Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 30

Yuga-Dharma Framework, Kali-Yuga Diagnosis, and the Hari-Nāma Remedy

Transition to Vedānta Inquiry

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रिया वैश्याः शूद्रा धर्मपराङ्मुखाः । घोरे कलियुगे प्राप्ते द्विजा वेदपराङ्मुखाः ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

brāhmaṇāḥ kṣatriyā vaiśyāḥ śūdrā dharmaparāṅmukhāḥ | ghore kaliyuge prāpte dvijā vedaparāṅmukhāḥ || 30 ||

Translation

ଘୋର କଳିଯୁଗ ଆସିଲେ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣ, କ୍ଷତ୍ରିୟ, ବୈଶ୍ୟ ଓ ଶୂଦ୍ରମାନେ ଧର୍ମରୁ ପରାଙ୍ମୁଖ ହୁଅନ୍ତି; ଏବଂ ଦ୍ୱିଜମାନେ ବେଦରୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ବିମୁଖ ହୁଅନ୍ତି।

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मणाः: Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• क्षत्रियाः: Kshatriyas
• क्षत्रियाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• वैश्याः: Vaishyas
• वैश्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• शूद्राः: Shudras
• शूद्राः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• धर्मपराङ्मुखाः: turned away from dharma
• धर्मपराङ्मुखाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म + पराङ्मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (धर्मात् पराङ्मुखाः = turned away from dharma)

• घोरे: in the terrible (age)
• घोरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विशेषण (कलियुगे)

• कलियुगे: in the Kali age
• कलियुगे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलि + युग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कलियुगः)

• प्राप्ते: when (it) has arrived
• प्राप्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण; locative absolute predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आप् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), सप्तमी, एकवचन; सप्तमी-सम्बन्धे (locative absolute: ‘when ... has come’)

• द्विजाः: twice-born (Brahmins etc.)
• द्विजाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• वेदपराङ्मुखाः: turned away from the Veda
• वेदपराङ्मुखाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद + पराङ्मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वेदात् पराङ्मुखाः = turned away from the Veda)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in dialogue on Kali-yuga characteristics)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Kali-yuga
• Dharma
• Veda
• Dvija

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It warns that Kali-yuga is marked by a widespread turning away from dharma and, specifically among the dvijas, a loss of reverence for Vedic authority—signaling the need to consciously restore righteousness through disciplined practice.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

By describing the collapse of dharma and Vedic commitment, the verse frames Kali-yuga as an age where inner sincerity and steady devotional orientation become essential supports for spiritual life when social and scriptural observances are neglected.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse points to the neglect of Veda itself, implying decline in traditional Vedic learning systems that depend on Vedāṅgas such as Śikṣā (phonetics) and Vyākaraṇa (grammar) for correct study, recitation, and transmission.