the symbolic bull was standing on one leg only. When three fourths of the population of the whole world become irreligious, the situation is converted into hell for the animals. In the Age of Kali, godless civilizations will create so many so-called religious societies in which the Personality of Godhead will be directly or indirectly defied. And thus faithless societies of men will make the world uninhabitable for the saner section of people. There are gradations of human beings in terms of proportionate faith in the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The first-class faithful men are the Vaiṣṇavas and the brāhmaṇas, then the kṣatriyas, then the vaiśyas, then the śūdras, then the mlecchas, the yavanas and at last the caṇḍālas. The degradation of the human instinct begins from the mlecchas, and the caṇḍāla state of life is the last word in human degradation. All the above terms mentioned in the Vedic literatures are never meant for any particular community or birth. They are different qualifications of human beings in general. There is no question of birthright or community. One can acquire the respective qualifications by one’s own efforts, and thus the son of a Vaiṣṇava can become a mleccha, or the son of a caṇḍāla can become more than a brāhmaṇa, all in terms of their association and intimate relation with the Supreme Lord.
FAQs
This verse reflects Parīkṣit’s observation that Dharma has been diminished in Kali-yuga—virtue is reduced, symbolized by the bull standing on only one remaining leg.
Parīkṣit links social suffering to spiritual decline: when sacrifices are disrupted and dharma is harmed, the demigods’ portions are withheld and nature (including rain governed by Indra) becomes disturbed.
Protect dharma through truthful living, ethical conduct, and sincere devotion; support spiritual practices that benefit society, rather than enabling exploitation and irreligion.