Shloka 18

कलिस्वरूप-वर्णनम् एवं कालमान-प्रस्तावना

Devanagari script

परित्यक्ष्यन्ति भर्तारं वित्तहीनं तथा स्त्रियः भर्ता भविष्यति कलौ वित्तवान् एव योषिताम्

Transliteration

parityakṣyanti bhartāraṃ vittahīnaṃ tathā striyaḥ bhartā bhaviṣyati kalau vittavān eva yoṣitām

Translation

В век Кали даже женщины оставят мужа, лишённого богатства; в то время «мужем» для женщин поистине станет лишь состоятельный человек.

Word by Word

• परित्यक्ष्यन्ति: will abandon/leave
• परित्यक्ष्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-tyaj (धातु √त्यज्)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), बहुवचनम् (plural)

• भर्तारम्: husband
• भर्तारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम् (singular)

• वित्तहीनम्: devoid of wealth
• वित्तहीनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vitta (प्रातिपदिक) + hīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम् (singular); विशेषणम् (adjective) भर्तारम् प्रति

• तथा: thus/also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; क्रियाविशेषणम्/समुच्चयार्थे (adverb/connector: 'thus/also')

• स्त्रियः: women
• स्त्रियः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), बहुवचनम् (plural)

• भर्ता: husband (as)
• भर्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम् (singular)

• भविष्यति: will be
• भविष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु √भू)
• Form: लृट्-लकारः (Simple future), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम् (singular)

• कलौ: in Kali (age)
• कलौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Locative/7th), एकवचनम् (singular)

• वित्तवान्: wealthy
• वित्तवान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vitta (प्रातिपदिक) + -vant (तद्धित प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम् (singular); विशेषणम् (adjective) भर्ता प्रति

• एव: only/indeed
• एव: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अवधारणार्थक-निपातः (particle of emphasis/only)

• योषिताम्: of women
• योषिताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoṣit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive/6th), बहुवचनम् (plural)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Lakṣaṇas (symptoms) of Kali-yuga moral and social decline

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: In Kali-yuga, relationships become governed by wealth rather than dharma, eroding fidelity and right conduct.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Measure commitments by dharma and character rather than financial advantage; cultivate contentment and integrity in household life.

Vishishtadvaita: Dharma is sustained by devotion to the Lord as inner ruler, not by external wealth; worldly ties should be subordinated to service of Bhagavān.

Characters & Entities

• Women (striyaḥ)
• Husband (bhartā)

FAQs

What is the significance of wealth in this Kali-yuga verse of the Vishnu Purana?

It portrays Kali-yuga as an age where material wealth replaces dharma and virtue as the basis of social bonds and authority.

How does Sage Parāśara explain Kali-yuga through social relationships?

He uses everyday institutions—like marriage and protection—to show a reversal of values, where fidelity and duty weaken and self-interest dominates.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this Kali-yuga context?

By mapping the collapse of dharma in Kali-yuga, the text implicitly points to Vishnu as the sustaining Supreme Reality who restores order across yuga cycles.