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
Na era de Kali, as pessoas se afeiçoam aos sinais exteriores—vestem trapos, pele de veado e cinto, e até o fio sagrado (yajñopavīta)—mas continuam presas ao que amam: a vida doméstica e a cobertura de lã. Mantêm as mãos cheias de itens rituais, como gravetos para o fogo e a relva kuśa, e ainda assim sua conduta permanece baixa e censurável.
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.