Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 38
Yuga-Dharma Framework, Kali-Yuga Diagnosis, and the Hari-Nāma Remedy
Transition to Vedānta Inquiry
शववाहाभविष्यंति शूद्राणां च द्विजातयः । धर्मस्त्रीष्वपि गच्छंति पतयो जारधर्मिणः ॥ ३८ ॥
śavavāhābhaviṣyaṃti śūdrāṇāṃ ca dvijātayaḥ | dharmastrīṣvapi gacchaṃti patayo jāradharmiṇaḥ || 38 ||
В грядущие времена дважды-рождённые (двиджа) станут носильщиками трупов для шудр; и даже праведность перейдёт к женщинам, тогда как мужья будут жить нравами прелюбодеев.
Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bibhatsa
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
FAQs
It portrays Kali-yuga as an age of dharma-viparyaya (reversal of righteousness), where social duties and personal ethics collapse—prompting seekers to rely more on inner discipline, truthfulness, and devotion rather than mere social status.
By highlighting the unreliability of external markers of virtue in Kali-yuga, it indirectly supports the Purāṇic emphasis that sincere bhakti and personal conduct become the true refuge when societal dharma deteriorates.
No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; it functions as a dharma-śāstric warning about varṇa-āśrama duties and marital ethics, useful for applying smṛti-based discernment (viveka) in degraded times.