Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 35

The Earth Laughs at World-Conquering Kings; Yuga-Dharma and the Remedy for Kali

Devanagari script

पणयिष्यन्ति वै क्षुद्रा: किराटा: कूटकारिण: । अनापद्यपि मंस्यन्ते वार्तां साधु जुगुप्सिताम् ॥ ३५ ॥

Transliteration

paṇayiṣyanti vai kṣudrāḥ kirāṭāḥ kūṭa-kāriṇaḥ anāpady api maṁsyante vārtāṁ sādhu jugupsitām

Translation

Торговцы будут заниматься мелочной торговлей и наживаться обманом. Даже не будучи в нужде, люди будут считать приемлемыми самые низкие и осуждаемые занятия.

Synonyms

• पणयिष्यन्ति: will trade, will do commerce
• पणयिष्यन्ति: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पण् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• वै: indeed
• वै: निपातार्थ (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• क्षुद्राः: base, petty
• क्षुद्राः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• किराटाः: Kirātas (tribal people)
• किराटाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किराट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• कूटकारिणः: forgers, deceivers
• कूटकारिणः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कूट + कारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी/कर्म-तत्पुरुषः (कूटं करोति इति)

• अनापदि: even when there is no calamity
• अनापदि: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन् + आपद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; नञ्-समासप्रायः (आपदि अभावे)

• अपि: even, also
• अपि: निपातार्थ (concession)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (concessive/also)

• मंस्यन्ते: will think, will consider
• मंस्यन्ते: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √मन् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• वार्ताम्: livelihood, occupation
• वार्ताम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वार्ता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• साधु: as good, as proper
• साधु: क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साधु (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रशंसावाचक अव्यय (approving particle/adverb)

• जुगुप्सिताम्: despised, detestable
• जुगुप्सिताम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जुगुप्सित (कृदन्त; √गुप्स्/√गुप्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle) वार्ताम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

Purport

Although other occupations are available, people do not hesitate to work in coal mines, slaughterhouses, steel mills, deserts, floating oil rigs, submarines and other equally abominable situations. As also mentioned here, businessmen will consider cheating and lying to be a perfectly respectable way to do business. These are all symptoms of the Age of Kali.

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about cheating and dishonest business in Kali Yuga?

This verse states that in Kali-yuga, petty and deceitful people will take up trade and cheating, and society will begin to look down on honest livelihoods while tolerating shameful occupations.

Why did Shukadeva Goswami describe these Kali Yuga symptoms to King Parikshit?

Śukadeva speaks to Mahārāja Parīkṣit to prepare him (and future listeners) to recognize the age’s decline in dharma and to take shelter of bhakti as the reliable path amid social corruption.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life according to Bhagavatam wisdom?

Do not normalize dishonesty for profit; honor truthful work, avoid deceitful livelihoods, and strengthen one’s spiritual life—especially devotion to Krishna—to remain steady in a degrading age.