Shloka 18

Parīkṣit Confronts Kali: Dharma (Bull) and Bhūmi (Cow) at the Dawn of Kali-yuga

Devanagari script

न वयं क्लेशबीजानि यत: स्यु: पुरुषर्षभ । पुरुषं तं विजानीमो वाक्यभेदविमोहिता: ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

na vayaṁ kleśa-bījāni yataḥ syuḥ puruṣarṣabha puruṣaṁ taṁ vijānīmo vākya-bheda-vimohitāḥ

Translation

О лучший из людей! Нам трудно установить, кто посеял семена наших страданий, ибо нас смущают разноречивые мнения умозрительных философов.

Synonyms

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• vayam: we
• vayam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• kleśa-bījāni: seeds of suffering
• kleśa-bījāni: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kleśa (प्रातिपदिक) + bīja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (kleśasya bījāni)

• yataḥ: from which; because
• yataḥ: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatas (अव्यय/सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Form: अव्यय, हेत्वर्थक/यतः-शब्दः (ablatival sense: 'from which/wherefrom/therefore')

• syuḥ: might be; could arise
• syuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• puruṣa-ṛṣabha: O best of men
• puruṣa-ṛṣabha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + ṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (puruṣāṇāṁ ṛṣabhaḥ)

• puruṣam: the person; the cause
• puruṣam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• tam: that (one)
• tam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• vijānīmaḥ: we know; we discern
• vijānīmaḥ: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jñā (धातु) + vi (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• vākya-bheda-vimohitāḥ: bewildered by differences of statements
• vākya-bheda-vimohitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक) + bheda (प्रातिपदिक) + vimohita (कृदन्त, √muh)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) ‘vimohita’; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (vākya-bhedena vimohitāḥ)

Purport

There are many theoretical philosophers in the world who put forward their own theories of cause and effect especially about the cause of suffering and its effect on different living beings. Generally there are six great philosophers: Kaṇāda, the author of Vaiśeṣika philosophy; Gautama, the author of logic; Patañjali, the author of mystic yoga; Kapila, the author of Sāṅkhya philosophy; Jaimini, the author of Karma-mīmāṁsā; and Vyāsadeva, the author of Vedānta-darśana.

Characters & Entities

• King Parīkṣit
• Dharma (the bull)
• The cow (Earth)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the causes (seeds) of suffering?

This verse calls suffering “kleśa-bījāni”—seed-like causes—implying that misery arises from underlying roots that may not be immediately visible, especially when people are confused by conflicting viewpoints.

Why do the cow and the bull speak in a confused way to King Parikshit in Canto 1 Chapter 17?

In the narrative, Dharma (as a bull) and the cow (Earth) indicate that due to contradictory explanations and the confusing influence of Kali-yuga, it becomes difficult to pinpoint the true source behind their suffering.

Practical application: how to deal with confusion caused by conflicting opinions?

The verse suggests humility and careful discernment: when “vākya-bheda” (conflicting voices) creates confusion, seek clarity through dharmic guidance, saintly counsel, and scripture-based understanding rather than reacting impulsively.