Parīkṣit Confronts Kali; Dharma and Bhūmi Lament Kṛṣṇa’s Departure
तस्यैवं वर्तमानस्य पूर्वेषां वृत्तिमन्वहम् । नातिदूरे किलाश्चर्यं यदासीत् तन्निबोध मे ॥ १७ ॥
tasyaivaṁ vartamānasya pūrveṣāṁ vṛttim anvaham nātidūre kilāścaryaṁ yad āsīt tan nibodha me
तस्यैवं वर्तमानस्य पूर्वेषां वृत्तिमन्वहं शृण्वतः तदनुस्मरतश्च, नातिदूरे किलाश्चर्यं यदासीत् तन्निबोध मे।
This verse praises Parīkṣit for steadily adopting the righteous standards of earlier saintly kings, showing that dharma is preserved by faithfully living proven, God-centered traditions.
Śukadeva is transitioning the listener into the next event of the chapter—Parīkṣit’s encounter with a shocking scene that reveals the intrusion of Kali-yuga and the need to protect dharma.
Anchor daily life in time-tested devotional principles (truthfulness, compassion, purity, and discipline), and stay alert—spiritual challenges can appear “not far away,” requiring steady, dharma-based response.